Read Part One HERE
In this post I continue to focus on bible teacher and author Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wolgemuth. She is on the Board of Reference of The Council On Biblical Manhood and Womanhood as well as on the Board of Reference of Joyful Christian Ministries, a ministry founded by the wife and daughters of fundamental pastor and evangelist John R. Rice, including his daughter Elizabeth Rice Handford who wrote the book "Me Obey Him?"
We will continue looking at some statements from the above book as follows
1. " Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the Scriptures say a woman ought to obey her husband. If you are intellectually honest, you will have to admit that it is impossible to find a single loophole, a single exception, an "if" or "unless." The Scriptures say, without qualification, to the open minded reader, that a woman ought to obey her husband (pp.24, 25).
2. She is to obey regardless of his spiritual condition. The wife who obeys her husband may win him over by her meek and quiet spirit, her loving behaviour (p. 25).
3. She need not fear conflicting authority. There is no hint that a woman may have to choose between conflicting authority... If is it needed in order to fulfill both obligations, God will do a miracle to make it possible... It is safe to conclude that when God told a woman to obey her husband, He intended for her to be able to do it without risk of offending other authorities (pp. 25, 28).
4. She obeys without reference to her feelings about the will of God, The Scriptures say that a woman must ignore her "feelings" about the will of God and do what her husband says. She is to obey her husband as if he were God Himself. She can be as certain of God's will , when her husbands speaks, as if God had spoken audibly from heaven (p.28).
My Comment
1.The Scriptures do not teach anywhere that a woman is to obey her husband. In Genesis 1:26-28 we learn that God gave to the male as well as the female the task to rule over creation. In Genesis 2:18 we read that God made the woman as the man's "ezer kenegdo" or "equal partner." In Ephesians 5:21-22 we read of mutual submission. In 1 Peter 3:1-6 the Apostle Peter mentioned that Sarah listened to or heeded Abraham, However, in Genesis 21:8-12 we read that God told Abraham to listen to or heed Sarah.
2. As I already mentioned Scripture does not teach that a woman is to obey her husband. Neither does it teach that she is to obey him regardless of his spiritual condition. Abigail did not obey her husband and saved her life and that of the members of her household (1 Samuel 25). Moreover, queen Esther went to see her husband even though he had not called for her, thereby putting her life in danger (Esther 4:15-16).
3. God does not always do a miracle to make it possible for a woman to fulfill both obligations because He has never told a woman to obey her husband. However, the woman is to obey God as we know from Acts 5:29 Peter and the other apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than men!" In the above situation God did not do a miracle for the apostles had been in prison and afterwards were flogged. Likewise, any believer be they male or female may well have to face the consequences of their actions rather than have a miracle happen to them. However, no matter what they may have to go through they can be assured of God's Presence with them at all times.
4.Scripture never mentions that a woman is to ignore her feelings about the will of God and do what her husband says for he speaks as if he were God Himself. That is making an idol of her husband!! The Holy Spirit resides within every female believer and He will help her know if there is anything she needs to say to her husband as his "ezer kenegdo" or "equal partner." Let's remember that in the case of Abigail, she acted without her husband's approval. And in the case of Esther, she went against the law of the land as approved of by her husband.
Read Part Four HERE
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