Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

Graciously Submissive Wives

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything (Ephesians 5:22-23).

I want to go on record here by saying that I applaud the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) for their recent declaration urging wives to "graciously" submit to their husbands. This new article, passed in the SBC's church wide convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, was given front page coverage in the June 11 issue of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. It is refreshingly encouraging to find a courageous church body that has not been totally beaten into quivering submission by our feminist-frenzied society. Most church bodies have become so fearful of the scornful reprisal of academic or media elites that they wouldn't touch the Biblical teaching of Ephesians 5:22-23 if their lives depended on it. But in a shining moment, the SBC obeyed God rather than men, and upheld the clear teaching of Scripture on the role of wives in marriage. Nor was it only concern for wives that led to this statement. It was equally born out of love for husbands, that they might be urged to take their God-ordained place in the marriage and be the kind of loving spiritual leaders that God has called them to be.

Yes, I said "clear" teaching of Scripture. I say this knowing full well the cacophony of interpretations of this passage which have arisen to dismiss what is patently clear because of fear of persecution. What the Lutheran reformer Philip Melanchthon wrote in the 16th Century applies here: "These words are so clear they do not need acute understanding but only attentive listening" (Book of Concord, Apology of the Augsburg Confession; Article IV.33). But Scripture remains clear in its main teachings despite the protestations of those fleeing the light. Reread the passage yourself above. What is not to understand?

And is it really necessary to forever have to say that the Ephesians 5:22-23, correctly understood, does not teach or condone husbandly tyranny, that it doesn't say that the wife is inferior to the husband, etc? Is that not made obvious by the very next verse which addresses husbands: "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for it" (Ephesians 5:24)? Christ-like, sacrificial love does not abuse or brutally lord it over another. By definition it puts the needs of the wife first and does ALL for her good. So get over it already!

Thank God that by His grace, we in the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod also steadfastly hold to this Biblical teaching on the role of men and women in marriage. If only all Lutherans did. I was embarrassed by our "Lutheran brethren" from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) quoted in the Telegram & Gazette article. First, Martin Marty, the media appointed spokesman for anything Christian or Lutheran gave the worthless evaluation that the SBC position would lead to "Jay Leno jokes," and much ridicule. And your point, Martin? Are you suggesting that because the world laughs at a Christian position that this invalidates it? Are you suggesting that if the world doesn't respect our teachings that those teachings are invalid? Have you forgotten, Rev. Marty, that they also laughed at our Savior (Mark 5:40), that they questioned His sanity (Mark 5:20-21) and accused Him of being demon-possessed (Mark 5:22)? Have you forgotten that that same Jesus said, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: `No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also" (John 15:18-20)?

Second, we were treated to a quote from ELCA communications director, the Rev. Eric Shafer who offered up the tired opinion that Galatians 3:28 speaks about the role of men and women in marriage and therefore somehow, corrects the teaching of Ephesians 5:22-23. However, anyone who examines the context surrounding Galatians 3:28, will see that Paul is not speaking about the role of men and women in marriage, but rather is speaking to the question of status in the Christian Church. "We take a middle-of-the-road approach," states Shafer. Never has a truer word been spoken.

Lord have mercy upon your Bride, the Church!

February 1999

© Dr. Richard P. Bucher