Love's Manifestations
Last evening I went to a Bible study with some people connected to the vet school + some who aren't. The studies are held every Wednesday but I usually go < every other week - on my "off weeks" I go to a Mennonite prayer meeting/study.
Anyway, last night we delved into parts of Ephesians 5 & 6 and some really good discussion ensued.
Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church. Does it follow that husbands are to help their wives be more spiritually perfect? It depends on whether the analogy (Christ/church compared to husband/wife) is to be drawn straight across from one relationship to the other. It might be possible to consider the duties of a man for his wife as earthly while the duties of Christ for the church are spiritual. I think that would be the case for a non-Christian man. For a Christian man, part of caring for himself involves maintaining his spiritual well-being*. Therefore, if he treats his wife as he treats himself he will be solicitous for her spiritual well-being.
The wife is be no means off the hook. 1 Peter 3:1 states that an unbelieving husband might be won to Christ because of the way his wife lives. This aspect of a wife's role in her husband's spiritual well-being seems passive - is that the entire role she has? My immediate answer is "No," but I should investigate it more.
*As a sort of side note, a man is supposed to love his wife as he loves himself. I suppose that ultimately a man should maintain his spiritual well-being because of his love for God and not (at least not primarily) his love for himself.
Anyway, last night we delved into parts of Ephesians 5 & 6 and some really good discussion ensued.
Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church. Does it follow that husbands are to help their wives be more spiritually perfect? It depends on whether the analogy (Christ/church compared to husband/wife) is to be drawn straight across from one relationship to the other. It might be possible to consider the duties of a man for his wife as earthly while the duties of Christ for the church are spiritual. I think that would be the case for a non-Christian man. For a Christian man, part of caring for himself involves maintaining his spiritual well-being*. Therefore, if he treats his wife as he treats himself he will be solicitous for her spiritual well-being.
The wife is be no means off the hook. 1 Peter 3:1 states that an unbelieving husband might be won to Christ because of the way his wife lives. This aspect of a wife's role in her husband's spiritual well-being seems passive - is that the entire role she has? My immediate answer is "No," but I should investigate it more.
*As a sort of side note, a man is supposed to love his wife as he loves himself. I suppose that ultimately a man should maintain his spiritual well-being because of his love for God and not (at least not primarily) his love for himself.
posted by Claire at 15:55
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