Roles In Marriage
January 18, 2012 - by Rodney Hunt
Men and women have equal value and dignity but different roles in marriage.
The Bible affirms this in Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them”. The Apostle Paul also speaks of this equality of men and women in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Any discussion of manhood and womanhood in the Bible must start here. Every time we look at each other and talk to each other as men and women, we must remember the person we are talking to is a creature of God who is more like God than anything else in the universe.
Therefore we should treat men and women with equal dignity, and we should think of men and women as having equal value.
Men and women have different roles in marriage as part of the created order.
Adam’s headship in marriage was established by God before the Fall, and was not the result of sin. God spoke to Adam first after the Fall even though Eve sinned first. God summoned Adam to give account for what had happened. “But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” – Genesis 3:9. This suggests that Adam was the one primarily accountable for what had happened in the family.
As we move to the New Testament we see Paul instructing the church of Ephesus, “For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.” -Ephesians 5:23-24. The biblical ideal for men is to provide loving, humble leadership and avoid errors of passivity and aggressiveness. “At the heart of mature masculinity is a sense of benevolent responsibility to lead, provide for and protect women in ways appropriate to a man’s differing relationships.” (Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood).
The biblical ideal for women is not an ideal of a woman being a doormat but a picture of a joyful intelligent woman submitting to her husband. This submission is not like a child obeying their parents. Rather it is a voluntary yielding in love to the authority God has ordained. This submission is reserved for the wife’s husband and not to all men. “At the heart of mature femininity is a freeing disposition to affirm, receive and nurture strength and leadership from worthy men in ways appropriate to a woman’s differing relationships.
Don’t miss our series “I do, we did, now what?” as we discuss the roles of men and women in marriage. Also, get connected to a journey group where you can discuss topics like this with other followers of Christ as well as pray for and encourage one another. Register for our next Grouplink at http://westridge.com/events/details/grouplink.
