Stephen100 said:
Not true at all. Remember, Sarah called Abraham lord, and in Genesis God told Eve that her husband would rule over her (Genesis 3:16). Jesus is the head of the church, but he also has authority over the church. The wife does not hold equal authority over the household. This is the doctrine of feminism, not the doctrine of Biblical Scripture.
It is fine to quote a couple of passages without understanding them. Well, maybe it is not fine. Gen.3:16 speaks of the consequences of sin, one of which, is conflict. It does not speak of a godly relationship between husband and wife, nor is it an instruction concerning husbands to rule over their wives. If it were, there would be more scripute to follow it up and prove it.
We see more than one example of a head in scripture. In fact three are mentioned together. 1Cor.11:3 states that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Here we find relationships on three levels. Are you going to tell me that we are not joint heirs with Jesus? Are you going to tell me that Jesus is not equal in authority with His Father, over all creation? They are co-creators and co-rulers over their household. So, it is not feminism to have the woman be equal to her husband over the children. They are partners.
But we can take from our own hard wiring just what our relationship is with our wives. Men are the initiators of a relationship. They approach the girl, ask her out, plan the date, pick her up, open the car door, pay for the date, and take her home afterward.
This tradition, although dying, is our clue as to what our roles are to be. Women are generally attracted to a strong man (in her eyes), one who can take the lead, one who basically does not come across like a wuss. She prefers a man who is funny without being a buffoon, smart without being too much of a geek, adventerous and fun without being careless, one who is dominant but not domineering, one who is responsible but not boring, one who is sensitive but not weak. (generalities)
In short, women have a basic need to feel
safe, feel cared for, feel special, feel desired, but not robbed of her individuality. She wants his manhood to make her feel like a woman. And then watch her reciprocate.
The first woman came from the man's side. Her life comes from him. This has not changed. If a husband is not the lifegiver of the relationship, it will be strained. But if he is all these things for his wife, there is nothing she will not do to please him. Women are great at what they are hard wired for: to respond.
What the man is the head of is....the relationship!!!
Jesus said that the Father has life within Himself and has granted that the Son has life in Himself. (John5:26). Here is the similarity. The life of the body comes from the head..in all three cases.
So, fellow husbands, how are you making out with this role? Do you understand it really? Do you give life to your wife or do you drain it out of her? Rather, what would she say? I'm not one to toot my own horn, but I can say there is a reason my wife is deeply in love with me.( It was not without some learning on my part.)
It's like another one mentioned in an earlier post. There is no room for selfishness. Christ loved the church and gave His life for her. Do that first, and there will be no struggle with authority. A wife who is loved will love in return, and submit willingly, barring disfunction.