A recent decision by Southern Baptists has stirred up an old controversy in certain circles. At its annual convention, the Protestant denomination reaffirmed the Biblical doctrine that women should submit to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22). The reason was to uphold the traditional role of men as spiritual heads of their families. However, women's groups (and some other Christian leaders as well) took issue with the proclamation, considering it a step backwards in the struggle for equal rights.
Some people might not accept the Bible as an authority in any aspect of modern life, let alone in an area where it appears so out of step with recent trends. I'll come back to that thought. But for those who believe the Bible can instruct us today, it is important to examine exactly what that passage says. Ephesians 5:22 calls on women to submit to their husbands "as to the Lord." That doesn't mean unconditional surrender. It does mean that they should defer to Godly leadership from their husbands. But if a man leaves the path of righteousness and begins to mistreat his wife (physically or emotionally), she is under no obligation to put up with such behavior.
However, this analysis is beside the point. Since the above verse is addressed to wives, its interpretation should really be a matter between each woman and God. It seems arrogant to me for a mostly-male leadership group to make pronouncements on the subject. If Southern Baptists want to reaffirm men's roles, they would be better advised to look at Ephesians 5:25-30, which calls out the responsibilities of a husband toward his wife. Those verses contain more than enough to keep us men occupied!
For instance, verse 25 requires men to "love [our] wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her". Think about what Jesus gave up: His divinity, His sovereignty, and His immortality. In the same way we must be willing to give up our comfort, our control, and even our pride, if in doing so we can demonstrate love to our wives. The only thing Christ would not give up was His obedience to God's will, and we should also strive to emulate that example.
Seen in this light, Ephesians seems to be calling on each member of the partnership to use their God-given abilities to the benefit of the other. Most men are good at goal-oriented decision-making; they must use that to show love to their wives rather than for their own advancement. Most women are good at interpreting feelings and emotions; they must use that to support their husbands rather than as an excuse to attack them. In a world which often seems cold and heartless, could anyone suggest a better approach?
Take away today's technology, and people are still much the same as they were 2000 years ago. So it should not be surprising that Biblical messages remain valid. Indeed, who but the Creator would know best how to care for His creation? The Bible sometimes reads like a maintenance manual for keeping ourselves in best shape. So it was not silly of the Southern Baptists to use it as such. They simply referred to the wrong page.