Colossians 3:18-21
Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.
Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.
Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.
This is a passage of scripture which has caused much controversy and arguments among Christians. This and other passages like it have become war zones in the battle of the sexes.
I believe that much of the discord surrounding Colossians 3:18-21 is motivated by how we view Paul's statements. I am concerned that we are focusing and demanding our family members to respond to us based on these scriptures to the point that we become blinded to our own disobedience.
Examples:
1. A husband who feels that his wife won't submit might withhold love and become harsh and abrasive towards her.
2. A child who feels that her parents are unreasonably strict might decide to disobey them.
3. A wife who is fed up with her husbands reckless and hurtful speech might decide to withhold respect for him.
The problem with these responses is that they are not the responses that God calls us to give. God simply says wives submit, husbands love, fathers don't provoke, and children obey.
But it is difficult to do those things when we are spending our time demanding other family members to live that way first.
I am not suggesting that we are not to hold others accountable. I am saying that regardless of how others live (even in the family), we are to submit to Christ's way.
Join us Sunday as we take the spot light off our family members and place it on ourselves...ouch and praise God :)
Will
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