Online Sermons
Lesson #4 - Male Headship
Series: Home-BuildersLESSON #4 – MALE HEADSHIP
INTRODUCTION
Is it Biblical to pray that God would help our men be the leader of their home, as God intended?
The New Testament clearly teaches male headship, but it would be erroneous to read this as a license to be a tyrant.
I have yet to met a Christian wife who would not long to have (prefer) her husband be the spiritual leader in her home.
SACRED WORDS ABOUT HEADSHIP
1Cor.11:3 & 8-9 / ...Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ...
For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for indeed man was not created for the woman's sake,
but woman for the man's sake. cf. Gen.2:18 / I will make a helper suitable for him.
Eph.5:22-25 / Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also
is the head of the church...As the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives out to be to their husbands in everything.
1Tim.2:12-14 / I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man...for it was Adam who was first created,
and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression.
1Pet.3:1 & 7 / In the same way, you wives be submissive to your husbands...Husbands, live with your wives in an under-standing way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life.
HOW DO YOU READ THE ABOVE?
l Some would contend that both apostles, Paul and Peter, were misogynist (down on women), but the broader context disallows such.
Paul enjoyed the presence of numerous female co-workers. And Peter was a married man (Mt.8:14 & 1Cor.9:5).
l Many have urged that these texts must be read through the cultural prism of ancient norms, meaning they no longer apply.
The problem with this view is that Paul anchors his words in the order of creation and the subsequent sin in Eden.
Perhaps the key to understanding the above passages lies in the meaning of EXERCISING AUTHORITY or USURPTION (1Tim.2:14/KJV).
APOSTLE AND ELDERS
Jesus chose twelve apostles and they were all men (Mt.10:2-4 and Acts 1:23).
One of the qualifications for being an elder is that he would be the husband of one wife (1Tim.3:2 and Titus 1:6)
IN ORDER TO BE FAIR...
When we discuss the role of women, we must not conveniently overlook other New Testament passages.
Anna was a prophetess (Lk.2:36).
Peter acknowledges the veracity of Joel's prophecy: your sons and your daughters shall prophesy (Acts 2:17).
Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven (deacons/Acts 6:3)...had four virgin daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:8 & 9).
Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos aside and explained to him the way more accurately (Acts 18:26).
Phoebe was a servant (deaconess) of the church at Cenchrea (Rom.16:1-2).
HOW DOES HUSBAND HEADSHIP DISPLAY ITSELF IN THE HOME?
Husbands loving their wives the way Christ loved the church in a self-surrendering manner (Eph.5:25).
Husbands recognizing the inter-dependence of the husband-wife relationship (1Cor.11:11 and Eph.5:21).
Husband treating their wives with genuine consideration and granting her honor (1Pet.3:7).
Husbands who love their wives and are not embittered against them (Col.3:18).
Fathers bringing their children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph.6:4 & Col.3:21).
TRUE HEADSHIP REQUIRES A SERVANT HEART AND CHRIST-LIKE SPIRIT.
It is not being dictatorial. It is not ruling with an iron fist. It is not my way or the highway.
It is not abdicating responsibilities regarding child-rearing and and the honoring one's wife.
