Difference Between the words SUBJECTION and SUBJUGATION

*Please read this all the way through and then decide what you think. If you already know what you think in this area then read through this and let it either strengthen your current belief or challenge it. *



WARNING...Long post- grab a cup of coffee or two. :):):)



I am posting about this because I think it is a very important topic today. Others are posting on this too so it's not like it's not being covered but one thing I want to stress here is the proper use of wording when making a point. How you word something can really sway people and that's why I think accuracy is of the utmost importance; especially if you are claiming to have the "true" information on the subject.



I think there is some confusion out there about a women's role in the home and where it comes from.



Before you read my thoughts I want you to read the blog post that inspired this post that I am doing. http://www.swingingfromthevine.com/2007/08/30/addendum-to-my-post-below/



Here the part I had the most problem with...This mentality of gender roles is unjust. It puts women at the mercy of men. They need to have a husband in order to survive. They need to have a husband in order to have an identity because after all, how can you be a pastor's wife without the "pastor" or "wife" part of it. This sort of thing bothers me not because of the theological differences I have with the SBC (which are many), but because it leads to the overall subjugation of women. The idea that women's roles are tied to their home, hearth and husband leaves them in a position of servitude without an identity separate from those roles…and then to take money from them to "teach" them how to do those things? well.. that's just disturbing. As I said before, I thought we in American were beyond this sort of foolishness.



OK before I comment on it I DO have to give credit to her for NOT belittling women who truly want to follow that path or making them out to be freaks. I also have to say that her point about charging so much money for "classes" on "how to be a wife" has definite validity. :):):)



The part that concerns me is obviously in the "gender role" dept. First of all the comment about them being "unjust" and that she thought "we in America were beyond this sort of foolishness" made me think about where "gender roles" originated. Let's take a look....



Ephesians 5:22-
22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."[c] 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.



Colossians 3:18-20

18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
20Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.



Titus 2

1You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. 2Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
3Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
6Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
9Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
15These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.



To me anyway, it is very clear that gender roles originated with God. He set them up that way.



Do I always LIKE it the way God set it up?...NO! (My flesh often wants to go against the laws of God. )



DO I think that I should be the one to change what God has ordained and mandated? No.



Should we change what God has ordained and mandated? No.



Are we following what America does or what God asks us to do? I don't know about y'all but I am following God's laws; not perfectly but ploddingly and hopefully with a better and better attitude.



Before y'all pull out the big guns in your comments (and comments are ALWAYS welcome. I learn a lot from listening to the perspective of others) I want to say that I am NOT talking about wives staying in abusive relationships, etc.

I am talking about the family unit here.



For those of you who have a hard time with what women are called to do...remember the guys have it worse than us really....first of all, as the head of their homes they answer to the Lord as the responsible party. Also the job they have to love us "as Christ loved the church" is WAY harder than submission. (even when it doesn't seem like it) We all know how much Christ loved the church. To death...that's how much.



Gender roles do not put me at the mercy of men...or of my husband. They put me in a position to obey God and trust Him to take care of me. (again I am NOT talking about physical abuse here. I am NOT advocating women remain in an abusive relationship.)



I don't NEED a husband in "order to survive". I am free in Christ not to marry. BUT, since I did marry my chief role is "tied to my home, hearth and husband" and "leaves me in a position of servitude" because that's how GOD set it up. My chief job is my husband and children. Do some married women work outside the home, yes. Is it OK for them? If their husbands are OK with it and that's what they feel called to do then who am I to say no. Some need to work for financial reasons, they have my deepest respect. (especially the women who are putting their husbands through school- that's real love right there!!)

What I am trying to say here in this VERY lengthy post is this:



Let's not redefine gender roles because "that's what the culture is doing" or because "it's our right as Americans". We live in an AWESOME country and I praise God for our freedoms. Let's not look at our freedoms as a way to jump ship on what God is very clear on in His Word.



I DO have an identity outside of my marriage and family. I am a CHILD OF THE KING. My identity is in JESUS not in Michael (my husband) or in my fabulous, precious boys but because I am married with children my first job and obligation is to them.



Oh, and just for the record, I think being a pastor's wife is just as much a calling and ministry as being the actual pastor.



As for the wording used in her post I just want to clear something up here:



The definition of subjugation according to the American Heritage Dictionary-

TRANSITIVE VERB: sub·ju·gat·ed , sub·ju·gat·ing , sub·ju·gates
To bring under control; conquer. See Synonyms at defeat.
To make subservient; enslave.



The definition of subjection according to the American Heritage Dictionary.

TRANSITIVE VERB: sub·ject·ed , sub·ject·ing , sub·jects (sb-jkt)
To submit for consideration.
To submit to the authority of.
To expose to something: patients subjected to infection.
To cause to experience: subjected to extreme weather.
To subjugate; subdue.



I submit to you that the words subjection and subjugation are entirely different words.



In being subject to my husband I am submitting to the authority God has given him over me. (not very well at times but I am trying. )



Subjugation implies conquering, defeat, and enslavement. I don't think that's what God was saying at ALL. Our husbands don't conquer us or defeat us they are simply in authority over us. It is supposed to be a loving authority where they lay down their lives as Christ did.

Do all guys do that perfectly? NO WAY! But remember, we don't submit perfectly either so it's not like we can throw stones. :):)



Subjugation reminds me way more of other religions. I don't think I really need to give examples here.



One last thought. This is a personal example from our business. It's not even a husband and wife example but I think it's appropriate.



My husband and I are business partners. We each own exactly half of our company. He is the elected President and I am the elected Vice President/Secretary. One time a decision needed to be made and we had a disagreement about how to handle it. He ended up doing what he thought was best and I was VERY upset. I felt that he wasn't thinking about me as a partner. I thought he should have done things my way since I am a partner. Well I was talking it over with a friend and she made the comment that in a corporation there has to be an ultimate leader. Someone has to lead. There can't be two absolute leaders because it wouldn't work. I saw her point. He is the president and that gives him the right to trump my opinion. (He doesn't do that very often by the way. Usually we come to an agreement on business matters.) He listened to me and then made the best choice because he was the leader.

It's kind of the same way in the home. My husband is the leader because God set it up that way. That doesn't make me any less important. I am his partner, but there can only be one true leader in our home or there would be chaos. I hope that makes sense.



Anyway, those are my thoughts. What do y'all think?



BLESSINGS!- Angela :)