are christian wives respected?

First off I quite often take my wifes advice, and guidance, but I am still accountable for the results of the decision.Yes I respect my wife, no I don't control her. I am merely accountable for the decisions that get made. I love and respect my wife.Ephesians 5:21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.and25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her------------------
Saved by an incredible Grace.[This message has been edited by funkmasterfreaky, 02-10-2003]

Some good points have been made by others here on this issue. For one the fact that my wife doesn't have to do anything. Rather chooses to do out of reverence for Christ.This is something we discussed and agreed on before we got married, something she feels comfortable with because she trusts me.You made a comment about God and I consulting and making all the decisions. This is simply not the case, this is the importance of praying together.As much as you don't see it Schraff it is submission to each other and ultimately to God.------------------
Saved by an incredible Grace.

Schraf, first I'd like to thank you for this discussion as it has been very beneficial to me. This is also the most civil discussion I've had with you since I've started posting on this board, I am enjoying it.In response to your post, leadership entails more than just making decisions for a couple. I think the type of leadership that God expects men to provide in their household is to lead by example. I am to show that I trust God in all things without wavering. I am to lead my life in a Christ like manner and be a spiritual leader to my family.Men should lead by example in this way.A leader is also someone who is strong in the face of difficulty, and adversity. This is another way that men should lead in their families. If the husband is calm, trusting in God, asking the Lord to give him strength in difficult times, it is easier for his family to also trust God.I think in this discussion we limited the definition of leadership too much, leadership is so much more than just making decisions.I don't want to sugar coat the decision aspect of leadership, the husband is the leader and a good leader is willing to take advice before making a decision. However it is still that leaders responsibility to make the decision, and to be accountable for what they have decided.I know that it has been said before, but these principles only work in a Christian marriage, because God is the ultimate leader.I hope this helps to clear some of your confusion about Christian principles in marriage.------------------
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I was just thinking about the scriptures that deal with "wives submit to your husbands", and I noticed it does not say "husbands force your wives to submit to you.------------------
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My wife only became a Christian a month before we got married. She was a very independent young woman, with absolutely no religious backround.------------------
Saved by an incredible Grace.

Quite the opposite.------------------
Saved by an incredible Grace.

Here I thought we were having a conversation and you just want to call me a liar.We follow God's guidelines for Christian marriages that is clearly outlined in the bible, out of obedience to God, NOT as an excuse to be controlling.Just because you don't understand it, doesn't it make it male dominance.------------------
Saved by an incredible Grace.

I think that the post previous to this one is excellent, about Adam making excuses to God, blaming his sin on Eve. So God decided to make man accountable for the couple to avoid this happening again. I wish that Adam had not done so as the thought of being accountable to God for my marriage is at times a heavy thought.Schraf,I have thought alot about how two people can submit at the same time, I did not want to give you a shoddy answer or some Christian cliche answer that is why it has taken so long to respond on this point.If both man and wife submit their own individual will, for God's will for the couple.By putting aside our individual will, we are each submitting one to another, and ultimately to God.I know this is a short response but does this make sense to you or do I need to think on this some more?------------------
Saved by an incredible Grace.[This message has been edited by funkmasterfreaky, 03-06-2003]

Schraf,First I'd like to start by saying I love and respect my wife, I think I've been able to show that Christian marriages are the not the dictatorship you thought.You have again made the statement that my wife is submitting to my will. I thought we talked about this in one of my last posts where I stated that in a Christian marriage the husband and the wife must put down their own personal will for God's will for the couple.You also made a statement about wives not holding as high a status as the husband. As Christians there is no status here, as we are all members of the body of Christ. Each with our own function and purpose. Who is to say that the heart has a higher status than the lung?When you look at Genesis it says about man and wife that the two shall be made one flesh, Jesus also talks about this exactly. So in marriage we have been made one flesh in God's eyes. If the members of your body did not submit to the head you would find that the body quickly became disfunctional.The head cannot survive without the body and, likewise the body the without the head. The two must function together, neither is more important, or holds more status than the other.In a Christian marriage the "body" must be in submission to Christ. Not just one part but the whole.This said Christs will should be the will of the "body", it should be a body led by God so that the body can accomplish the will of God.------------------
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Harmonization,I would very much like to talk with you. Please e mail me.

Schraf,I believe that God intentionally created men and women differently so that together they would be whole. In general men have a more logical way of thinking and women are more emotionally based thinkers. I think that when God made a partner for man that it wasn't because Adam was lonely, rather that he was incomplete. Eve was made to complete Adam.God has made man head of the household, I don't know why but God doesn't always give the why to everything.Even though man is the head of the household, the leader of his family, this doesn't mean that men always make the right decisions. Alot of times there is an emotional side to a decision/action that a man may not see, or take into account in his decision/action. When he discusses this with the woman she will see this flaw in his thinking and help him to correct, or balance his thinking. She is his helper, and in this way men must not go it alone without their helper.[I can already see you saying "what if the man is more emotional and the woman more logical" In that case just switch it around either way they balance each other out. But the man still remains the leader]I have already stated that we must each submit our own wills in order to do God's will.Wives submit to the leadership of their husbands, husbands submit to the needs of their wives. My wife may want me to go shopping with her (i hate shopping with my wife it's a test of my patience) however she likes me to go with her. I don't want to go, but I go because I love her, she wants to spend time together, and this is what she wants to do. (granted this is a poor example)My wife submits to my leadership out of love for first Christ and then for me, however I submit to her in other ways, out of love for first Christ and then for her. In this way God completes both of us fully and without want, making us one flesh.As usual my wording is poor leaving gaps to be picked at, though the concept is here. It does not conform to most modern thinking, but the ways of God do not conform to the ways of man. Man must conform his ways to God's.Thanx for the discussion.------------------
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