| | Is Matt Rusten a Submissive Wife?Perhaps one day, if I get lucky, I will have a wife. And if she is Godly, the Scriptures tell me that she will be submissive. Of course, this looks quite a bit different than the picture that many 21st century Americans might have of a quiet, lifeless, thoughtless wife who cowers and submits to a harsh, cruel husband. Submission isn’t about male totalitarianism, or male domination, or patriarchal rule, or a thousand other feminist monikers. But a wife’s life is supposed to provide a living, radiant picture of Jesus’ life—it should be an image of Christ’s glad submission to His Father. By looking at a Christian marriage, a lost world should be able to learn something about God. But all this wife talk has got me thinking—for I am also a wife, and I have been for some time. And this without surgery! In fact, if I ever get married, alongside of my role as being a husband, I will continue to be a wife. Well, a wife at least in so far as I am a part of the corporate bride of Christ, the Church (forgive me for my Western individualism!). I, along with the Church, act as God’s bride—if you will allow me to say it—His wife. All of this leads me to ask a very important question: How am I, as a male, doing in my wifely submissive role to my husband, the Triune God? Do my day-to-day thoughts, actions, and attitudes demonstrate joy-filled submission to a faithful, glorious Bridegroom? And secondly, should I be disappointed if I do not marry a submissive wife when I often act as a rebellious, stubborn bride myself? Or worse still, what if it is God’s intention to lead me to a wife as obstinate as myself?!? Lord, have mercy! There is not a creature on earth that falls outside of the calling of submission. Because, at the end of the day, there is only one Husband, and male and female alike will one day submit to his joyful rule. |
