Day 4 – Pure Relationships
First for
this post, you must know that I have a very strong opinion that Faith is a
battle won in community, and as a transference of this fact, marriage can only
be done well in community. We need one another. This is what the mission of
life together is all about. We were created by a relational God to share His
love relationally. That may be in our marriages and families, certainly, but it
is also in support of those very things together.
When we
look at the passage below, let’s think on that a bit- how these verses apply to
our relationships, how they apply to life together, beyond marriage.
1 Peter
3:1-7:
“Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so
that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a
word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and
pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair
and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your
adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of
a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this
is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting
to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And
you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is
frightening.
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding
way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs
with you of the grace of life,
so that your prayers may not be hindered.”
At first glance, these look
like terribly stick in your crawl law oriented verses. Yikes, there is about 50
things I need to work on in my life and about 2 for the men in my life,
including taking care of me as the “weaker vessel.” Um.
Some of you do not know me
well, but these kinds of verses can be challenging for us recovering feminists.
But let’s set aside all the
theologically difficult thoughts swirling and settle on one aspect of these
verses- that pertinent to our study, Pure.
I think this verse is
primarily about how we respond in relationship.
“…they may be won without a
word…when they see your respectful and pure conduct.”
Clearly, the verse is
talking about wives responding to their husbands, but what other relationships
do you have that build up or tear down depending on your response? Remember
that this involves messing up and forgiveness more often than it does perfect
living. Purity of conduct is not perfect conduct. Holiness is authenticity of
Faith in life. Fruits of the Spirit poured out because Christ is welling up.
Forgiveness = purity in our lives and in our marriages.
How can we build one another
up? What kind of support do you give and need in your marriage or in your relationships? Please share your ideas with us!
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