of confusion here about the role of women in Christianity, and whether or not Mars Hill is teaching that a woman is nothing more than a childbearing slave to her husband. Though I do not attend this church, I would bet that due to their strong biblical stance they teach and actually adhere to the following:

1 Corinthians 7

3-4

"The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.

Ephesians 5

"22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."[c] 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

This is the source text that all Christian churches use for how husbands and wives relate to each other. Is there a hierarchy? Yes. Does that mean that men are slave owners, and that women have no say in the family? Well... Do you see that in the above? I don't. I am supposed to show my wife the same respect I show myself

Please do not get spun-up on hierarchy. It exists. It is a law of nature, and will exist whether you like it or not. It is actually a good thing when it is not abused. It provides clarity and order. Do you not like it that Christianity defines its particular hierarchy? I can't help that, but I can say that it does not make me an overlord, it does, however make me responsible for my piece of the effort. It does not make me "better" than my wife in any way.

To answer someone else's post about "Show me in the bible where women aren't supposed to work outside the home..." The answer is that it's not in there, and I don't think Mars Hill teaches that. I would bet that they teach:

Proverbs 31

10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."

31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

I am thankful to have wife like that.

Best wishes,

Poco

"Poco, how is hierarchy in marriage a law of nature?"

I did not say that hierarchy in marriage is a law of nature. I said "hierarchy is a law of nature", and that it is. If you do not want to follow the biblical model for marriage, don't.

"Why is marriage better if one spouse is above the other?"

I am not "above" my wife. I am not "better" than my wife. I do not "rule" my wife, and we discuss everything of importance and always arrive at mutually agreed to decisions. However, "the buck stops here" is the responsibility that I carry.

"It takes work, but it's worth it, and it makes a marriage stronger in the end. from a 30-year-old churchgoing..."

From a biblical perspective, what makes the strongest marriage is the biblical model, regardless of what your particular church teaches or what you (or I) adhere to. Now, that's the biblical perspective. Compared to the source text, yours is obviously different.

Best Wishes,

Poco

This one's funny!

Best wishes,

Poco

the learning experience if Ms. Richardson would go in person, to negotiate with those that she believes are open to such ideas. Perhaps she could write another book, after she sews her head back on. Negotiation is a ploy that is straight from their game-book, and only a losing fool follows the rules of his adversary.

We do not need negotiation. We need Swordfish. In a big way.

Poco