Dave

Hi pinklight!

I like your thinking with regards to submission and subordination (especially in regards to one being permanent and the other temporary).

What I was trying to say earlier was that it is not just a matter of subordinate being permanent and submission temporary, but that if you are subordinate you had no say in it. If you are inferior, then that is where God put you – you cannot change that. Submission, though, is something you choose to do. If someone forces you physically to submit you have not submitted at all, but they have enforced subordination through physical superiority.

Now Paul told us all to be like Christ, and he also told us all to submit. Jesus told us there was to be no hierarchy between us, but to love and serve each other.

To say Jesus died on the cross because he was inferior (subordinate), and not because he was submitting, goes against scripture (Phil 2) and what he has told us to do (to submit).

So I agree with you, the comps use the word “subordinate” because it is accurate for their purpose and their theology…but I choose to use the word “submit”! I would love to know Mark’s take on the use of the two words…

Thanks for the encouragement Cheryl! I love visiting your blog…I learn so much!