Sacred Cow Saturday - Episode 3 - Gender Roles

As a Christian it is critically important to exercise a sound biblical worldview. That means we can understand the world by what Scripture has to say about it. When the Bible tells me that Jesus Christ is the only way to receive salvation from God's coming judgment I can confidently discriminate against all other religious paths as false.

But sometimes worldly ideas infiltrate our church culture actually causing professing Christians to interpret Scripture via prevalent worldly thinking. One of the biggies in this area would have to be the influence of feminism on many pulpits. I mentioned in an earlier post how a preacher at a wedding I attended read a text from Ephesians chapter five and deliberately circumnavigated the verses that told wives to submit to their husbands.

Does the modern church need to keep putting a new spin on Scripture that doesn't conform to society? The Apostle Paul tells us in his letter to the church in Rome not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. What should our mind be renewed to? Well Paul answers this in his letter to the church at Philippi;

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:3-8)

So Christ (the Bridegroom) painted a picture of His love for His Church (His bride) by humbling Himself as a servant and ultimately laying down His life for her. Scripture is clear that godly marriage should reflect this. Husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the Church, and wives should submit to their husbands as unto Christ (and yes, the context is already there in the verses). This is not about importance or value but about a human shadow of something heavenly.

If you have an axe to grind over this then maybe you need to examine yourself and see if you need to die more to self. If it is no longer I that live, but Christ that liveth in me then why are we spending time debating these issues of equality. Women should not be treated equally with men - they should be treated better by an adoring husband. Husbands should not be usurped and overruled by their wives - they should be submitted to by a wife who understands that her husband is her covering and the one who is answerable to God for the wellbeing of his family. And ultimately (and I have to confess that my own marriage is a work in progress) a marriage is an opportuntity for two people who have crucified their own flesh to glorify God by displaying Christ's love for His Church and the Church's devotion to Christ.

None of us hit the mark but it is a worthy goal to pursue. Just ask Voddie Baucham . . .



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