Scripture: Colossians 3:18 – “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” (NRSV)
There are many parts of the Bible which fill us with faith in a loving God and hope for becoming better people and living in a better world. But there are other parts of the Bible which seem hopelessly backward to many people or reinforce behaviors which pull the Christian communion apart.
When I told my wife which passage I was going to focus on in this week’s devotion, she gave me such a dirty look that I had to take a shower. Most people in the United States at least believe that marriage is a partnership of equals, not one based on hierarchical power. There is a reason that the traditional “honor and obey” language from the old Book of Common Prayer disappeared in the 1960s. Such language, even if based in biblical language, it clashes with our understanding not only of social norms but of how we see God.
This passage from Colossians is full of other language that might be termed “patriarchal.” It says, “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord.” And “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.” All of this puts the power in the hands of elder man of the household, the husband, father, and slave master. It reinforces the power dynamics which have led to misery and oppression. It is no wonder why so many people, even those who consider the Bible to be divinely inspired, try to gloss over this passage.
But I think there is an important truth we can learn from this: God reaches out to us where we are, not where we should be. In the first century, the patriarchal control of the pater familias was absolute. Women had few if any rights and slavery was an unquestioned way of life. For Paul and his followers to preach an end to slavery and absolute equality toward women would make them branded as more blasphemous and dangerous than they already were. But the seeds of change are still there. If you continue with the passage, it tells the husband, the father, and the slave master to treat others with love and respect, as fully human and not as extensions of themselves. “Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly… Fathers, do not provoke your children, or they may lose heart… Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, for you know that you also have a Master in heaven.” Even in a patriarchal or hierarchical system, there is still a strong emphasis on love of God and love for each other, no matter what our status.
This leads us to the idea that the spirit of the Bible is more important than its words. To stop at a literal interpretation reinforces systems like slavery which denied the rights and even the faith of others. But as we look at stories of women supporting the ministry of Jesus, being his most faithful followers, and taking leadership positions in the church, it is hard to it as God’s will that they are second class citizens. When Paul tells Philemon that he should treat his slave Onesimus as an equal brother in Christ even without calling outright for his freedom, it shows God’s concern from the enslaved, the disenfranchised, and the overworked.
So when you read the Bible, do not just read it with your mind, but with your heart. Remember that God reaches us where we are, not where we should be. And by reading through the guidance of the Holy Spirit of change and communion, we may one day become all that God hopes us to be.
Prayer: Lord, help me discern your truth and live into your kingdom. Amen
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