But, on those occasions when a consensus cannot be reached, the husband has 2 votes "up on the shelf" that are his badge of headship and his responsibility. He can take those 2 votes down, giving him 51 votes to her 49 votes.
The best test of decision making in a Christian marriage is reflected in the infrequency of his having to pull those 2 votes down off the shelf. In fact, it is possible that a couple can enjoy such a level of oneness, that those 2 votes sit up on the shelf and "collect dust."
If the husband is pulling his 2 votes down for every decision, that couple doesn't have 49/49/2, but rather 100/0; and he will have a wife who is resentful and embittered toward him.
The beauty of this concept is that it raises the wife's input in decision making to the level of complementary equality without denying the God-ordained "chain of command" in marriage. She brings something important to the process, something that he needs in order that Godly decisions are made.
