Today, gender roles in marriage, holy matrimony, and being joined to GOD are topics. Much of what we read regarding family and marriage in the holy writings speak to the social institutions made by mankind, not the sacred institution used to generate life and impart godliness to human couples. Marriage in Bible times often responded to population events such as epidemic disease, crop failures, famine, and warfare that repeatedly might result in the destruction of from twenty to one hundred thousand or more males in a single battle. Initially, polygamy (1 man, many wives) and polyandry (1 woman, many husbands) were practiced for survival, and to restore communities that otherwise would be wiped out. Union of two Christian believers can be thought of as “arranged marriage” and “pre-ordained” in the sense that both partners of the pair already are committed and “belong” to a divine person, Jesus Christ. Just as a couple becoming husband and wife does not eliminate their accountability and duty as individuals having their own parents, siblings, or an employer, their union as spouses does not remove all their privilege as distinct persons having separate self-will, and who are to maintain both self-government and integrity of conscience. A writer in the forum shared by “Yahoo! Answers” who uses the ID “Krystal Rice” (the profile information was lost) posted the following:
Biblical roles as a husband and wife?
Me and my husband are both growing in our spiritual walk with God. But we are having a huge issue!!! He thinks the only role a woman plays is to submit to the man, which is true, but it’s not the only role. Bible says we are to submit to eachother out of reverence for the Lord & that the man provides and puts the woman’s needs first. With his issue lingering for the past week he has begun to be cold and dictates I do certain things. I want him to lead us as God leds the church but I also want to be heard. He posed that I either submit/ do what he says or leave the relationship.
What do you guys think and how should I handle this? Its more about understanding than anything. & perception.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: if any brother have a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. (1st Corinthians 7: 10-15, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: When Believers Practice Divorce (12/10/2017); Separate Yet Not Alone (06/28/2017); Conforming to Divine Standards (06/18/2017); Marriage Is A Sacrament? (06/11/2017); The Relationships With GOD? (11/30/2016); In Relationship With Divinity? (08/16/2016); The Wife of Your Youth? (12/22/2015); Sermons About Good Sex? (08/25/2014); About Good Sermons? (08/26/2014); The Church as a Bride? (05/15/2013); How Do I Repent? (05/16/2013); A Life Companion? (11/07/2012); On Asking Why (11/08/2012)
“Krystal”, consider the following that comes from a focus wherein the divine purpose for marriage is to establish oneness without sameness. In sacred marriage, the two become one flesh, and GOD is the other.
Even, within the body of Christian believers, today, spiritual confusion may be found regarding gender roles, and sexuality for men and women. The church is to understand that, by the sacrament (sacred practice) of holy matrimony, a man and a woman undergo a divine operation—one akin to the creation of Eve from the rib of Adam, and that is not merely sexual joining (we say, coitus, congress, intercourse)—to become “one flesh” as life companions with divinity. Where both members have lives in commitment to GOD through Jesus Christ, their separate obligations and relationships to the three persons within the GODhead (the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit) are not annulled, canceled, diminished, or replaced. Correctly understood, the two are even more the new creation in Christ, and are gifted to serve as those who display the imparted Spirit of GOD.
There are other divine operations that are being carried forward. Sinners are “recruited” to become reborn and endowed with divine substance through repentance, and water baptism. The inborn spirit is to die, be buried, and restored from the dead; and a “born again” believer is to result. Even so, the transformation for mankind to exist as immortal and incorruptible (we say, perfected) is not complete. Salvation is not a “one-time” event; those who are born again must “grow up again,” and become ripe (mature) for harvest at his appearing (i.e., the Advent, the Rapture, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ). They are to display their own divine substance as developing believers who are now offspring of GOD, and joint-heirs with Jesus. Included are faith, forbearance, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, respect, wisdom, and wrath against sin.
Husbands and wives are to be co-workers through their shared lifestyle and daily routines that can proclaim the good news (we say, the Gospel) of salvation, rebirth, and the return of the Lord for those members of his body (the church), who are to reside in the heavenly City (the New Jerusalem). Arbitrary differences are put aside. In the newness of his resurrection (rather than what men are quick to call “Christian law”), believers continue to encounter the same “growing pains,” life challenges, and suffering with others on the earth. Through the imparted Spirit, the pair will experience permanent change that prepares them for the day of the Lord. There must be discovery, fellowship with more mature believers (e.g., clergy, prayer leaders, their own parents), gradual growth, sacred knowledge in place of secular knowledge, as well as comfort, edification, and exhorting the church through prophecy. The transformation will be completed “in the twinkling of an eye” as they are lifted up to “meet the Lord in the air.” Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:
(1.) Matthew 19: 4-6, King James Version (KJV): 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
(2.) Ephesians 4: 4-6, KJV: 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
(3.) Mark 10: 2-5, KJV: 2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. 3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? 4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. 5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and made a part of our own developing belief. (For example, (4.) Galatians 3: 27-29, KJV: 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
Washington, DC
