Mark

Kay, thanks for the prompt on your thoughts!

I agree that mutual submission is totally unknown to the world outside of our great God. But i do dis-agree with cheryl that comps neglect Eph 5:21. Mutual submission IS ESSENTIAL in the body of Christ. However the 12 verses following verse 21 distinguishes differences in certain relationships. I think this shouldn’t be ignored and claim it is all wrapped up by verse 21. If this was so, Paul would have had no need to write these other 12 verses.

you said “We all presently live in a world where tragedy and sin are the reality. A husband who has lost his cognitive function cannot exercise “authority” over anyone. ”

I think this is precisely your problem Kay, you think men need to exercise their authority. I hold that none can demand or exercise their authority. When a wife submits she does it ‘as to the Lord’. Her submission to her husband as the head is between her and the Lord, not what the husband demands. I’m sorry you have some tough life situations, but i still don’t believe that this makes the men any less the ‘leader’ of the family. Sure he may not be able to work, or live normally, but being the head in my opinion is not about demands or exercising some sort of authority. I believe the authority is there just not demaded by the man… make sense???

I believe Paul talked about staying single for this one reason- to be more devoted to Christ and not have your life split between family and God, not because of some sort of authority issue. I will hold that when a marriage occurs, it is primarily to be a reflection of the covenant between Christ and the Church, which definately has mutual submission in Christs actions, and authority in Christs Lordship. Let me ask you this question- when Christ washed His disciples feet, do you think for a moment they questioned who it was who had the authority in that room? Yes Christ demonstrated mutual submission in His actions but he is still Lord- the perfect example for a husband, except obviously we are not God.

It seems to me Kay, that you are caught in this authority issue. I agree with everything you have said about servanthood and humility and the like, the only difference is i dont think those things negate authority. Authority is a good and healthy thing, provided it is a refection of Christ- there lies the challenge.
Thankyou for your effort in writing that post.