What does it look like?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
J

Jullianna

Guest
#42
I guess I should elaborate.

I told him what I said in my previous post, and he said its likely because I am not in a relationship so I do not feel the need/desire to be led by a man. Once I am in that relationship with a godly man, my heart will feel that tugging of wanting to work together and also be led. But right now, I don't because I have to picture someone I don't know, in which case my heart is like "Uh, no." Which makes sense, really.

I asked him other questions related to this (as I always do) but just thought I'd follow up on this main point per previous post.

My father is a wise man. I love him a lot.
Your dad sounds like a treasure :)
 
J

Jullianna

Guest
#43
I think that might be the biggest misconception that exists regarding male headship. You should check out the first video I posted earlier, Holly. Headship isn't about making all the decisions with no input from the wife. In a healthy marriage, decisions are made together. Headship is about a man tirelessly caring for and nurturing his wife and children toward flourishing in their faith and in their strengths. It's not about control, it's actually about the man working for and laying his life down for his family.
Excellent explanation, Sir. Thank you. The fact that a guy said it makes it even better.
 
J

Jullianna

Guest
#44
This could be a topic by itself. I think abuse is an ATTEMPT to achieve respect. No where is fear properly equated to respect, however, the end product of fear - that of deference - is a component of respect. The wife of the abuser might not hold her husband in high esteem, but she more than defers to his leadership and I think that actually satisfies the abusive husband's need for respect. So, you're right in that if respect equals love in the man's eyes, then that man might very well love his abused wife, even though his feelings are poorly defined. In that same way, love equaling respect for the abused woman, she might feel respect for her husband and deference through fear and misjudge that fear for love. I think that's actually why these seemingly crazy relationship keep cycling, nearly always having some kind of tragic consequence. Kinda interesting.
That's the part I just don't get..... :(

One spouse is abusive, the other mistakes fear/dependency for love. It's like watching two parasites feeding off of one another. So destructive for all concerned.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
42,556
17,025
113
69
Tennessee
#45
I've had some men pull the respect card on me, rather than the love card. Very strange. I'm very feminine so I never understood that.
Only the love card should be pulled by the husband. Respect for the husband comes from the wife, it may be earned by the husband but the husband must not demand it. Husbands should love their wives but should not think that they are the boss of their wives. A good husband will put the wants and needs of the wife above his own hopes and desires. A wife is not the personal slave of the husband to wait on his every whim. A husband who loves his wife will earn her respect by who he is in his walk with the Lord and this will show by his actions toward to her as his wife in how he protects and provides for her. A loving and faithful husband will be the best friend of the wife and a loving and faithful wife will be the best friend to the husband.
 
T

Tintin

Guest
#46
Well if he's made a good start on them I'd probably give the guy a chance. Besides these are general characteristics, not a he never ever screws up at them kind of thing. And you did see the disclaimer about my chronic impossibly high standards, right? The main redeeming quality I have in that area is that I usually hold myself to higher standards than I hold anyone else to.
Sorry about that, Cinder. Yes, I see your caveat. That will teach me to read and reply to posts late at night. Comprehension skills for the win! :p Cheers. :)
 
Aug 21, 2014
84
0
0
#47
Well, I may be coming from a way-off perspective, since I am a "new" Christian. I'm not completely sure what a Godly husband is supposed to be. But, I would guess that he is someone who the family (wife and kids) look to for guidance on things. Someone who has the final say (after discussions with his wife) about matters like finance, discipline, etc. Someone who leads the family down the righteous path, keeping everyone in line with God's ideals and beliefs.
 

Loveneverfails

Senior Member
Feb 18, 2013
1,294
26
0
#48
My quote feature isn't working correctly right now, so I'll just say I really appreciate a lot of the thoughts that have been shared. It seems like most everyone is somewhat in agreement (except for Maxwel ;) ).

From my own personal experience, I know several mature Christian men that I admire for the way they love and lead their wives and children. The concept of a husband's leadership (or headship, as Matt Chandler put it -- thanks for sharing those awesome vids, Chandlerfan!) was familiar to me but it never became so real to me until I was in a relationship.

In short, my answer to the original question "what does it look like?" is "it looks like Christ". Don't get me wrong, I don't expect any person, male or female, to be flawless. But when someone is growing in their walk with the Lord and expressing Christ-like attributes in a way that is appropriate to their spiritual maturity level, that is something exceedingly precious. When a man loves a woman in a pure and selfless way, when he seeks to serve, protect, and humbly set a godly example for her (in the face of both success and failure), when he is sensitive to her needs, when he sees her worth as a fellow child of God, when he passionately pursues Christ and encourages her as she does the same, it does something to her heart. At least it did for me. To me, it just looked like Christ. That type of love is clearly not of this world. That's the sort of love that can only stem from the heart of a man who is captured by Christ. That's the sort of love that makes me feel cherished and beautiful. It's the kind of love that makes me feel safe enough willingly and joyfully submit as I have been called to do.

A man can never be perfect, and I wouldn't expect him to be, but a man worth submitting to is a man who submits to Christ.
 

JesusLives

Senior Member
Oct 11, 2013
14,554
2,176
113
#49
Only the love card should be pulled by the husband. Respect for the husband comes from the wife, it may be earned by the husband but the husband must not demand it. Husbands should love their wives but should not think that they are the boss of their wives. A good husband will put the wants and needs of the wife above his own hopes and desires. A wife is not the personal slave of the husband to wait on his every whim. A husband who loves his wife will earn her respect by who he is in his walk with the Lord and this will show by his actions toward to her as his wife in how he protects and provides for her. A loving and faithful husband will be the best friend of the wife and a loving and faithful wife will be the best friend to the husband.
You make respecting you easy and I always said I wanted to marry my best friend....
 
T

Tintin

Guest
#50
My quote feature isn't working correctly right now, so I'll just say I really appreciate a lot of the thoughts that have been shared. It seems like most everyone is somewhat in agreement (except for Maxwel ;) ).

From my own personal experience, I know several mature Christian men that I admire for the way they love and lead their wives and children. The concept of a husband's leadership (or headship, as Matt Chandler put it -- thanks for sharing those awesome vids, Chandlerfan!) was familiar to me but it never became so real to me until I was in a relationship.

In short, my answer to the original question "what does it look like?" is "it looks like Christ". Don't get me wrong, I don't expect any person, male or female, to be flawless. But when someone is growing in their walk with the Lord and expressing Christ-like attributes in a way that is appropriate to their spiritual maturity level, that is something exceedingly precious. When a man loves a woman in a pure and selfless way, when he seeks to serve, protect, and humbly set a godly example for her (in the face of both success and failure), when he is sensitive to her needs, when he sees her worth as a fellow child of God, when he passionately pursues Christ and encourages her as she does the same, it does something to her heart. At least it did for me. To me, it just looked like Christ. That type of love is clearly not of this world. That's the sort of love that can only stem from the heart of a man who is captured by Christ. That's the sort of love that makes me feel cherished and beautiful. It's the kind of love that makes me feel safe enough willingly and joyfully submit as I have been called to do.

A man can never be perfect, and I wouldn't expect him to be, but a man worth submitting to is a man who submits to Christ.
Awesome, Hallie. Awesome! You sum it up so well. A godly husband is who submits to Christ.
 
K

Kaycie

Guest
#51
That's easy- compare it to Christ and His bride (the church)- He leads her but does not force her into submission, and she submits to Him of her own freewill. If he loves you enough to die for you he is not going to mistreat you, and a man like that deserves great respect and love. 1 Corinthians 11:3 " But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God." What is Christ's attitude toward the Father? He said He came to do the will of His Father. A wife should do the will of her husband, and a child should do the will of their parents. If a man has not put childish ways behind him, and thinks of himself before others, don't even date him. However, having said all that, the highest authority of us all is God. If a man (or anyone) tells you to do something that goes against God, you do what God says instead. I say this saying, and I think it's a really good place to start...

Boys play house...Men build homes! Boys shack up...Men get married! Boys make babies...Men raise children! A boy won't raise his own children, a man will raise his and someone else's! Boys invent excuses for failure...Men produce strategies for success! Boys look for somebody to take care of them...Men look for someone to take care of! Boys seek popularity...Men demand respect and know how to give it.