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Billyd

Senior Member
May 8, 2014
5,048
1,490
113
#1
We know that God appointed man to be the head of the wife. We also know that God told the wife to submit to her husband. In a Christian marriage this is no problem because they are both to become one in Christ.

Here goes. A non Christian man is married to a Christian woman, and chooses to remain with him. Does this change the Christian woman's responsibility to her husband?

Example, the husband asks her to go fishing on Sunday (Saturday) rather than attend worship services. How should she respond?

I'm not going to let you off the hook with an opinion. Support your position with scripture.
 

Marano

Senior Member
Dec 7, 2011
398
32
28
29
#2
I think it'll be better for us to hear from someone in this specific situation, maybe there's someone here who is in that place and can respond better than I can right now.
 

Billyd

Senior Member
May 8, 2014
5,048
1,490
113
#3
I think it'll be better for us to hear from someone in this specific situation, maybe there's someone here who is in that place and can respond better than I can right now.
Thank you. Thousands of young Christian women face this or similar situations every week. If you enter the ministry, sooner or later, you'll be asked this question. Take a few minutes of your time now and think about how you will handle it.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,784
4,453
113
#4
We know that God appointed man to be the head of the wife. We also know that God told the wife to submit to her husband. In a Christian marriage this is no problem because they are both to become one in Christ.

Here goes. A non Christian man is married to a Christian woman, and chooses to remain with him. Does this change the Christian woman's responsibility to her husband?

Example, the husband asks her to go fishing on Sunday (Saturday) rather than attend worship services. How should she respond?

I'm not going to let you off the hook with an opinion. Support your position with scripture.
Scripture doesn't shed light on the subject the specific question of does a wife still have responsibility as a Christian wife.

But hear this

1 Corinthians 7:12-15New International Version (NIV)

12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.


So if scripture says to stay with the husband inless he wants a divorce then its allowed. And scripture does not say on any page a Christian spouce is not responsible in certain situations. So where the bible is silent, we go with what scripture we have on being a believer as a wife.

Ephesians 5:21-33New International Version (NIV)

Instructions for Christian Households
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.


So by the wife obeying her Christian responsibilities could very possibly sanctify her husband by her imitating Christ very well could lead him to Christ.

Luke 14:26New International Version (NIV)

26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.

Her responsibilities as a disciple should come before anyone or anything else.
 
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
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#5
We know that God appointed man to be the head of the wife. We also know that God told the wife to submit to her husband. In a Christian marriage this is no problem because they are both to become one in Christ.

Here goes. A non Christian man is married to a Christian woman, and chooses to remain with him. Does this change the Christian woman's responsibility to her husband?

Example, the husband asks her to go fishing on Sunday (Saturday) rather than attend worship services. How should she respond?

I'm not going to let you off the hook with an opinion. Support your position with scripture.
Paul said we are under no law, yet you maintain that "God appointed man to be the head of the wife. We also know that God told the wife to submit to her husband." I think your premise is incorrect. There is no law requiring Women to submit to their husbands.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,784
4,453
113
#6
Paul said we are under no law, yet you maintain that "God appointed man to be the head of the wife. We also know that God told the wife to submit to her husband." I think your premise is incorrect. There is no law requiring Women to submit to their husbands.
So are the words of God like a buffet? We choose what we like to obey and ignore the nasty things that dont sit well on our stomachs?
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,784
4,453
113
#7
Gods word is ultimately for our good. So i take that as all his word is directed to my good if i would just apply it.
 
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
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#8
So are the words of God like a buffet? We choose what we like to obey and ignore the nasty things that dont sit well on our stomachs?
Well, according to Paul, we are under no law, and according to you, the words of Paul are the words of God.
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#9
We know that God appointed man to be the head of the wife. We also know that God told the wife to submit to her husband. In a Christian marriage this is no problem because they are both to become one in Christ.

Here goes. A non Christian man is married to a Christian woman, and chooses to remain with him. Does this change the Christian woman's responsibility to her husband?

Example, the husband asks her to go fishing on Sunday (Saturday) rather than attend worship services. How should she respond?

I'm not going to let you off the hook with an opinion. Support your position with scripture.
She would have to pray about it and ask God what to do.

I can see how it can be good to do either choice....is it a one time fishing trip or does he not want her to ever go to church and beat her when she reads the Bible and prays?

If it's a one time thing I would go fishing with my husband and read my bible and pray while waiting for the fish to bite.

You want scripture to support my position?

Will work on that and get back to you.
 

Billyd

Senior Member
May 8, 2014
5,048
1,490
113
#10
Scripture doesn't shed light on the subject the specific question of does a wife still have responsibility as a Christian wife.

But hear this

1 Corinthians 7:12-15New International Version (NIV)

12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.


So if scripture says to stay with the husband inless he wants a divorce then its allowed. And scripture does not say on any page a Christian spouce is not responsible in certain situations. So where the bible is silent, we go with what scripture we have on being a believer as a wife.

Ephesians 5:21-33New International Version (NIV)

Instructions for Christian Households
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.


So by the wife obeying her Christian responsibilities could very possibly sanctify her husband by her imitating Christ very well could lead him to Christ.

Luke 14:26New International Version (NIV)

26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.

Her responsibilities as a disciple should come before anyone or anything else.


I believe that Ephesians 5:21-33 and especially Ephesians 5:33 are the important scriptures in this case. The wife must treat her husband as if he were a Christian. Conversely, a Christian husband must treat his non Christian wife the same as if she were a Christian.

In the case above, I told the wife to place her Bible and study material on the table, change into her fishing outfit, and go fishing with her husband. It took her five years to lead her husband to Christ. Today you won't find either of them fishing during worship services.
 

Desertsrose

Senior Member
Oct 24, 2016
2,824
207
63
#11
We know that God appointed man to be the head of the wife. We also know that God told the wife to submit to her husband. In a Christian marriage this is no problem because they are both to become one in Christ.

Here goes. A non Christian man is married to a Christian woman, and chooses to remain with him. Does this change the Christian woman's responsibility to her husband?

Example, the husband asks her to go fishing on Sunday (Saturday) rather than attend worship services. How should she respond?

I'm not going to let you off the hook with an opinion. Support your position with scripture.
Hi Billy,

Great question! Here's what I think based on scripture. :)

It's good to fellowship on a regular basis with
believers. Missing one Sunday (Saturday) because you husband wants to go fishing, camping, vacation whatever is not a sin. You could miss a month and you're not sinning.

The higher calling is to be with your husband in submission to his will. I'm guessing the couple talked it over and he still insists.

One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:5-8



Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. Titus 2:3-5

Also, the believer has a unique roll when her husband is not a believer. She's got a ministry right there in her home. Well she does even if the husband is a Christian, but how much more so when the husband needs the gospel preached to him in actions rather than words.

In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear. 1 Peter 3:1-6

The call to love is # one, not meeting for a church service. We're told not to forsake meeting together......we're not told we can't miss a church
meeting or that we have to be there every time the doors are opened.

Also, there are mid-week meetings, Sunday evenings meeting and house groups, etc. My vote would be for her to go fishing and maybe she'll fish her husband out of the lost souls ocean. :)
 

Billyd

Senior Member
May 8, 2014
5,048
1,490
113
#12
Paul said we are under no law, yet you maintain that "God appointed man to be the head of the wife. We also know that God told the wife to submit to her husband." I think your premise is incorrect. There is no law requiring Women to submit to their husbands.
Do we throw Ephesians out of the Bible?
 

Billyd

Senior Member
May 8, 2014
5,048
1,490
113
#13
Hi Billy,

Great question! Here's what I think based on scripture. :)

It's good to fellowship on a regular basis with
believers. Missing one Sunday (Saturday) because you husband wants to go fishing, camping, vacation whatever is not a sin. You could miss a month and you're not sinning.

The higher calling is to be with your husband in submission to his will. I'm guessing the couple talked it over and he still insists.

One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:5-8



Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. Titus 2:3-5

Also, the believer has a unique roll when her husband is not a believer. She's got a ministry right there in her home. Well she does even if the husband is a Christian, but how much more so when the husband needs the gospel preached to him in actions rather than words.

In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear. 1 Peter 3:1-6

The call to love is # one, not meeting for a church service. We're told not to forsake meeting together......we're not told we can't miss a church
meeting or that we have to be there every time the doors are opened.

Also, there are mid-week meetings, Sunday evenings meeting and house groups, etc. My vote would be for her to go fishing and maybe she'll fish her husband out of the lost souls ocean. :)
Excellent perspective. I agree.
 
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
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0
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#14
Do we throw Ephesians out of the Bible?
No, there is much to learn from Paul. I don't agree with everything Charles Stanley (In Touch Ministries) says, but he's a fabulous preacher.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,784
4,453
113
#15
I believe that Ephesians 5:21-33 and especially Ephesians 5:33 are the important scriptures in this case. The wife must treat her husband as if he were a Christian. Conversely, a Christian husband must treat his non Christian wife the same as if she were a Christian.

In the case above, I told the wife to place her Bible and study material on the table, change into her fishing outfit, and go fishing with her husband. It took her five years to lead her husband to Christ. Today you won't find either of them fishing during worship services.
And thats awesome she used fishing as way to get close to her husband. Just as long as it didn't become a regular thing to skip church then by all means do good on the Sabbath.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,784
4,453
113
#16
Well, according to Paul, we are under no law, and according to you, the words of Paul are the words of God.
No according to God scripture is the Word of God breathing and sharper than any double edged sword.

God through the Holy Spirit inspired followers to write down his word.

So is Paul the author of half the NT? Yes but his words was inspired by God. So whos words are they actually?
 
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
71
#17
No according to God scripture is the Word of God breathing and sharper than any double edged sword.

God through the Holy Spirit inspired followers to write down his word.

So is Paul the author of half the NT? Yes but his words was inspired by God. So whos words are they actually?
Paul says we are under no law. Then he creates a law stating women can't speak in church. Which is it?
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#18
We know that God appointed man to be the head of the wife. We also know that God told the wife to submit to her husband. In a Christian marriage this is no problem because they are both to become one in Christ.

Here goes. A non Christian man is married to a Christian woman, and chooses to remain with him. Does this change the Christian woman's responsibility to her husband?

Example, the husband asks her to go fishing on Sunday (Saturday) rather than attend worship services. How should she respond?

I'm not going to let you off the hook with an opinion. Support your position with scripture.
I wouldn't marry a man who didn't love me. And part of love is encouraging each other to do what is good for them, what is right, what makes them feel good.

Also, any guy I married would know I love fishing even before marrying me. (I taught hubby fishing. lol) So, he'd either have me back in time for church or would wait until I came home from church. Better yet, since so much of the day is gone, we'd probably fish on Saturday.

Now, how do I support that with scripture?
:confused: