“Therefore just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands, in everything.”
(Eph 5:24, NKJV)
Angus Buchan’s ministry has had a major impact in South Africa. His theology is one which gets straight to the point. He encouraged men to again take up their God-given role in the family, and to serve God and his family as priests. This fundamental truth obviously heralded its share of critique within the media, especially since so many people consider it a theology which is outdated within our postmodern context. Especially his statements about the man’s role as head of the home received a lot of negative responses from both men and women. This whole spectrum, which stretches from sceptic academics (like prof. Lina Spies) to well-intentioned journalists (like Neels Jackson) feel that men and women are equals and the Biblical guidelines can not be accepted in their rigid forms in today’s world.
What does however make the principle hard to argue away is the fact that the statement does not occur in the Bible only once. It is unambiguously spelled out in 1 Cor 14:34, Eph 5:22 & 24, Col 3:18, Tit 2:5 and 1 Pet 3:1 & 5. It is undeniably clear that this is a given way for women to live their faith.
Let us however make a number of side notes about this issue.
Firstly – women need to submit to their husbands. This is thus not a general submission of women to men. The reason for this is that each relationship between husband and wife is based on the principle of Eve who was taken from Adam’s side, according to Mal 2:15. Thus – my wife does not need to submit to any other man.
Secondly – submitting does not mean that the husband is the boss; he is merely the functional head according to God’s order. There is a built-in factor in this position which prevents any abuse of power – if he does not honour his wife, his prayers can’t be heard (1 Pet 3:7).
Thirdly – this submission does not only pertain to women. In fact, servants or workers need to submit to their bosses (Tit 2:9), even if the boss is wrong (1 Pet 2:18); everyone needs to submit to the authorities (Tit 3:1); we all need to submit to the government and to the ordinances of man (1 Pet 2:13); believers are urged to submit to their leaders (Heb 13:17), and the young should submit to the old (1 Pet 5:5). The general guideline is – believers should submit to everyone, throughout (Eph 5:21).
Fourthly – the Christian faith has the prime example of submission in the attitude and behaviour of Jesus, who throughout his life submitted to the authority which had been assigned to rule over him. “Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil 5-8). This is why the concept of submission must always occur in the light of His example (Isa 50:6; Matt 20:28) – in this is nestled immense power. It is called the inversion of the kingdom – if you are weak, you are strong, if you are rich, you are poor, etc (2 Cor 8:9; Joel 3:10). Within this understanding few women will find it hard to be obedient to God’s order (1 Pet 3:5-6).
- Sela: Ask Yahweh for a spirit of servitude.
- Read: Deut 1-3
- Examine how this would be fulfilled: The typology of Og in the New Covenant.
