Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. (Colossians 3:18-25 ESV)
This is an interesting text that has been used many wrong ways.
We have the tendency to use the Bible for our own need to get what we want. However I believe this text is not about keeping people down or in their place it is about what we have been gifted to do for the betterment of society.
You see Luther told us that we were all ordained to do something for the betterment of society. We have been given a gift that we are to use in the world. We need to use our gifts for the world and serve the world though our talents and time and wonders that God gave us. This text is not saying that wives need to know their place or that anyone should undergo anything because of who they are or aren’t or what their sexual identity might be. This text is telling us to live in the gift of life that God has given you living out the love He has shown you and given you over flowing with mercy and grace and serve the world as if everything we do is done unto the Lord who is then least of these!
aSacredRebel 