feminist submission?

     Up until a year and a half ago, I had always had a negative view of feminism.  But I  realized that  God made me and everyone else, with a purpose and for a purpose. My view on feminism and anti-feminism was  completely changed after many discussions with friends and mentors. After I read Rob Bell's book, Sex God, I was able to articulate these thoughts.
     In the book, Rob Bell illustrates the juxtaposition between societies view of what submission is in relation to Ephesians 5:22 (“Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also should wives submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…”) and what God’s example of what submission is.
     Submission, as the Greek word hupotasso, means: “to place yourself under, to give allegiance to, to tend to the needs of, to be responsive to." The word hupotasso comes from two words: upo, meaning under, and tasso, meaning to place in order. It infers that submission is placing oneself under one another, out of “reverence of respect." Bell simplifies the definition of submission to: “Placing the needs of others ahead of her [or his] own” (Bell, 2007, p.115).
     Rob Bell also establishes and affirms the beautiful creatures that woman are. But not just as creatures, but as beautiful creations of the Lord. He reiterates that woman have worth and value without a man. And the author of Proverbs says in the thirty-first chapter that “a [woman] of noble character… is worth far more than rubies” (New International Version). Woman are the Lord’s and were bought at a price, they are loved, unconditionally.
     This idea of unconditional love of God is woven throughout the Bible. Jesus says in John chapter fifteen that “greater love has no one than this, that he lay his life down for his friend” (New International Version). Jesus sacrifices his life for his creation, he surrendered everything. He placed the needs of others ahead of his own, he submits. In the same way, as Christ is the head of the church, the husband is the head of the marriage. He needs to be prepared and willing whole heartedly to sacrifice his life for his wife, to love and to submit to her. Not only do wives need to submit to their husbands; husbands also need to submit to their wives.
     But, submission is not a “one way street”. A relationship goes two ways. In order for a relationship to function healthily, each person (husband and wife, parent and child, friend and friend, etc.) need to put forth one-hundred percent of their allegiance, effort, and love. They cannot each give fifty percent, with the intensions of meeting half way, each of them needs to be in full surrender. Just as Christ was with his life, and just as the Church should be towards Christ.
     So you my dear friends. Remember, you are important and wanted. And a necsesary part of society. Go. Go change the world, show Gods love to those around you. You have value.