“Submission And Love In Wedlock As To The Lord!”

“Submission And Love In Wedlock As To The Lord!”
Andrew F. Walls, the biblical Paul of his time captioned one of his write-up, “The Ephesian Moment…” In it he says, “The theme of the church as Christ’s body is crucial to the Ephesian letter.”
The Ephesian moment is that despite of our diversities in terms of race, colour, cultures, etc, the Christian church as the body of Christ should of necessity be united. “One body and one Spirit…one hope..one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it…”(Eph. 4:5 -7).
To achieve this each one of us has a duty of mainting this unity in the body of Christ by submiting to one another out of reverence for Christ(Eph. 5:21-33).
Since charity begins at home, husbands and wives, children and parents, and slaves and masters are the places where this should begin. This is very important because most times we focus on the bigger picture and forget that the picture is only as big in so far as it is consituted of small components.
Married people often get so engrossed in enlarging the world at the expense of their own homes. The world we long so much to transform is represented at our backyards. Our homes need our attention more.
Male chauvinism stress on half a text to subjugate their wives, justifying that scripture says wives should submit to their husbands, but leaving the concluding part, “as to the Lord.”. While it is so, what the text is saying is the same as that which says, “in whatever your task, work heartily as serving the Lord and not men.”
Importantly is that the husbands should love their wives in the same way that Christ loved the church and died for her to make her holy. Loving your wife is loving your own body. The second big commandment is love your neighbour as yourself. Your wife is always your closest nieghbour who derseves that love before any other.
Both love and respect in marriage should be mutual. The relationship between couples should be a reflection of the relationship that should exist amongst Christians who constitute the church that is the bride of Christ. In such a relationship, “each partner can have a conciliatory attitude that will help the relationship.” The Lord Jesus Christ died to bring forgiveness and save us. Husbands should be ready to die for their wives before demanding submission from them.
The unity in diversity in the body of Christ should begin with couples who are a microcosm of the bigger picture.
Prayer: Holy Spirit help us to live our union in mutual love and respect to each other. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Babila Fochang.