God's Roles for Husband and Wife - Vol 3 No 4

Women are Equal

The class began with the professor singing the praises of the women whom she extolled as pioneers of the feminist movement…Margaret Sanger, Gloria Steinem and Gloria Allred.         

“We are so glad that now women can be equal!” she cried with enthusiasm.  “They can fight in wars. They can be in combat. They can do any job they please. They don’t have to be stuck in the home. They don’t have to be dependent on a husband.”

Heads all around the class were nodding enthusiastically, but not the wise older man with the silver hair. 

Church Negative Towards Women?          

The professor looked at him.  Knowing and respecting Mike as representative of Christianity, she posed the question, “Mike, would you agree the Christian Church at large has been pretty negative towards women?”           

Mike looked across at the faces waiting for his answer. “Well, I admit that the church at large has failed in a lot of ways because the church is filled with people who sin, just like us.  But the churches that are good and faithful are the ones who have taught and followed the Scriptures, understanding that the Scriptures are the very Word of God given to us.  The Bible is the wonderful way God has revealed Himself and His will to us.”           

Several rolled their eyes at the bold talk of the authority of Scripture.         

Mike continued.  “More to your question, I think many churches have failed, but not for the reason you think.   Many have NOT taught things about the roles of men and women that are clearly in the Scriptures because they have listened to culture rather than the Word of God. The Bible teaches that men and women were made by Him with certain roles and responsibilities that He has ordained.  The husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church.  The Bible teaches that the husband is the leader of the home and is to love and care for his wife and family.  The wife is to be supportive of the husband and to nurture and raise their children in a godly and orderly home.  That is the way God has ordained family to be according to the Bible. That is not negative; it is beautiful.”           

“I cannot believe you!  You misogynistic b******!”

A young man slammed his fist down on the table. “Why don’t you just shut up!” 

Biblical Roles of Men and Women

        Hanna, who was wearing her “Blessed” T shirt sought to console the class. 

“No, no!  The Bible doesn’t say anything thing about roles of men and women.”            “Well actually, it does,” Mike calmly replied.  “God made the husband and wife so that they could only fulfill their obligations and responsibilities and even their functions in cooperation and unity with one another.  The Scriptures reveal that the husband is the head of the wife in authority.  The final decisions rest with him.  Anything with no head is dead.  Anything with two heads is a monster.  In 1 Corinthians 11 we are taught that the Father is the head of Christ, but that doesn’t imply any inferiority.  Christ is not inferior to the Father, but He is subordinate to the Father in position.  Jesus said he came to do the will of the Father.  That is His role.  Similarly, the husband is the head of the wife.  She is in no way inferior to her husband.   They are equal in value, but they have different roles. Not unequal roles, different roles, each vital to the good of the whole.”  

You Don't Care About Women!         

“You would send women back to the Stone Age!” yelled someone.

“You don’t care about women.” called out another.           

Mike countered, “You are so wrong.  In stark contrast to almost every other religion, Christianity protects women.   Christianity does not allow women to be in a bloody, muddy foxhole.  Think about this. Who would be the survivors of the Titanic if had it sailed from Istanbul rather than Liverpool?  Because of the Christian ethic of England, women and children were put into the lifeboats first.  If it had been from a predominantly Muslim country, the men would have been first because women are fundamentally believed to be inferior to men. That is not true in Christianity. The Father has commanded men to protect and care for women, not as inferiors but as those who are valued and to be respected and protected.”

Jasmine blew up. “There you go!  Identifying God as a male!”

Mike said, “I must apologize because perhaps I wasn't clear. I did not say that God was a male.  I said He refers to Himself as Father.  While He identifies as masculine, God is a spirit and does not have a body like men.  He is not male, but He identifies in Holy Scripture as the Father of His own, and He gave the role of leader of the family to the male and the supportive, nurturing role to the wife.

Who Does God think He Is?!

Jasmine spewed, “Who in the world does God think He is to choose my role for me!”                   

Mike calmly and gently replied, “He is God, your Creator, and He is good and wise.”           

“He again! He again! He again!” Jasmine shrieked.           

The class became quiet. 

The professor looked awkward and tense.

Mike offered, “Look, I’m more than willing to talk about these things with any of you in a calm and respectful way over a good cup of coffee.  Just let me know.  You have my number.”

The professor seemed relieved that things had settled down a bit and ended the class.  Mike walked up to her and said that he was sorry if he created emotional drama in the class. 

The professor consoled, “No, we should be able to respectfully discuss everyone’s position in the class without shutting each other down.  That’s why we’re here.”

Mike was pleased that this was her position.

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