Wives are to be slaves of their husbands: Grooming Your Bride P/9

                                                      Read Part One HERE

In this post I continue to share from the article "7 Steps To Groom Your Young Bride" written by Larry Solomon. This article can be found on his website Biblical Gender Roles.

"Husbands love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that is should be holy and without blemish." Ephesians 5: 25-27

Larry Solomon: "Christ did not give up His life for His wife's happiness. He gave up His life to purchase His wife so that He could groom her into the wife He wanted her to be......"

Larry Solomon: "What this means practically speaking is that you need to begin to mold your wife to your preferences for her behaviour. You should never feel guilty in desiring your wife's submission and service to you, but rather you should enjoy this as God enjoys your submission and service to Him."

Larry Solomon: "So what are some practical ways that you can groom your wife into the glorious wife you want her to be?"

Larry Solomon: "You can make her modify her clothing style to the styles you prefer. You can make her learn to cook the foods you enjoy. You can make her watch the TV shows you like to watch."

Larry Solomon: "A Christian's wife grooming, her God-ordained subjection to her husband, is never complete until she has been groomed to be loving, pleasant and completely satisfying to her husband in every respect." 

My Comment 

It seems to me that Larry Solomon's description of a perfect wife fits more in with a slave or a robot since she is only allowed to wear the clothes he has selected for her, cook only the food he wants her to prepare, watch only the TV programs he enjoys.    

However, in Genesis 1:26-28 we read of God's creation of the man and the woman as follows                                                                                                                                                     Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image and our likeness and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move on the ground." So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

It is very clear from the above words that God never intended for any husband to groom his wife until she has been groomed to be loving, pleasant and completely satisfying to him in every respect but that they were called to work together as a team on an equal basis. 

However, we know that in Genesis 3:16d God forewarned the woman that the man wanted to begin to rule over her. That did indeed happen and is still happening today as we can see from Larry Solomon's words that God has ordained a wife to be in subjection to her husband. However, Christ has come to bring change into that situation by dying on the Cross for us (Galatians 3:13). Consequently, in Christ, male and female believers follow His example by loving and serving each other (Galatians 5:13) since we are called to mutually submit to each other (Ephesians 5:21-22). It seems to me that Larry Solomon does not have any understanding of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ who did not groom His followers to wash His feet. Instead He washed their feet. (John 13:1-17).

Read Part Ten HERE

 

Wives are to give glory to their husbands: Grooming Your Bride P/8

                                                      Read Part One HERE

In this post I continue sharing from the article "7 Steps To Groom Your Young Bride" written by Larry Solomon. This article can be found on his website Biblical Gender Roles.

Step #6  Mold Your Wife Into The Glorious Wife You Want Her To Be.

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present to Himself a glorious church, not having sport, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that is should be holy and without blemish." Ephesians 5:25-27

Larry Solomon:"Christ did not give up his life for His wife's happiness, He gave up His life to purchase His wife so that He could groom her into the wife He wanted her to be. And this is what God has called you as a Christian husband to do. in 1 Corinthians 11:7 the Bible tells us that     "... the woman is the glory of man"                                                                                                     and in 1 Corinthians 11:9 the Bible says                                                                                                   "woman was created for man."                                                                                                             These Scriptures teach that God created your wife for you, to bring you glory and when your wife brings you glory this brings God glory. So, you as a man bring glory to God by your submission and service to Him and your wife brings glory to God by her submission and service to you."

My Comment

Christ did not give up His life to purchase His wife so that He could groom her into the wife He wanted her to be. On the contrary, Jesus died to give His wife, the church, life....life eternal (John 10:10)... He became sin so in Him we can become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21)..... 

As for 1 Corinthians 11:7                                                                                                                               "... the woman is the glory of man",                                                                                                  these words are part of a quotation from religious leaders in the church in Corinth that Paul rebuked later on in the chapter. Man and woman are made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-28).                                                                                                                                                  And as for 1 Corinthians 11:9                                                                                                                "woman was created for man",                                                                                                               it should read "woman was created because of man." She was created because the man was lonely without her, was incomplete without her. The bible does not teach that God created the wife to bring glory to the husband and that when the wife brings glory to the husband she brings glory to God. On the contrary, the wife as well as the husband are both created to bring glory to God in whatever they say or do (1 Corinthians 10:31).

P.S. I will continue sharing from Step #6 Mold Your Wife Into The Glorious Wife You Want Her To Be  in my next post.

Read Part Nine HERE

Wives can be led astray: Grooming your Bride P/7

                                                      Read Part One HERE

I continue to share from the article "7 Steps To Groom Your Young Bride." written by Larry Solomon. This article can be found on his website Biblical Gender Roles.

 Step #5 - Get Your Wife A Female Spiritual Mentor

 "The aged women, likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God is not blasphemed." Titus 2:3-5 (KJV).

Larry Solomon: "The Bible does not just support the concept of female mentorship, but it actually commands it. You may hear some horror stories from older men whose wives were actually led astray by ungodly advice from their girlfriends at church or elsewhere. But mentoring by good and godly women who fully embrace and live out Biblical gender roles can have life changing effects on women." 

My Comment 

Good and godly women will not fully embrace and live out Biblical gender roles as suggested by Larry Solomon since such roles are not found in Scripture. Consequently, they will not teach them either to other women. As for women to be" obedient" to their own husbands, the Greek word here is "hupotasso" and means "submission" which refers to a voluntary aligning oneself with their husbands. It does not mean "obedience" even though that is the term used in the KJV. Children are told to "hupakouo" or "obey" their parents but wives are never told to "hupakouo" their husbands. They are only told to "hupotasso" their husbands. And that is to be done in a setting of mutual submission as we know from Ephesians 5:21-22.                                                                                                                      As for wives to be keepers at home, on the whole the lives of women in the Bible was at home due to the cultural restraints of that time. However, Lydia was a business woman (Acts 16:14). Likewise, Priscilla was a tent maker together with her husband (Acts 18:1-3).  And Paul commends many women. However, he does not mention them in the context of being keepers at home but in the context of their functions as leaders in the Body of Christ. Examples can be found in Romans 16:1-2, 3, 6, 7, 12; 1 Corinthians 1:1; Colossians 4:15 to name just a few.                                                                      Moreover, Jesus had women disciples who travelled with Him (Matthew 27:56; Luke 8:1-3).

Read Part Eight HERE

Husbands must teach their wives doctrines: P/6

                                                      Read Part One HERE

I continue sharing from the article "7 Steps To Groom Your Young Bride" written by Larry Solomon. This article can be found on his website Biblical Gender Roles.

 Step #3. Seek out a male spiritual Mentor

"Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Proverbs 27:17 (KJV)

Larry Solomon:"Finding a wise and godly man to mentor you will be crucial to helping you as you seek to groom your young bride."

My Comment

Any wise and godly man would know that grooming a bride, young or old,  is completely against Scripture.

 Step #4. You must teach your wife Biblical gender roles.

"And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home." 1 Corinthians 14:35 (KJV)

Larry Solomon: "God calls you to be your wife's primary spiritual teacher. Once you have fully absorbed and embraced  the teachings of the Bible concerning gender roles, you must teach each of these doctrines to your wife. You should also seek advice from your mentor as to how to approach these important doctrines with your wife."

My Comment

 The words in 1 Corinthians 14:35 are not Paul's own words but part of a quotation in a letter he had received from the church in Corinth. His answer to this quotation, in the form of a rebuke, can be found in 1 Corinthians 14:36-37. God does not call the husband to to be his wife's primary spiritual teacher for the Holy Spirit is to be her Teacher as she studies God's Word for herself (1 John 2:27).                          Furthermore, the Bible does not teach specifically on gender roles. That is a man made theology. Male and female believers are new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) , sons of God (Romans 8:14) and are to be Christlike (Galatians 3:27), submitting to each other (Ephesians 5:21-22) by loving each other (John 13:34) and serving each other (Galatians 5:13). Consequently, no husband is to seek advice from any mentor as to how to approach his wife with regard so-called gender roles.

Read Part Seven HERE

Wives are weak: Grooming Your Bride P/5

                                                       Read Part One HERE

In this post I will continue to share from the article "7 Steps To Groom Your Young Bride" by Larry Solomon. This article can be found on his website Bbiblical Gender Roles.

Step# 2d You must learn and embrace Biblical gender roles.

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

Larry Solomon: "An understanding and full acceptance of the doctrines of the Bible concerning gender roles is a critical step for you as a husband to begin the grooming process with your wife."

According to him the doctrines of the Bible concerning gender roles include the following:

Larry Solomon: "God made women as "the weaker vessel." (1 Peter 3:7)

Larry Solomon: "Because man is God's image bearer it is God's design that men should rule over women in all areas of life including the home (Ephesians 5:22-24; 1 Peter 3:1-6), the church (1 Timothy 2:12; 1 Corinthians 14:34) and in society (Isaiah 3:12; 1 Corinthians 11:3). In other words, patriarchy is not just a cultural tradition of ages past, but is in fact God's design for society."

My Comment

God created the woman to rule over creation together with the man as we know from Genesis 1:26-28. Sadly, after the Fall the man began to rule over the woman (Genesis 3:16d). However, that situation was reversed when Christ died on the Cross (Galatians 3:13). Women and men who are in Christ have now been given authority in Him (Matthew 28:18-20). God, therefore, never made women as "the weaker vessel" but throughout the centuries men have developed philosophies that considered women as "inferior", thereby making women's positions in society "weak" or vulnerable. Such was the situation at the time of the apostle Peter and, unfortunately, such is the situation still today for many women, depending where they live.

As for man being God's image bearer, that is true. But, likewise, woman is God's image bearer according to Genesis 1:26-28. Larry Solomon quotes a number of passages to defend his viewpoint. However, he is incorrect in his understanding of these passages.

As for Ephesians 5:22-24, he should have included Ephesians 5:21 since in the original text verse 22 can only be understood in light of verse 21. That passage teaches on mutual submission.

As for 1 Peter 3:1-6 these words were written by Peter to wives whose husbands were unbelievers. He instructs them how they can win their husbands to the Lord.

As for 1 Timothy 2:12, Paul writes to Timothy about one of more women teachers who cannot yet teach because they have to learn correct doctrine first. That was a temporary situation for these women but is not an issue for all women everywhere and at all times as is being taught in certain circles.

As for 1 Corinthians 14:34, these words are not Paul's words but part of a quotation from a letter he had received from the church in Corinth. Paul addressed this quotation in 1 Corinthians 14:36-37 with a rebuke that started as follows; "What" or "Utter nonsense.... Did the word of God originate with you....?"

As for 1 Corinthians 11:3, this verse does not refer to authority but it refers to origin.

As for Patriarchy, it is a cultural tradition of the past, described in the Bible, but not prescribed by God. It is, therefore, not God's design for society.

Read Part Six HERE

Husbands must make his wife spiritually clean: Grooming Your Bride P/4

 Read Part One HERE

In this post I will continue to share from the article "7 Steps To Groom Your Young Bride" by Larry Solomon. This article can be found on his website Biblical Gender Roles.

Step# 2c You must learn and embrace Biblical gender roles.

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 1 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

Larry Solomon:"An understanding and full acceptance of the doctrines of the Bible concerning gender roles is a critical step for you as a husband to begin the grooming process with your wife."

According to him the doctrines of the Bible concerning gender roles include the following:

Larry Solomon: "In marriage God has called men to love their wives by washing her spiritual spots and wrinkles to make her the glorious wife God intends her to be..... This means.... he will discipline his wife as Christ rebukes and chastens the Church (Revelation 3:19)."

My Comment

As for a wife, having her spiritual spots and wrinkles washed to make her the glorious wife God intends her to be, that is not to be done by the husband but by Christ as we know from the following words in Epehsians 5:25-27   ".... just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word and to present her to Himself as a radiant church without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."

Christ is the One who cleanses all believers, male and female, with His word since all believers together form the church. No husband is able to clean his wife with God's word but is himself in in need of cleansing.

Moreover, a wife is not to be disciplined by a husband but by the Lord as we know from Hebrews 12:6 "Because the Lord disciplines those He loves and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son."

All believers, male and female, are sons of God as we know from Romans 8:14                                      "Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." 

"Sons" in the above context is a generic term and should be applied to both male and female, just as "man" in Genesis 1:26 was a generic term and should be applied to both male and female.

Read Part Five HERE

Wives are the property of their husbands: Grooming Your Bride P/3

 

                                                      Read Part One HERE

In this post I will continue to share from the article " 7 Steps To Groom Your Young Bride" by Larry Solomon. This articel can be found on his website Biblical Gender Roles.

Step# 2b  You must learn and embrace Biblical gender roles.

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

Larry Solomon: "An understanding and full acceptance of the doctrines of the Bible concerning gender roles as a husband is a critical step for you as a husband to begin the grooming process with your wife."

According to him the doctrines of the Bible concerning gender roles include the following:

Larry Solomon: "In marriage God has not only placed husbands in authority over their wives, but He has also given them ownership of their wives."

My Comment

Paul writes the following about marriage in 1 Corinthians 7:4                                                                    "The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife."

1 Corinthians 7:4 speaks clearly of belonging to each other. This is confirmed in Ephesians 5: 21-32 "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 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, of which He is the Saviour. Now, as the church submits to Christ, so also wives submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish but holy and blameless.In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church - for we are members of His body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church, However, each one must also love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."

The above passage makes it very clear that husbands do not have authority over their wives but that they voluntarily submit to each other by loving each other and serving each other. As for the ownership of a wife, she is owned by Christ, as we know from 1 Corinthians 6:19b - 20                                        "... You are not your own; you were bought at a price...."

Read Part Four HERE