Who's the Head Governs the How

When Christians emphasize the biblical teaching that wives are to submit to their husbands, aren't we creating an environment where abuse will flourish?

Answer: NOT if we teach the biblical teaching with biblical balance.

One passage where the biblical balance of the submission teaching is clearly taught is 1 Corinthians 11:3:

"But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God."

"Head" in this passage seems to refer to something like "authority." Paul most often uses it this way, especially when referring to Christ as the Head of the Church (e.g. Ephesians 1:22). God in His loving wisdom has set up relationships with an order of authority. This verse in 1 Corinthians 11 refers to that order in marriage and in Christ to man and God to Christ.

Isn't it dangerous for a wife to have her husband as an authority? NOT if that husband has any understanding that HIS HEAD is Christ! And isn't it repressive for a man to have Christ as his authority? NOT if he understands that even Christ has God the Father as His head. Did Christ model the life of a man lived under the repression or oppression of a higher authority? Not unless perfect freedom, perfect joy, perfect love, and sinless living could be considered repressed! Christ existed in perfect love and submission from eternity with the Father. Though equal with the Father, he lived in a submission that was "economic" in the sense that this is how the purposes of the Godhead would be accomplished. Living in constant obedience to the Father was the joy of the Son for the shared purposes of eternal redemption and glory.

Husbands, Christ is our head. May we learn to submit to His marvelous cross-proven, life-reaffirmed love. We can partner with Him for purposes that are eternal and redeeming, including the sanctification of our precious wives.

Wives, your husband is your head. The authority of Christ comes into your life in a significant way through him. Pray for him that he will understand and live in joyful submission to his Head, Christ, that he might imitate that always good authority in his life with you. And partner with him for God's purposes for your relationship and your family and your church.

Let us not shrink back from but lean into the relationships of authority and submission that God has ordained for redemptive life in this world.