Equal value and dignity

The last Chapter of Carolyn Mahaney's book "Feminine Appeal" deals with submission. Yesterday we took a look at what the word means from its Greek origins and from God as the original model of submission in the Trinity...today we will look at it from its Biblical origins.

Carolyn quotes Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them".
She writes, "Here we find that both male and female are created in the image of God...God establishes that man and woman are equal in value and dignity in His sight. A conviction of our equal worth is essential to understanding submission in the context of the marriage relationship.
Scripture makes NO allowances for male dominance or male superiority...neither is submission a position of inferiority or demeaning in its application." (emphasis mine)

God designed both men and women in His image...to be "created in His image" is the pinnacle of His creation. God never distinguishes between men and women as one being of more worth or importance. For us to think that women are less important or worth is to demean the image of God...it is sin!
So why is there submission...why can't both men and women "rule" equally? We all have been in situations where you have too many "Chiefs" and nothing gets done....there is confusion, disorder and at times pure chaos. God is His divine authority, designed submission as an orderly way of life. We saw yesterday we are called to submit to all sorts of "rankings" in life...authorities, bosses etc.

In regard to a husband's headship over his wife, Carolyn makes a very Biblical point, "God instituted a husband's leadership and a wife's submission prior to the entrance of sin (Gen.1-3)" When He created man and woman an order was established... He first made Adam and then out of Adam came Eve. Gen. 2:21-22 "Then the Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man"
We see God already establishing order...Man first then out of him "a helper" (Gen 2:18) was fashioned. Adam and Eve's sin did not come until later...they lived joyfully in the garden within the context of marital submission. When sin came into the garden, the security and peace that submission and headship brought to Adam and Eve, was destroyed.

But as Carolyn also points out, in Ephesians 5:22-33, God reveals His ultimate intention for headship " It is to reflect the relationship of Christ and the Church...The husband is to mirror the sacrificial love of Christ by laying down his life for his wife and the wife is to exemplify the Churches joyful submission to Christ by following her husband's leadership"

Where there is no order there is chaos. How is your home run? Is there chaos because you keep "rising up" against our husband's headship? Do your children see the benefit or submission or are they confused? Do you obey the authorities placed above you.? Godly submission is a blessing for our home and lives. As wives we willingly and joyfully "put ourselves under" our husband's headship because it protects us, benefits our home and shows the world the glory of Jesus as the One who submitted to the Father. ( Phil 2:8) As single women, we submitt to the authorities God has placed over us...boses, parents. When we balk and grumble at this order, we display an anger towards God. It is like saying to Him, "I can do better than you...I will be my own headship!"
If this is what you are feeling, would you go to the Son, Jesus, and ask Him to give you the grace He had as He submitted to the Father? Would you ask Christ to humble you and give you joy just as He had? He will.

From the beginning...

It is not hard to imagine why the concept of submission has gotten so misrepresented. The world paints this picture of domineering husbands and ancient cultures where women where nothing more than property. With this kind of imagery and perception it is easy to see why even the word "submission" can cause many women to rise out of their seats and take a stand against it.
But in reality, "submission" is a trait that began with God Himself.
First, lets look at the word "submission". In the Greek it is hupotasso. From the root tasso, comes the idea of arranging or putting things in order. The prefix hupo means "under". So together the word means to "voluntarily put oneself under". Submission does not means "inferiority" or "slavery" nor does it imply "domination".

J.D. Watson explains in his Devotional "A Word for the Day":
"As spirit-filled Christians, then, we rank ourselves under one another within God's predefined positions. Again this does not imply that one person is inferior to another. Rather it means that the Christian is humble and willing to be ranked underneath as God prescribes. Without such order there is chaos."

God has given certain order in Scripture. We are to submit to governing authorities (Romans 13).
Wives to husbands (Eph. 5:22; 1 Cor. 11:3; 1 Peter 3:1)
Christian husbands submit to the headship of Christ (Eph. 5:22, 25; 1 Cor 11:3)
Children are to obey parents (Eph. 6:1-3)
And an employee ranks himself under his employer and obeys (Eph. 6:4)
Godly submission brings about order and peace. It is not a "ranking" of greatest to least or of superior to inferior.
Once it has been established that it is God's purpose to have order through submission, we can look at the greatest example which is in the Trinity.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit represent the beauty of submission and headship. This Divine order that exists within the Trinity affirms that submission is God-purposed for good. Jesus submits to the Father and the Spirit to the Son. Through that order or "ranking" redemption came to the world. Jesus attained that by submitting to all God the Father had for Him ...even death. When we see Christ's willingness to submit and appreciate the beauty of submission we will discern Biblical submission. So you see, submission originated in God Himself.
Tomorrow we will look at the equal value and dignity in men and women. We will go all the way back to Genesis.

True Happiness

A couple of weeks ago I was studying the Beatitudes in Matthew. God gave me some new insights this year on what it truly means to be "blessed". I had studied Matthew a few years ago, through BSF, but this year in particular, I was drawn into the meaning of "Blessed" or as many translate blessed to be "happiness". But, it is so much more than mere "happiness". Jesus gives a discourse on what being blessed looks like to those who are in His kingdom. As usual, God's word goes against our own thinking. What seems to be a paradox, actually gives us insight into God's kingdom and what it brings us and makes us.
The word "Blessed" in Matthew is the Greek word makarios and it speaks of "contentedness" which implies an idea NOT affected by circumstances. This is the way God wants His children to live...a state of joy and wellbeing that does not depend on physical, temporary circumstances.
But a further meaning is also found in makarios, it is as Greek Scholar Spiros Zodhiates writes "possessing the favor of God, that state of being marked by fullness from God" This gives us the idea of God's "blessing" on us. John Piper puts it as "God becomes 100% for us" Once we where at "enmity" with Him. Ephesians 2:3 says that Christians were “children of wrath” before they were made alive in Christ Jesus. “We all once lived [among the sons of disobedience] in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” But now we are "blessed" and God's favor rests upon us.
Third, the word makarios goes even deeper as "one who becomes a partaker of God's nature through faith in Christ" From A Word for the Day by J.D. Watson.
Here, Mr. Watson also quotes Zodhiates again "To be makarios , blessed, is equivalent to having God's kingdom within one's heart".

So to be blessed is to be content regardless of circumstances because God is 100% for us and we have been transferred from His wrathful side to His loving side! How marvelous is that! Romans tells us that "If God is for us, who can be against us?" So therefore it does not matter what happens outside of us, inside and eternally we are safe, secure and loved, possessing all of God's favor and kingdom within us.

I know you must think, why are we looking at this now instead of the last chapter of Carolyn's book? Well the last chapter deals with submission and for many of us that is a hard concept. But how much better can we accomplish this as we see submission as part of His blessing and favor for us.

Tomorrow we will look at that further. Today, just think of how blessed you are...God's favor rests on you...He is 100% for you IF you are His child.

Dear Janet,
Amen to the "REAL" meaning of true happiness!!! Thanks for sharing....it always helps to be reminded of what God really wants for our lives....your comments are always a blessing..... Have a great day!! ...Cathy

Smile it is Friday!

This funny clip needs no explanation...but might offer some insight on why it is so hard for us to turn to Scripture. After taking this "guided tour" we will no longer have an excuse!

Have a great weekend. We are heading up to University of Florida for the Homecoming weekend. Go Gators!

Those of you who do not regularly receive the Girl'sChat post and would like to, please e-mail me at girlschat@gmail.com
Janet

Some conversations...

As we finished these last two chapters, thought I would share some comments from this study....If you have any thoughts, insights, praises to our God or encouragements for those reading here... let me know at girlschat@gmail.com
I will post throughout the day...

The picture is of us at Anapolis...

Janet what a great blog! God is so amazing!! I love the reminder that the renewing of our mind is a daily activity. In our culture so much focus is on the external. Colossians 3:12 says," Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." These are the fruits of faith. Let's believe God! We are who He says we are, not the world. We are a chosen people, holy and dearly loved. Glory!! Thank You Jesus!
Love You!
Kimberly

Hey! Thanks for suggesting these books! My first note was just a note of praise to the Lord for allowing certain opportunities this week for me to love Jim with phileo love and not demand my rights. Both times it was something minor and even though I thought he was in the wrong I found it easy to forgive and not blow the whole thing out of proportion as I would have in the past! I think Jim was pleasantly surprised and I give all the credit to the Spirit's leading and the reading of this book.
Kim

Next week we will talk about "happiness" ...Christ has a lot to say.
Janet