Herald of the Hills

“Conflicts: Understanding Your Role”

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Gen. 1:26-27). One of the fundamental things we learn as we read the creation account is that the difference that exists between male and female was God’s idea. God created two distinct kinds of people, male and female. God gave to them different roles, not only for the propagation of the human race, but for our own well being.
          There is a segment of our society that is trying to eliminate these distinctions. Most agree that women should have equal opportunity, equal rights under the law, and equal pay for equal work – this not the issue. The issue is “unisexism” – the intentional blurring of all distinctions between male and female. This unisex movement assaults a basic truth of creation, that God created two distinct kinds of people, male and female. Both are important to God but they were not created the same.
          There are basic physical differences. Most obvious is the difference in reproductive systems. Because the left hemisphere of the brain develops faster in female babies their verbal skills develop quicker and are more complete. A woman’s metabolism is normally lower than man’s. Women have smaller lungs and 20% fewer red blood cells than men. Since red blood cells provide oxygen to the body cells, women tire easier (not as much stamina) and are more prone to faint. A woman’s thyroid is larger and more active providing, among other things, more resistance to cold. On average, a man possesses 50% more brute strength than a woman (40% of a man’s body weight is muscle; 23% of a woman’s).
          There are intuitive differences. Men are more logical. We think in terms of facts more than emotions. Women are more intuitive and catch sublime messages faster and more accurately than do men. Women perceive or feel something about a situation or person, while men tent to follow a logical analysis of circumstances of people. The conclusion is that, when someone tries to deny gender, differences, they are not only being unrealistic, they are rebelling against God’s created order. 
          The same God who created male and female not only made them distinct, but He created them in such a way as to fill distinct roles. Many problems within the home today are a result of: 1) People being ignorant of the role they are to fill, 2) People are entering into marriage, the most important human relationship, without any idea of what roles they are supposed to play, 3) People rebelling (particularly women) against the role for which God created them and 4) People being unwilling (particularly men) to step up and fill the role God gave to them.
          Consider this biblical example of the role of a husband and wife in the marriage relationship. “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came” (Gen. 12:1-5).
     Two things are evident in this text. Abraham was a godly leader. “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him” (Gen. 18:19). Sarah was godly responder. “For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement” (1st Peter 3:5-6). This same distinction in roles is taught in the New Testament; “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing” (Eph. 5:22-24). As a husband you must be the “head” of your family – godly responder. Understanding your role in marriage is one of the most critical components in having a happy and biblical marriage.
Tom Moore

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