Jessica

Thank you for your response. Respectful discussion can be very fruitful! I have not always been a complementarian and have been humbled in the past few years as I have discovered what I believe to be the gracious design that God has for men and women.

In Ephesians 5:17-33 (I use the ESV) we see the classic example of how we SHOULD submit to one another within the Body of Christ. Often we get caught up in the semantics of things. I will not attempt any hermeneutical feats because well it probably wouldn’t be pretty! : ) We also see in that passage the pattern for the marriage relationship.

Wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church. For husbands that means identifying the wife’s deepest needs and meeting those needs with the appropriate action. Godly male leadership and submission to the Holy Spirit is what is required. I think that we often see the word submission and thing weakness. I do not…I think true power…just as Christ’s submission to the Father brought about redemption for each one of us. Submission for husbands brings the strength to love their wives as Christ has loved the Church and submission for women frees us to be all that God has called us to be within the Body of Christ. I have been blessed by the fruits of this truth.

I do know if the issue of pride that John Piper is facing necessarily has anything to do with the submission issue as far as their marriage goes. I don’t know and wouldn’t try to guess about that. It certainly may have an awful lot to do with listening and submitting to the Holy Spirit. That is the key to providing Godly leadership and on the other hand allowing wives to be joyfully submitting to that leadership. I think that sacrifice may be a more appropriate term in this case because God has given Piper such a large platform and ministry. If it was me it would feel like a huge sacrifice to step away from that for any reason. That is why I feel such respect for his thoughtful wisdom to take this leave of absence.

You are absolutely spot on with saying that our literal body submits to itself all the time. However, I would add that all of those parts have a purpose and it is crucial that our body parts/organs fulfill that purpose. That is the way God designed them. The heart needs the kidneys to filter the blood but the kidneys can’t do the same job the heart does. God’s design can be seen in the marriage relationship as well. When we think of submission we automatically think of hierarchy. I would pose the idea that submission is not always synonymous with hierarchy. All parts are necessary yet our parts maintain different roles. Equal in value yet different in purpose and the way in which the great glory of God is displayed. Personally I see gender in much the same way.

Also, there is no excuse for complementarians, egalitarians or any other member of the Body of Christ to use “philosophies” and non-essentials as a platform for abuse or the sin of hypocrisy. I can’t remember if you said this Cheryl or if it was something else I read that made mention of other complementarian leaders whose personal lives do not reflect an attitude of submission to the Holy Spirit, but I wanted to throw that in here at the end. Pride is evil…it will destroy us no matter what “ideas” we cling to. Christ crucified is the only “good news” all the rest is just gravy ; )

I need a nap…Good stuff!

Thanks,
Jessica