Did you see where Texas Baptists voted against the wife’s subjection to her husband? Well, they did. I have been asked what I thought about it. Here are my comments:
First, it matters not at all how the Baptists or any other sect votes on any issue or doctrine. All the edicts of all the ecclesiastical bodies of the all the earth count for nothing and mean even less. What is changed by their vote? Are the resolutions of men bound upon the word of God? Can they alter what God has said? No, not one syllable! As Jeremiah said when men sought to challenge and change the word of God, “all…shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or theirs” (Jer. 44:28).
Second, does Ephesians 5:21-33 still teach that men are to unselfishly sacrifice themselves for the good of their wives and to love their wives as their own bodies (5:25-28)? Does the text still say that men are to love their wives and surrender their lives on her behalf (5:25-29, 33)? Does the passage say that the wife is to submit to her husband “as unto the Lord” (5:22)? Do those verses still say the wife is to be subject to her husband as the church is subject to Christ (5:23, 24)? If so, what does the Baptist vote mean with respect to our duty before God (“Study to show thyself approved unto God,” not unto the Baptists!)?
Third, if Baptists can veto, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved,” and can alter it to mean, “He that believeth is saved and should later be baptized,” why should we be surprised at their revolt against another portion of Scripture (Cf. Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16)?
Fourth, what do Baptists who still hold to the subjection of the woman believe about their erring brethren? Those Baptists who believe the wife is to be subject to her husband are in a quandary with respect to their doctrine of “once saved, always saved.” Their Baptist brethren have denied a portion of the very word of God. What is the condition of one who does so? When one denies the doctrine of Christ, “he hath not God” (2 Jn. 9). When one “errs from the truth,” as these Baptists have, their soul is in a spiritual state of “death” (Jas. 5:19, 20). See also Mark 8:38 and John 12:48. To “vote against” the word of God is sure way for one to lose his “election” (2 Pet. 1:10, 11; 2:20-22).
So, let our Baptist friends tell us whether their brethren who deny the word of God are saved or not. If they are, one can deny the word of God and go to heaven! If they are not, down goes their doctrine of “once in grace, always in grace.” Which is it? Will a Baptist tell us?
