Ephesians 5:22 and why women don’t need to drive

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” KJV

“The wives! to your own husbands subject yourselves, as to the Lord,” YLT

“Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” ASV

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” NKJV

” You wives will submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord.” NLT

“Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” NIV

” Wives, {be subject} to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” NASB

Power to the man!! Right?

“Why don’t women need to drive? . . . Because there is no road between the bedroom and the kitchen.”

Power to the man!! Right?

In this seemingly male dominated society are women really viewed as inferior? I suppose it depends on who you ask.

Sometime shortly after “The Beginning,” God decided that Adam needed a suitable helper. Apparently none of the animals were capable of fulfilling this position so a woman was created from a part of the man Adam. The woman was made because it is not good for man to be alone and to be a suitable helper. I have wondered what would have happened if the woman was not made. Was Adam going to like single handedly populate the Earth? God seems to have liked the idea of being fruitful and multiplying. At any rate it ended up being man plus woman equals child.

So here comes the suitable helper about to talk to a sneaky serpent type creature . . I will go ahead and assume it was an amazingly beautiful creature with legs and stuff, the serpent type creature that is. I will also assume that the animals talk . . . and Eve falls for this ridiculous story about eating a forbidden fruit to become like God and sucks Adam into it WHAM! just like that. At this point the suitable helper was not being very helpful apparently . . . By the way, what was left to help Adam with after he finished naming all the animals? And where did this serpent fellow come from anyway, was he placed in the garden or did he find his way in?

I suppose it is not so important . . . The point is this: It seems like the first woman, Eve, really botched it up for mankind on Earth. Maybe thats why society at large seems to be so male dominated, maybe not. I suppose women could be treated as men, but I think most of them wouldn’t enjoy it very much. Usually when I try to joke with a girl like I do with a guy, someone gets upset, the girl, and I get in trouble (slapped, begrudged, lectured, ignored for an extended period of time, etc). Men and women are fundamentally different, they were created for different purposes are not the same. This does not mean that men and women are not equal though. In mathematics the word equal means that the value of two expressions is the same. (2 x 3 = 6) However six is not the same as 2 x 3. These expressions look different, and are made up of different components. One is more concise than the other, but they are equal, both achieving the same ultimate value. In the same way, as men and women we should strive for the same ultimate value, the value of a relationship with God through the saving blood of Jesus the Christ, God’s one and only begotten son. It seems God created Adam to have a relationship with and to be a steward over the earth. Eve was created because it was not good for Adam to be alone, a companion and suitable helper to share life with. (Note: it does not say suitable servant) Both have the ultimate responsibility to glorify God together and share the consequences each others actions to an extent, but also suffer individually distinct consequences since, after all, they are different people created for different roles.

That is not to say that the roles of men and women are completely distinct and clearly outlined. Some are. Men can not give birth, not yet anyway. They definitely were not meant to at any rate . . . Men can do dishes though . . . and laundry believe it or not! Actually it has been reported that there have been official sightings of women mowing lawns from time to time even. But in all seriousness though, the Bible seems to be pretty clear on the relationships between men and women in society.

Women are a precious gift and as a man striving to follow God it is your responsibility to treat them as such. As Christ-like people we are called to love one another as Christ has loved us. This means we are called to serve one another. Loving is serving. Ephesians 5:25 tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. GAVE HIMSELF FOR HER!

I don’t think there would be much of a submission issue if we focus on loving, that is, serving.

Submission can not be demanded or even requested by one who is focused on loving (serving). If something is expected in return it is not serving, it is simply a job. Jobs are for earning things, serving is for learning things. Learning things about yourself and your relationship with God and others.

At any rate, so what is the real reason why women do not need to drive? Because there should always be a gentleman offering. Unfortunately in this world the question must be phrased “Why shouldn’t women need to drive.”

Ephesians 5:28 “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.”

It might not be a horrible idea to extend that thought to brothers and sisters in Christ after all we are part of the same body and then to all people that they may know the grace of God.

read it, chew it, and then its up to you to swallow it or spit it out.