Does Christianity really say wives submit to your husbands?

Does Christianity really say wives submit to your husbands? Well, that depends. The English words say that. Unless we take the time to read the rest of the sentence in which they occur. If we turn to the spirit of the words, no, it doesn’t necessarily say that at all. I ask because I was going to write about something totally different today. That is, until I read the headline – Grace Community Church Leaders under Fire for ‘Excommunicating’ Wife Who Refused to Stay with Abusive Husband. That is, in a word, disgusting! And it’s a misuse of the verse in question. So, in another word, it’s wrong.

The original version of this was published in The ROYS Report under John MacArthur Shamed, Excommunicated Mother for Refusing to Take Back Child Abuser. According to their site, The Roys Report is a Christian media outlet, reporting the unvarnished truth about what’s happening in the Christian community so the church can be reformed and restored.

For those that don’t know about Grace Community Church, it’s led by Pastor John MacArthur. I use some of his material in my research and quote him in my writing. It’s very disappointing to read about this situation. However, I must also say, some of what I wrote about him relates to stepping outside the boundaries of what I believe Jesus taught us. But this is, by far, the worst I remember.

This is just awful. The reason I’m writing isn’t to pile on. Rather, my goal is to say that this is not Christian. This kind of treatment of someone who needed help and protection is so far from what Jesus taught and the examples He gave us. No woman in this situation should be afraid to go to a Christian church for help. But if you do encounter this – go to another church! One man’s or one church’s misuse of an important verse should turn someone away from Jesus. No one.

And if you’re not Christian, know that what was done at this church is not, in any way, how Jesus commanded us to act. Rather, it’s very much like the illustration. It’s something that should never have been done.