Mutual Submission in a Marriage - Ron Edmondson
To start with your larger, more universal query, why wouldn’t God’s “laws of relationships” apply any differently than His “laws of nature”, or any other law? Gravity affects us all, whether or not there is a belief or recognition of the One who created it. Just because God gave us free will, does not change the fundamental/foundational principle. We just have the choice whether or not to do it. And just as defiance of any other law, i.e. gravity, there are consequences and repercussions. On the other hand, with “obedience”, “submission”, (again like gravity), there are blessings and rewards.
Whether the universe or within ourselves, the concept holds true. Just because humans made the choice to turn their mindset from God’s instructions, and have chosen to enable the behavior instead of correcting with love, as further instructed, does not mean the “law” is re-written or the results negated.
Nor is the tendency to be self-absorbed, self-serving, a new occurrence. It goes back to the very beginning of time and we have a book that lays out in detail that it’s the “nature of man”; accounting explicitly what the consequences, destruction, heartache that occurs with that choice; as well as, describing not only the rewards and blessings, but how we should act to achieve it. Unfortunately, it seems to be in our nature not to learn from those who have gone before us.
As for your reference of “thinking for ourselves”, an example is Philippians 2:12 which states to “work out our own salvation” BUT “with fear and trembling…” Just as with our own children, they have the opportunity to work out for themselves whether or not to touch a hot pan, but if they choose to touch it, there ARE consequences; they do get burned.
The problems in our lives and in our world, when brought down to the very basic concept, ARE a result of violating God’s fundamental principles in some way. We try to justify our attempts to “re-write” the laws with situational ethics, but just as we “can’t fool Mother Nature”, we cannot “fool” God, or, as we deceive ourselves to the contrary, we cannot BE God.
