Today’s prompt for Five Minute Friday (#FMF) is “disagree”. Initially, I was going to write a post about how (lack of) open disagreement with others was used against me. When my then psychologist diagnosed me with dependent personality disorder in 2016, she thought that my lack of open disagreement with many of her controversial opinions, proved I had this condition. It honestly to me proved that she was in authority even though she had no clue what she was doing.
I eventually deleted that draft and started over, but I still want to write along those lines.
In Christianity, we are often taught to not just respect, but obey authority. Children are expected to obey their parents in everything. Wives are expected to submit to their husbands.
As a survivor of childhood trauma as well as many abuses of power, I struggle with these commands.
That being said, the command to be obedient as a child and submissive as a wife, does come with its respective obligations on the part of the parents and husband. In Colossians 3:21, Paul writes for example: “Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” In other words, the Bible is not a reason for harsh treatment and abuses of power. Besides, of course the Bible does not say anything about people in modern-day, informal authority positions, such as the aforementioned psychologist.
Now, five years on, I am very happy that I eventually did stick up for myself and sought an independent second opinion on that diagnosis. Then I applied for long-term care. Now that I have the right people (loving, respectful people) around me, I no longer need to fear authority. I can respectfully disagree with people, whether Biblically I’m supposed to submit to them or not. I am still working on feeling confident in my role as a grown-up woman. God and His Word help me on this journey.
Okay, this post took me much longer than five minutes to write, as I had to look up what the Bible actually said and also because I got distracted several times. I hope that’s okay.
A Multitude of Musings 
Great post! I am glad you listened to your gut and sought a second opinion. God gives us those intuitions for a reason!!! Visiting today from FMF where I am your neighbor!
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Thank you so very much! I am so glad God brought my current support team, as well as my husband and his family, into my life.
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That’s such a ridiculous way for the psychologist to interpret lack of disagreement. When there’s a power imbalance, disagreement isn’t always an option.
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I said so too. Then she said I have a hard time disagreeing to my husband too. This may be so, but not for fear of losing the care he provides.
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I think God gives us the courage and wisdom to follow our gut when we need to.
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Yes, true. I definitely feel that God was at work in this situation, even though I was still nonreligious at the time.
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When doctor told me of my cancer
he said I now must be depressed,
and that drugs would be the answer;
when I said, “No,”, he was perplexed,
then said, “Aha!, you’re in denial!
That explains your contradiction,
so I’ll add unto your file,
another, stronger, pill prescription!”
At this, I got up, said goodbye,
took wife’s arm, went for the door,
and the doc, he caught my eye
and said, “Don’t come ’round here no more,
for our relationship is through
if you don’t do what I say to do.”
Cancer with no medical aid isn’t that bad. pain’s better than subservience.
And, there’s my favourite Keith Richards quote: “If you’re going to kick authority in the teeth, you may as well use both feet.”
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I admire your strength. More power to you! ♥♥
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Thank you so much! 🙂
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Most welcome dear ♥♥
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