"Graglia argues that feminism operates on two flawed assumptions: (1) Equality means sameness (meaning men and women must do the same things); and (2) Most differences between men and women are imposed by culture. Both of these assumptions will be challenged throughout this book. We will show that “equality” should only be used to speak of men and women having “equal value” before God and man, not equal functions, and we will show that men and women have different natures rooted in God’s design, not culture."
MY COMMENTS:
In Luke 15:1-10, Jesus gives two stories/parables about heaven rejoicing when just one sinner repents. The first example is a man losing one of his sheep and leaving the 99 to find it. The second is the woman who has lost one of her 10 silver coins, and finds it after searching carefully.
Whether a man or woman repents, heaven rejoices, as should we. Men and women are both made in the image of God, and a soul is a soul. But the design of men and women are quite different, even as the use and purpose of a sheep or silver coin are vastly different.
Heaven rejoices, as should man, when a Ruler repents, as well as when a lowly pauper repents. But salvation doesn't reduce the ruler to a pauper, nor raise the pauper to a ruler. In this life, men and women have different callings and duties, different "functions", and men are called to lead and rule for God's glory and the good of those under their care. Women are to follow and submit to their husbands for God's glory and the good of their husbands as his helpmeet.
In terms of utility and rank, is a servant as valuable as a ruler? No. But whether a servant or master, all are equally human beings. In the household order and the order between the sexes, men are in the position of authority and leadership, and that is more critical because without good leadership, without a healthy and strong head, the rest will suffer no matter how strong they are.
1 Corinthians 12 speaks of different parts of the body of Christ, different spiritual gifts, different services, and plainly indicates some are more gifted than others, and some gifts are more valuable than others. Yet all are essential. Which part of the body is non-essential or unimportant? You may prefer to lose a hand over a foot, but who in their right mind would say we have dishonored a hand and regarded it as "non-essential and unimportant" simply because we preferred the function and utility of the foot somewhat more than the hand? Is the hand not just as much ("equally") a part of the body as the foot is?
Likewise between men and women, God has created man to rule with authority, but he could not rule and subdue the earth alone. It was not good that man be alone. So God made a helper to him, not a competitor with him. The woman is under the man, but for the good of the man, to engender loving care by the man over his wife and children. The tenderness of the woman doesn't weaken the man and turn him into a woman, nor does it cause him to empty himself of masculine rule and authority, but it does give man a loving care in his rule for his wife and children. 1 Pet. 3:7, "Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered."
This extends to men ruling in the church and government as well.
Men must recognize their superior position in the economy of the sexes, if we want to put it like that, but not to boast or to say they can treat women like dirt, but rather to recognize their duties, calling, and responsibilities as God has designed it. As Pastors/teachers in the Church will bear greater responsibility (and God commands that only men may preach, teach, and rule in the Church, because that is natural to man and unnatural and against God's design for women) and are held to a stricter judgment because of their position as superior/ruler, so it is in the household with the man/husband/father.
Famed Bible commentator Matthew Poole (1624-1679) has this to say on 1 Pet. 3:7:
"Giving honour unto the wife; not despising them because of their weakness, or using them as slaves, but respecting them, caring for them, {as Matthew 15:6 1 Timothy 5:3} using them gently, covering their infirmities.
As unto the weaker vessel; weaker than the husbands, and that both in body and mind, as women usually are. In Scripture any instrument is called a vessel, and the wife is here called so, as being not only an ornament, but a help to the husband and family, Genesis 2:18. This he adds as a reason why the husband should give honour to the wife, viz. her being the weaker vessel; weak vessels must be gently handled; the infirmities of children bespeak their pardon when they offend; and those members of the body which we think less honourable, on them we bestow more abundant honour, 1 Corinthians 12:23. It is a part of that prudence according to which men should dwell with their wives, to have the more regard to them because of their infirmities, (in bearing with them and hiding them), lest they should be discouraged, if they find their weakness makes them contemptible.
And as being heirs together: another reason why husbands should give honour to their wives, viz. because though by nature they are weak and unequal to their husbands, yet they are equal to them in respect of their being called to the same grace and glory, there being neither male nor female in Christ, Galatians 3:28."
But until these things can be written, believed, and desired by men and women, our nation will continue to suffer. So long as women continue to complain that God has not designed them to be the head in the home, church, and state, and wrongly alleges this is unfair or means they are not equally made in the image of God, etc., our culture, government, and churches will continue to be feminized, which is unnatural and destructive. Leadership must be masculine, not feminine, for feminism hardens women against their nature as the weaker vessel, and makes effeminates out of men.
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