This week I took a peek at these verses through the eyes of others. I saw many different pictures. As I read the words of Jane Fonda I saw nothing but the evidence that links Christian teaching with Patriarchy, which is the identified as the primary cause of oppression in society by feminists. As I read an Islamic author, I saw evidence that justified the supremacy of men over women and children. While we might view these two perspectives as opposites, they are really the same. Both interpret the Bible’s instruction for wives to submit to their husbands the same way. The only difference is that one abhors it and the other embraces it.

What are we to make of it? Should we align ourselves with the feminist who seeks release for those who are oppressed? Or should we align ourselves with the muslim who seeks to hold onto male headship? On the one hand, we should be on the same side as the feminists in their quest for freedom for the oppressed. Jesus came for this very thing. At the beginning of his ministry he stood up to teach in the synagogue and quoted from Isaiah,

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

Jesus mission is to release the oppressed.

On the other hand, Jesus is the head of the church, which is his bride and as such is set before us as a model for marriage with the husband the head of the wife. Jesus model is male headship. Somehow, the Christian must cling to both of these ideas. Is there another way of understanding Paul’s instruction for the wife to submit? Is there a way to see male headship as a means of releasing the oppressed?

Eph 5:21-24 Submission through Respect Discussion Guide