Equal and Different
Genesis 1:27 – Human beings are unique. Humans are not physical replicas of God, not part of God or independent from God, but in relationship with God. God gave humans the responsibility to act out this partnership in a way that reflects the glory of God (Hebrews 2:7). God created two distinct human beings-male and female. They are not like the animals that they rule, but stamped with the divine image of God. Although the divine image is lost (Genesis 3), their original position in creation gives humans special dignity (Psalm 8).
God had specific purposes in mind when he created two genders instead of one. We learn spiritual truths concerning his relationship with us and our relationship with one another, especially the one-flesh union of a man and a woman in marriage (Ephesians 5:29-32). In God’s design, male and female are equal in dignity yet distinctively different and complimentary of one another.
Headship and Submission
Genesis 2:18 – God declared all creation “good.” But it was “not good for the man to be alone.” Man was in need of a “helper.” This truth is scandalous to many, an ancient myth irrelevant to modern women. But these divinely inspired words speak to the respective headship and submissive roles of male and female.
Man is given headship. He was created first. He is the first to receive instruction from God (2:16-17). The animals are brought to the man for naming (2:19-20). The woman is made from the man and for the man (2:18, 22). The male names the female (2:23). God ordered his creation for our benefit and laid the foundation for marriage, family, and society.
Male headship is a result of God’s love for his creation and special concern for women and children. God desires order, peace, and safety for families. Ephesians 5 discusses the headship of the husband and the submissive role of the wife. There is no shame in submission! While on earth, Jesus submitted to the will of His Heavenly Father. It is the husband who is called to love his wife as much as Christ loved the Church (Ephesians 5:25). He is to love her as much as he loves himself by considering her needs above his own (Ephesians 5:28). Loving headship generates loving submission.
When men glorify God with their headship, women and children are respected. Dr. Alvin Schmidt observes that “the dignity and sanctity of marriage that Christianity brought to Roman culture were mostly due to the early Christian women . . . [T]hey appreciated the dignity and worth that Christ’s teachings accorded them, and seeing themselves as God’s redeemed children, they, more so than men, understood the seriousness of their biological role as bearers of children in God’s created order.” (Under the Influence: How Christianity Transformed Civilization,” Copyright 2001 by Alvin J. Schmidt, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, p. 85.)
Adam’s Helper
Genesis 2:20b-22 – There are two important considerations in these verses. First, being a “helper” is a divine thing. In John 14:16 Jesus comforts his disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit. He refers to the Holy Spirit as “another Helper.” The Holy Spirit is an encourager, comforter, and partner. To help is, indeed, divine! Eve was created to complete Adam as his encourager, comforter, and partner. Her help would be divine!
Adam’s Rib
The second consideration focuses on God’s creation of Eve from Adam’s rib. God’s creative act is not without meaning. The rib is a strong bone, yet fragile. It supports and guards the heart and breath of man, yet is vulnerable to attack. Satan is a master at sensing vulnerability. Satan went straight to Adam’s “rib” (Genesis 3:1). Adam was with Eve when she was attacked (Genesis 3:6) but failed to cover his “rib.” It was Adam who was held accountable (Genesis 3:9).
Today, when a man pressures his girlfriend to have sex, he is leaving her physically, emotionally, and spiritually vulnerable. In placing his “needs” before hers, the man leaves the woman open for attack. When a man does not promise to love, cherish, and cover a woman with his name, but simply shares living quarters and a bed, he is leaving her open to attack. When a man fathers a child but does not accept the privilege and responsibility of being a daddy, he is leaving both mother and child vulnerable to the world.
But when a man remembers God’s call to headship, he is able to make a difference. A man makes a difference when he guards his girlfriend’s virtue, remains true to his wife, or sees his privilege and responsibility as a daddy. Men who remember God’s call to headship have an opportunity to defend against chaos and leave a legacy of hope. When Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant (Matthew 1:19-25), he probably felt betrayed and angry. He could have broken the engagement. Instead, Joseph trusted the Word of the Lord, covered his “rib” by taking Mary as his wife, and named the Child Jesus. All men who desire to protect their “rib” find hope and help in Jesus (Ephesians 5:25, 28-29). Washed and renewed by the blood of Jesus Christ sinful men are motivated and strengthened in their headship role.
Womanhood and Motherhood
Genesis 3:20 – Modern feminism has not been kind to the vocation of motherhood. Young women have been encouraged to seek fulfillment in every possible area of interest except as a wife and mother. Young women have been instructed in sexual promiscuity but set “free” of the responsibility of motherhood by abortion. Modern feminists celebrated legalized abortion because it “evens the playing field” by making a woman’s body more like a man’s. The world misunderstands the meaning of “equality.” Men and women are created equal by God, but not the same. The attempt to change a woman’s procreative design proves that we fail to understand the high calling of motherhood.
It is ironic that in the midst of attempting to control child-bearing issues, many women hear the ticking of their biological clock and long to be a mother. This natural desire is as old as Genesis. Satan wanted Eve to be the mother of death. But God moved Adam to name his wife Eve (Life) because she would be the mother of all the living. It is the woman who is wonderfully designed to bear and nurture life.
Martin Luther was awed by motherhood. “[A] woman’s body is adapted and formed for the care of infants. How becomingly even little girls carry infants in their arms! How appropriate are the gestures with which mothers dandle the little ones when they hush a crying infant or lay it in the cradle … I say nothing of all the other duties which only mothers can do for their children.” Luther believed that “everyone does best when he does those things for which he was created.” The “female sex is merciful by nature because it is born to show mercy and to cherish … just as man is born to protect.” (What Luther Says, Concordia Publishing House 1457-1458.)
Luther was reflecting the Bible’s high view of motherhood. “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you” (Isaiah 66:13). “We were gentle when we were with you, like a mother taking care of her children” (1 Thessalonians 2:7). Timothy was greatly influenced by motherly love and instruction. “I’m reminded of how sincere your faith is. That faith first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice. I’m convinced that it also lives in you” (2 Timothy 1:5). Trusting God’s design for motherhood enabled Lois and Eunice to prepare Timothy for not only living in the world but influencing it for good.
Fatherhood and motherhood are God’s ideas that build a culture of life. A mother need never fear children because they seem inconvenient or burdensome. Like Jesus, she can welcome a little child (Mark 10:14). And, when a mother grieves because she aborted her child in a moment of fear, she can look to Jesus the Savior who hears her cry of repentance and welcomes her into his waiting and forgiving arms. In Jesus, she is set free to love and defend the blessing of life!