Pure relationships

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!