Submission

Somehow on Wednesday, our Bible study conversation strayed from the subject of divorce, to that of submission. Submission is not a popular concept among high school girls, or anyone else for that matter. The controversy came over that painful truth in God's word, that women are to submit to their husbands. Not only that, but women are not to have authority over men in the church. (Col 3:18, Eph 5:22-33, 1Tim 2:11-14)

Numerous arguments come to mind, many of them logical. Women are not inferior to men. We are not less intelligent. We have proven just as capable in the workplace as our male counterparts, with the exception of physical limitations. Why should we submit?

Firstly, and most importantly, Christian women should submit to Christian men because God tells us to. We should take Him at His word and obey. When I was growing up my parents used to tell me, "When we tell you to do something, obey first, and once you've done it you can ask questions." Our tendency is to ask questions before we obey. God expects us to trust Him.

Having said that, there are several other reasons that I can think of for obedience in this area. God made us this way. He intended for us to be helpers to men, not their leaders. When we do things the way God intended, it's generally a lot easier and more fun than when we do them our own way. There is one guy in my dance class that wants to be a follower rather than a leader. He has a hard time finding a partner to dance with, and when he does, it doesn't appear to be a comfortable or fun experience.

God made us to fill certain roles, and things work best when we do the ones we're supposed to. As in dancing, a marriage has to have a leader and a follower. If both people are trying to lead, it just won't work. Toes get stepped on, you bump into each other, and you end up expending a lot more energy and accomplishing a lot less. If, on the other hand, the man is leading, and the woman is following, the dance can be beautiful and fun for both people. Neither of the two roles is less important, they're just different.

As girls and women, we should not think of submission as a bad thing. It's not slavery. In fact, submission is a choice. It can't be forced. There is power in submission that is lost when we try to be in charge. It's the difference between humility and humiliation, gentleness and weakness.

Some practical things for unmarried women to keep in mind are: Make up your mind now to obey God and submit to your husband. Don't wait until you're married to think about this, because then it will give you problems. Choose a husband you are willing to submit to (or don't get married). Don't put yourself in a position where obedience is next to impossible. Find a man you respect. Remember that God gives us commands like this for our own good - trust Him.

Vanity of vanities

"Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity"
Ecc 1:2

I'm taking advanced drawing in my last semester at SJSU. It is clear from the first few sessions that the teacher wants each of her students to have a concept. I take "concept" to mean an idea or theme that you carry through in each of your drawings. This can be anything as long as you can talk it up and make it convincing. Oh, and the teacher has to like it.

One student does only war imagery. He's also in my lithography class, and I've seen his work before - he always draws soldiers and tanks and guns. Another student always paints or draws in neutral colors. Her work is very mysterious and dingy, like something from a scary dream you might've had as a child. There's usually an open door that leads to some stairway, with the possibility of something creepy lurking on the other side. Unsettling.

I am at a definite disadvantage in this class. I don't have a solid concept. I have always enjoyed making art that looks pretty (that doesn't count in art school). I feel like God made creation beautiful, and the best thing I can do as an artist is try to imitate that in some way. I don't like abstraction, and I see no reason to make art that leaves a person uneasy or unhappy, unless that feeling leads them to make things right between them and God.

In an effort to satisfy the nebulous "concept" requirement, I have adopted symbolism as my concept, and I use symbols that remind me of what God has done and is doing in his love for us.
It's a half-hearted attempt because I would much rather be painting flowers and landscapes, or portraits of my friends and family. But those things don't seem to count as art in this class. If it looks like something, it's too illustrative. The mentality is so human centered - as though we can really make something beautiful that isn't patterned after what God has already made. Artists are always trying to come up with something new, and it inevitably leads to evil. I am not saying that all artwork is evil, or that abstraction is wrong. But often our efforts to make something new pull us out of the real world, which God has made. When we try to make things that God has not made, we are on a futile path that leads to nowhere good.

That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there anything of which it may be said,
"See, this is new"?
It has already been in ancient times
before us.

Ecclesiastes 1:9-10

For my last four months as an art student, I want to make art that glorifies the Great Artist - God himself, who gives all creative ability. When I think of what he has made, the poetry he has written, and the stories he has told - how can I ever add to it?