DOMESTIC DISCIPLINE
The first topic here is Domestic Discipline, or DD. If you arrived here direct from a browser, I suggest you also look at the ALT Lifestyles section by selecting the link at the left when done on this page. The short explanation of Domestic Discipline is that in a marriage the two decide that one will be in charge to decide the course of the marriage and to "correct" any action by the other that may "endanger" the relationship and through discipline correct it. This Discipline is normally a spanking, but a quick search about DD and you will see that many people in relationships that use DD or have a " Head of Household " HOH , use many other forms of punishment as well.
Many use several passages from the Bible as a reference for the HOH. ( These will be listed later ). On the surface these appear to be good reference, but no part of it really says that discipline is part of being HOH, only that the husband be the head and the wife is to be submissive to the husband. Submissive in the context given seems to be more about yielding to the husbands direction for the household rather than be a submissive by todays more modern meanings. As we have seen in others, and even among churches, there is often different points of view as to the meaning of a given text within the Bible. THEREFORE I will simply say that those that wish to view the meanings of the passages to mean that the wife should be submissive to the husband even in the more modern meaning, then they should feel free to do so as long as it is done in a manner of spirituality in the marriage. If they desire to include that meaning and use the bible as justification, then let them also worship and pray that they also follow the parts often skipped that is hand in hand with those passages. NKJV 1 Peter 3 1-7 ::::::: 3:1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 3:2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3:3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward-- arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-- 3:4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 3:5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 3:6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. 3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
Knowing that the translation is from another language, we must keep in mind that the term used as wives also was for women in general and husbands are men in general, we can still see that in fact they were meant as wives and husbands. Some translate the meaning of 3:3 to mean, do not be vain, but some see it more to be, see to the inner self and be pleasing as a person in manner, not just as an object to look upon. 3:6 Means we have to look at Ge 12:13 which sees Sarah listening in on a conversation between Abraham and an Angel and spoke to herself in Ge 18:12 calling him Lord, showing a not only was she being submissive to Abraham in deed, but in heart as well. 3:7 Does charge the husband to make all efforts to understand his wife, to not diminish her but to make the best efforts to raise her in all things, remember she is the weaker, and as such care must be used, ( many point that being weaker means not only in body but in spirit as well ) and last it a reminder that both have become one and that no one should come between the couple and the prayers and devotion to God. Those that believe in DD, have 2 view points, from the HOH and the submissive. The HOH Feels he must direct and control and correct. The wife feels she needs the guidance and feels relieved that there is structure and a guiding hand. That part covers the yielding to and being submissive to the husband by the wife. ( yes, there are other references ) For some that is enough to justify DD and discipline, submitting to the husband, that he is the head and is charged to guide and correct his wife. Others also point to the idea that a woman that disobeys her husband is a fool and as such use Proverbs 26:3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. Proverbs 20:30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly. Interesting enough, in a DD relationship, the wife tells the husband of any errors she makes. It is not a case of he must " catch her in error ". Those that are corrected by punishment get a feeling almost akin to an absolution. The error has been corrected and the punishment not only aids in the correction but once punishment is over, it is forgiven. When an domestic dispute occurs, the " errors" and most often NOT brought up and " thrown in the face of " the spouse.
Yes, there are some DD relationships that the DD takes on a sexual context and that is understandable in that submitting to correction and punishment is very personal and intimate, but that will be another topic at a different time.
Each must decide for themselves what how they wish to believe which is true no matter what the topic is. Each reads what they want to into text that is not modern english and was written in a much different time. It would be wise to keep in mind that the writings were written in a much different time. The time did not have many things we now have. Many religious texts were written to protect the people and to get the population to grow. The larger the population the more people there were to defend the cities. To multiply ( have children as much as possible ), avoid certain foods ( no way to keep foods cold to avoid spoilage ), avoid cross-contamination of foods, sex only with spouse to avoid STDS.
NKJV
1 Pe 3:1-7
Ge 12:13
Ge 18:12
Pr 26:3
Pr 20:30
Col 3:18-19
Does it feel right, does your spouse feel it is right? If so, follow your own heart and do no evil and you can not be too far wrong, which is a lot better than most.
SHEPHERD Q
< align=right>
