Dave

First, thanks for all the love regarding my night time antics! I should say that I do not think what I did was out of the ordinary for anyone who loves their kids and their wife. Thanks Charis for the “May your tribe increase”, but we feel we have enough for the moment!

NN – I am glad someone finally defined authority, I had the dictionary out to do it but you beat me to it! There are two issues I have with your comment about authority in the Christian life. By definition, authority is a right. My dictionary suggests that this right can be based on power, mental superiority, dominion etc.

Now society and situation sometimes give authority. In Paul’s day I do not think anyone will dispute, men had authority over their wives. It was given to them expressly by society.

BUT – has Paul said that this authority is God given? This, of course, takes us back to Genesis where many of us feel we have not recieved answers that suggest this authority is God given. Is this authority even an issue in a society where marriages are viewed more egalitarian?

Next, your definition of authroity I feel needs drawing out. I am using Webster’s, and it does not make any suggestion that authority can be used to love, nurture, care for etc. In fact it says that authrity has the ability to; command, act, control, exercise power, have credability, exercise dominion, etc.

Although I agree that some of these things can be done in more and less loving ways, the concept of control is essentially anti love as a concept. I hope I do not need to explain why! I feel that what you want to say is that husbands should love their wives, but you think it is Biblical to say husbands should have authority over their wives.