Living Out Submission in the Real World
Have you been watching “Dancing With the Stars?” The TV viewing public is thoroughly captivated when pop culture figures like Bristol Palin and Kate Gosselin compete on camera. (Pray for these two single Moms!) I happen to love dancing myself—aerobic dance, Jazzercize, swing and salsa—but my moves are nothing like the pros.
When I was contacted by Moody Publishers to review Cindy Easley’s
non-fiction book Dancing with the One You Love: Living Out Submission in the Real World (2010), the dancer in me was immediately drawn to the title. I was also attracted to the message in the subtitle about submission in marriage. With endorsements by Dennis and Barbara Rainey (FamilyLife), I knew this book would be a winner.
Frog Legs for Dinner
You might be wondering—do we really need another book about this unpopular, almost taboo subject?
When I was contacted by Moody Publishers to review Cindy Easley’s
non-fiction book Dancing with the One You Love: Living Out Submission in the Real World (2010), the dancer in me was immediately drawn to the title. I was also attracted to the message in the subtitle about submission in marriage. With endorsements by Dennis and Barbara Rainey (FamilyLife), I knew this book would be a winner.
Frog Legs for Dinner
You might be wondering—do we really need another book about this unpopular, almost taboo subject?
I think we do. As Christians, I think we need to read as much as we can on this topic. We’re bombarded with egalitarian feminist values all day long. We’re like the poor frog that was dropped into a kettle of water. When the cook turned up the flame, he didn’t even notice the rising temperature until it was too late to hop out.
The temperature of the liberal feminist worldview of marriage is rising around us—even among evangelicals—and many of us hardly notice at all. In fact, if you’re a Gen Y or Gen X-er, you might not remember a time when society applauded a woman’s voluntary choice to support her husband’s leadership and prioritize her home.
My Personal Reaction
Research reveals that many 21st-century wives are unhappy with the cultural status quo—but they don’t know how to experience the graceful waltz where both the husband and wife are in harmony, ‘dancing’ their God-given roles. Unless we regularly immerse ourselves in Scripture, and books like Dancing with the One You Love, it’s easy to fall in step with the unbiblical models of marriage so prevalent in our culture.
I was strengthened and encouraged by the message of this clear but compelling book. It’s a quick read, easily completed in one evening. Cindy Easley interviews seven ordinary wives who are practicing biblical submission in some very demanding scenarios. These Christian women give us real-world role models to follow in the midst of our own challenging circumstances. If they can do it, then we can do it!
Seven Godly Role Models
I enjoyed reading Easley's stories of seven married women who are successfully moving in sync with:
• an unbelieving husband
• a husband with a chronic illness
• an alcoholic
• an often-absent military man
• her own powerful public role
• her high wage-earning ability
• African American cultural matriarchy
The temperature of the liberal feminist worldview of marriage is rising around us—even among evangelicals—and many of us hardly notice at all. In fact, if you’re a Gen Y or Gen X-er, you might not remember a time when society applauded a woman’s voluntary choice to support her husband’s leadership and prioritize her home.
My Personal Reaction
Research reveals that many 21st-century wives are unhappy with the cultural status quo—but they don’t know how to experience the graceful waltz where both the husband and wife are in harmony, ‘dancing’ their God-given roles. Unless we regularly immerse ourselves in Scripture, and books like Dancing with the One You Love, it’s easy to fall in step with the unbiblical models of marriage so prevalent in our culture.I was strengthened and encouraged by the message of this clear but compelling book. It’s a quick read, easily completed in one evening. Cindy Easley interviews seven ordinary wives who are practicing biblical submission in some very demanding scenarios. These Christian women give us real-world role models to follow in the midst of our own challenging circumstances. If they can do it, then we can do it!
Seven Godly Role Models
I enjoyed reading Easley's stories of seven married women who are successfully moving in sync with:
• an unbelieving husband
• a husband with a chronic illness
• an alcoholic
• an often-absent military man
• her own powerful public role
• her high wage-earning ability
• African American cultural matriarchy
Easley’s final chapters include a word to men, and some relevant FAQs. I highly recommend Dancing with the One You Love to any wife who needs renew her trust in God’s Word and His complementary design for marriage. Each example will help you understand biblical submission, so you too can learn to waltz in glorious harmony with your partner in life.About the Author
Cindy Easley was born in Houston, Texas. She is a nationally known speaker with the Weekend to Remember Marriage Conference. Cindy is married to Michael, former President of Moody Bible Institute and Teaching Pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in Nashville, Tennessee. They have three daughters and one son.
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Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Phil 2:5-8 NASB)
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Care to share your thoughts on submission in marriage? 
6 Comments:
It sounds like an interseting book with all those different examples. It's true that we have to guard against the cultural norms in many areas, including this one.
Thanks for the review...I was wondering about this book. I do believe it is important for older married people to also read on marriage, since the stats show that women over age 40 are leaving their marriages in greater numbers than ever before in history...usually leaving a 20 plus year marriage.
Oh, I love "So You Think You Can Dance"...but I did watch star one the other night.
Sounds like a great book. I think this one might appeal to some that other books on submission might not appeal to.
Via Facebook Jeanie Cullip said...
Looks good! I may have to add it to my ever growing to read list! Thank you for sharing :)
It sounds like a great book to add to my lists of books. I believe and I hope that Steve and I exemplify true submission and headship in our marriage. We're not great at it, but I love the God given order.
That sounds like a good book...I, too like that title!
My hubby and I think of our marriage as a partnership with him being the overrider on many issues...lol....he is the type that doesn't care if I work full time, part time or work in the home...i have done both while married to him over the last 20 years...the easiest was when i was a full time SAHM...the best though emotionally and in regards to submissively has been while i've taught outside the home with this part time job. When i was home full time I tended to "take charge" and not "let" him lead. We are healthier, emotionally and spiritually, now.
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