I will make one last statement that the submission/subjugation-obsessed men will probably ignore. Almost all of this is based on Ephesians 5:21
1. As believers, we are all to submit to the Lord and yield our desires for the good of our brothers and sisters.
2. Husbands are to submit to the Lord and give their lives for the good of their wives. This is how they demonstrate their gift of love to their wives; it cannot be demanded by their wives.
3. Wives are to submit to the Lord and yield their will to their husbands. This is a gift to demonstrate their love to their husbands; it cannot be demanded by their husbands.
4. Each spouse as they yield to the Lord will as a result of their true faith treat their spouse with love and respect. It is the Lord's job to keep the other spouse "in their place." Loving spouses do not police each other.
5. Neither spouse gets to be a dictator. They are to both seek the Lord and follow his will in everything they do.
6. If a man is following the Lord and behaving gently to his wife, and the wife is following the Lord and being respectful to her husband, the leadership of the man almost as a consequence falls into place.
7. The two genders are created to work together for the glory of the Lord and to further his kingdom.
I Peter 3:7—In a similar way, you husbands must live [also includes sexual relations] with your wives in an understanding manner [moral wisdom], as with a most delicate partner [physically less strong]. Honor them as heirs with you [equal partner] of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing may interfere with your prayers. [Literal word translations provided in brackets.]
Thanks for your testimony. I just wrote mine testimony using Eph. 5:21, too! About how I was abused, but decided it was too personal to post, esp. since we have resolved it for over 8 years, although the abuse lasted 20 years, and it was not my fault.
Maybe some day, I will tell about all the women I know who have been abused by their Christian husbands in the name of obedience, when submission doesn't mean that at all. If a husband treats his wife as Christ treats the church, there will be no problems in the marriage. Because any wife would be happy to be treated with love and respect and not be abused in the name of some frail male ego using obedience as a way to subjugate his wife.
And thanks to all the men who defend the intelligence, the love and ability of Christian wives, and the need for equality in a post resurrection world. Go back to being created in the image of God. That is the Garden of Eden. The curse was Adam directly disobeying God (Adam KNEW not to eat, Eve was not there when God commanded that!) but Jesus redeemed us all from the curse of sin and death, including men who think they need to be in control, when in fact, God is in control.
It's kind of funny that democracy must not work either, from some of the political comments here! Some men seem to think that someone has to be in control like a dictator, when the principle of democracy is freedom (with responsibility, of course!). So is that for men only, too? Or did those rabid Christian feminists who fought for the vote ruin democracy, too?
I think I would rather live in a country where women were considered equal, than one where men had to be in control of everything. It seems like other than Elizabeth I, most of the wars and problems in the world have occurred when men were in authority.
One only has to think for a minute about women wearing the hijab to realize what happens when men think they need to control women - right down to what they wear!