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1 Corinthians 11 – Paul was addressing this issue because he felt like it needed attention. We aren’t talking about this morning because we need a major overhaul, but rather to encourage what we’re currently doing.
God has a plan for order, when we fit into His order, that is the best place that we can be.
Some teach that this scripture was just for the people there in Corinth. This is the only letter that Paul wrote that has this. In 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 – Paul is addressing this letter to the folks at Corinth, but he also says it is for people everywhere.
The scriptures around this portion talking about headship are not things that churches today don’t accept as being for us today. It is a bit odd that the first half of chapter 11 is sometimes taught to just have been for the Corinthians.
As we observe God throughout history and scripture we see that God is a God of order. If you look at the stars in the sky, the birds in the air, the grass, the trees, and all things in creation there is incredible order. Many of these things can be “understood” simply because of the predictable nature of things that God has created.
Christ submits to God, who is perfect and good in every way. Man submits to Christ, who is perfect and good in every way. Women submits to man, who is not perfect and good in every way. It is clear then that Women have the more difficult role as they submit to a head that is not perfect in every way.
There are things that we can learn from Jesus and His perfect submission. He submitted to His parents. Did it put Jesus in a box to be submissive to His parents? No, it didn’t hinder Him at all to become what God was calling Him to in life.
This whole thing of submission of a wife to a husband has been abused badly at times. If there is abuse happening, please, please get help. Talk to a godly person you trust, this is not what God has in mind.
We as men need to start by submitting to Christ. We have a role to play in God’s order, just as much as women do. As we submit to Christ, this paves the way for the women in our lives to submit as well.
In the Lord, Paul says there is equality in the way that God views and relates to men and women, and interdependence on each other. God has a plan for order, this is the best place that we can be.
Other passages mentioned – James 4:7, Ephesians 5:21, 1 Peter 3:7, Galatians 3:26, 1 Corinthians 4, 1 Timothy 3,