Bees in My Bonnet

This is an anonymous posting from a trusted Missionary Pastor that I know.  He teaches the Bible to many, and often has occasion to teach on marriage from a Biblical perspective.  I will share these with you for your edification and growth. THOUGHTS ON  SUBMISSION QUESTION:  In light of these verses (see below) is the submission of  husbands and wives supposed to be   50 – 50, or 60 for wives and 40 for husbands, OR some other combination such  as 90 – 10 with wives submitting  90% of the time or should wives submit  100% and husbands not at all? From Ephesians: 22 Wives,  submit  to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should  submit  in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up fo...

I was following up with some comments about my recent Forgiveness rant, Part 1  and  Part 2 ...  And there were parts I left out that I need to mention.  My source said not to quote him, so I will quote him without citing him.  He said that there are only five words that apply to this discussion. 5 Words. What are those words?  Scroll down please.... WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? Yup - What does the Bible say? I said, 'What about if I'm not sorry enough - or if I'm really sorry and trying to enter into the other's pain that I have somehow caused, and they don't feel my genuine sorrow or remorse?  What then?  Am I beholden to the yoke of their anger and unforgiveness?'  He said, 'No - you forgive them for not forgiving you and move on.' "But what if I'm not sorry enough?  What if I come across as ingenuine?  What if they can't feel my repentance?" "It doesn't matter ...

In my first post I was basically talking to/about the person who withholds forgiveness.  Now I want to talk to the one who is denied being forgiven. If you have apologized and asked forgiveness - once - not many times, not in repeated trials to demonstrate enough penance - ONCE, then you have done your part. You ARE forgiven - by God.  And He, after all, is really the only One Who matters.  It is sad, and a terrible grief to bear - that others refuse to forgive.  This is a matter they have between them and God.  You are free - free from the burden to work to pay for your sins.  You are free to live before God with the knowledge of HIS grace, HIS mercy, HIS forgiveness.  You are free to worship because you embrace the Gospel. You are not beholden to some checklist of works-righteousness that wins you the salvation you have already received! You are not subject to the faulty view others have of you! You are not guilty because another deems you...

I am going to address this from a certain angle and I don't want my readers to be confused.  I am not speaking here of forgiveness of grievous, outright obviously sinful atrocities committed against you or which you have committed.  This is not the kind of forgiveness I am addressing, though perhaps some thoughts will apply.  I am talking about when others harbour bitterness, anger, resentment, and an ongoing refusal to grant forgiveness especially regarding their perceived ( valid or otherwise ) injustices. We all hurt others in our lives regularly.  Some of these matters are actually sinful and wrong.  Many are not - we are simply dealing with overly sensitive, self-centered individuals who nurse conjured up wounds that were never actually inflicted.  When we deal with these kinds of people (though we'd rather not, frankly) it is fair to offer an apology - whether it is actually warranted or not.  In my opinion, this is a matter of extending grace...