Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...
Ephesians 5:25
In different countries and even here in America I've heard that people have said that Christianity is a weak religion. What's so weak about it? Is that true? Or...is there a deeper reason why those outside Christianity don't understand?
...To make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
Ephesians 5:26-27
Not what you think
Christianity is so different from any other belief in the world. First is because God does not like religion (Matthew 15:8-9). Then there's a whole list of things like some god's are always angry, always loving and peaceful. In many religion's you have to do ceremonies and rituals and things to appease your god/s. How exhausting! I've even heard that Christianity is a woman's religion! Many that don't understand what we believe think that we are weak, lovey dovey and soft. Or they think the opposite. The reality is, we are warriors, soldiers called on a mission.
That thing I am so dumbfounded about is the great detail God has taken in making every aspect of creation. Take men and women, for example. Jesus called men to love their wives selflessly. To the world (especially in honor-based countries) that is weird. Even an abomination. Women can be easily seen as tools to use for the pleasure of men. Especially since men are stronger then women. For Jesus to say to love your wife is radical. This is an example of the great detail God took because God based this love between men and women off of himself. That's why he calls husbands and wives to respect, love, submit and lead each other because it is God's view of himself. That is how he is. God loves us and leads us, and we are to submit to him and respect him. And it's not mindless rules and rituals but a relationship!
"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery-but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Ephesians 5: 31-32
Just like a man leaves his parent's household to marry and be with his wife, becoming one with her so he can start a family of his own, that's what Jesus did. Jesus left his Fathers home, came to earth and became one with those who wanted to be with him. When a man leaves his father and mother. There is a sacrifice there. He is leaving comfort, the luxury of not having to take care of a house of his own. Not having to have the responsibility of taking care of his own family. Jesus had to sacrifice leaving his position at the right hand of his Father. He had to become a mere man (yet still was God), He had to go through the aches and pains of being human. He had to allow men to beat him and tear open his flesh and spill his blood. He had to die so we could live. He sacrificed so much for us. Because our sin was killing us and, sadly, it's still killing many. Jesus rose again from death! He is here to continue adopting people into his family.
Many may say this is a weak religion. Remember my friends, my sisters, this is a relationship that is full of unconditional love, sacrifice and hope. We follow a warrior king. And that is who I want to follow. I don't want to live for me. But for him.
