Man and woman 3 - Role models ...

Thursday, April 22, 2010. What are the role models of men and women? Is there some general relationship, which we need to follow? It is highly interesting that the bible discusses the relationship of men and women at several places. The background is a society where the women were treated differently from men. It was a society which did not know equality or emancipation. But in the middle of this society the relationship between men and women was a topic in the early Christian church. It seems that women had a stronger role in the Church … and then the discussion started …

Biblical input

Often, when you start to discuss the role of men and women in the church, some particular biblical texts are cited. We need to read and know them - to have a good foundation for our views. In 1 Corinthians 11 we read:

3 Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved. 6 If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. 7 A man ought not to cover his head,b since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.

11 In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. 13 Judge for yourselves:[…]

There is a particular background question here: who should wear what type of hat during the services. There were particular traditions, where women should cover their head during service, and the apostle Paul brings general arguments to support his view. The interesting observation is that Paul brings two generic arguments. One of these supports some type of hierarchy between men and women. The other supports some kind of equality.

Hierarchy or equality?

What should be our role model today? Is it necessary, reasonable or wise to support a hierarchy between men and women, based on the so called creation hierarchy, where men was created first according to one of the biblical creation records? Or is this view too short? Should we base our arguments on the general creation of mankind as “men and women”, based on the second of Paul's arguments and the new world which is the result of salvation, where everyone is “in Christ”, where there is no longer man or women? We can approach these questions with some “biblical argumentation”, which is important for Christians. We can also use our general common sense, our experiences with male and females everywhere in our modern society.

I believe, we should not go back from equality to hierarchy. I think that there are many biblical arguments for opening all our social roles in the same way both for men and women. We should give both men and women all possibilities of our modern world. They are created to equal each other. They are worthy to be like the other - as the first man Adam exclaims: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’, for she was taken out of man.” 24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. 25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.“ (Genesis 2)

Exploring the relationship between men and women is a continuing and exciting expedition. ... more texts