By Pastor Bill Mosley
"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1:26,27)
Nothing is clearer in the Book of Beginnings than
God's design for all created things. Every creature of God has its individual
functional role that no other can perform. All have their distinctive attributes
that distinguishes them from all others. Each of them bearing seed after their
kind for the reproduction of their species. Every creature has its own peculiar
and particular characterization to fulfill in God's divine design.
This being true of all creation certainly gives man an obligation to fill his role properly before God because he is the only part of God's creation made in His image. There is enough said in the Bible about the functional role of every substance composed of atoms that man can determine the length of days, the changing of seasons, the time and height of tides, etc. within a small element of time. Today eclipse of planets, earth, sun and moon can be predicted with minute accuracy. The reason for this is the Creator gave every atom of His creation a role to fulfill that no other can fulfill. This truth no one can refute. It would seem when it comes to the created life made in the image of God they would be even more inclined to carry out their role than any other of God's creation. However, this is not always the case.
The Biblical evidence is overwhelming that God has
given the male/female offspring of Adam and Eve a definite role that belong to
each of them separately and together. However, unlike the rest of the creation
of God that operates properly under His divine direction without a written
manuscript, man, the descendant of Adam's family, even with the inspired Word of
God as guide, is inclined to desert his designated role.
Male & Female Were Made For Each Another
This would seem a trite statement if it were not for the fact many are deserting that God given role and burning in their lust for a same-sex relationship (Romans 1:26,27). God's plan for an "help meet" (Genesis 2:18- 20) for the man He created was woman. This is the exact title Adam gave to her when he first saw her (Genesis 2:23). We have God's role distinctly given for the first two made in the image of God as a Man and a Woman. Each have a divine role from God and it is an honorable role for both that should be accepted with gratitude. It is no wonder that Adam would say: "This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh:" when he first set eyes on God's wonderful work in the person of Woman.
It is not such an incredible thing when the
husband/wife role is played properly that each complement the other. God
designed their roles for that very purpose. It is only when sinful humanity toys
with lustful desires that roles become complicated and unbearable. Sodomy is as
unnatural as if the earth suddenly began rotating in the opposite
direction...and just as disturbing. Not one atom has acted in any manner in such
a debauched behavior. Sodomy is not an alternate life-style as the "pro-homo"
crowd proclaims. It is as abnormal as if the earth suddenly began rotating north
to south. This would not only be contrary to nature it would be in direct
disobedience to the Creator's design. So also are devious, deceitful, out of
character activities of human depravity when their proper role is
abandoned.
Man's Role Distinctly Declared
From the beginning he was given responsibilities that are his alone. God gave him a mentality and vocabulary adequate to name all other created beings. His duty was to designate a title that would be suitable for every creature. Regardless of the first language there was no doubt that it identified the creature. When Noah loaded the Ark by two's and seven's the names of the beast and birds were as common and their roles as distinct as the names and roles of the eight souls that God sealed in the Ark.
Man was given a responsibility that no other could shoulder. The fact that he is to love his wife involves more than a mere act (Ephesians 5:25; Colossians 3:19). It is his role in life and no other has that responsibility or right.
None of God's beastly creation could fill this role. Although this love is far more than a physical relationship, no part of man's responsibility in the area of loving his wife can be spiritually or physically performed by woman or beast. In fact it is an abomination before God with serious consequences attached if another fills this role. It is so with the man: "And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast." (Leviticus 20:15) It is also so with the woman: "And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." (Leviticus 20:16) It is obvious God would not give such instructions, if at least the possibility of such sin did exist. God equally abhors the sensual action of women placing themselves in the role of men toward one another. "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:..." (Romans 1:26) God is equally abhorred at the sin of homosexuality between men: "And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet." (Romans 1:27)
This is not the only role of responsibility the man must fill. He has a role in the Lord's church that no other can fill. Although this will not be the main thrust of this discussion it is amazing at what length religion will go to satisfy or draw a crowd. Although it may be true that some who fill pulpits today are little more than someone's "puppet," to use a puppet in the place of a man called of God under the guise of preaching the gospel may be entertaining but it is nothing short of ridicule. First, it ridicules the Lord and His church and all He intended her to be. Second, it ridicules the pastor of that congregation and the message he is called to preach. The pulpit should not be used for entertainment but for evangelization and doctrinal teaching.
There is also a role that only the man can fill in the worship service of the church. Only a man can fill the role of pastor because of the divine given qualifications for that office. One of those qualifications involves the other part of the union of the male/female. "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife,..." (1st Timothy 3:2) There are other qualifications also to be considered for the bishop/pastor in 1st Timothy chapter 3 and Titus chapter 1. The role of the pastor, who must be a man to have a wife, must also fill this role by being the "husband of one wife". When the man in the role of pastor takes more than one wife he can no longer fill the qualifications for that role. Any ministry of the Lord's church is a sacred occupation and the Lord has a divine purpose for that ministry and guidelines to follow for His glory.
When Paul wrote First Timothy he states the purpose for the letter in chapter 3:14,15: "These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou shouldest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." The purpose of this letter was to instruct Timothy of the doctrinal behavior the church should follow. The behavior in this letter included the role of the pastor/bishop, elder men, elder women, young women, young men and widows, and the entire church assembled. The man's role in the church is one of leadership. We pointed out earlier that only men can fill the role of pastor and only then under proper qualifications. Paul makes it clear that the men are to be leaders in prayer in the public worship of the church. "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." (1st Timothy 2:8) "Men" in this verse is translated from the Greek word "aner" which means man, individual male, husband, father. The same word is translated "man" in (1st Timothy 2:12). By way of contrast note (1st Timothy 2:5,6): "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." "Men" in verse five is from the Greek word "anthropos" and means man-faced or human being, or the entire human race. Our Lord is indeed a Savior equally for male/female but not to the changing of their proper role in His service for His glory.
The context of these and other scriptures reveal the
role of both men and women without the knowledge or use of a Greek dictionary.
However, to ignore God's divine ordering of our personal role in service to Him
and one another is not only robbing believers of blessings but risking rebuke
from God. "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." (Galatians
3:28) This verse is occasionally referred to hoping to justify men or women
filling any position in the church they so desire. Salvation in Christ equally
for the entire human race is clearly revealed in the Bible. God our Savior,
would "...have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the
truth" (1st Timothy 2:4). Even apart from knowing that the Greek word for "men"
here is "anthropos" (man-faced; all humans) the context leaves no doubt that
"all" includes both male and female.
Woman's Role Is Distinctly Declared
She is to be loved by her husband (Ephesians 5:25). She is to be respected by all men. Paul made a list of due respect for women and referred to it as "doctrine" in 1st Timothy 4:13,16. God's role for women reveal due esteem to them as seen in 1st Timothy 5:2,3."The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. Honour widows that are widows indeed." Disregarding this as a doctrine of Christ is serious and every person must answer to God for their neglect.
The elder women are to teach the younger women. Among the subject matter to be taught is stated in Titus 2:4,5. "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." The obligation that is placed upon the elder women to teach the younger women is equally placed upon the younger women to learn this teaching. God inspired the written word with the purpose in mind that His creation would follow its precepts for His glory and their good. The purpose here is "...that the word of God be not blasphemed." The all too common reply to this and many other direct commands of God begins with a "Yeah, but...!" statement intended to counteract or diminish the effect of God's word. Since the older and wiser through Bible study and experience have attained some wisdom and understanding of what is true and lasting, the younger women would gain immeasurably from the instructions of godly older women. This then places the younger women under responsibility to heed the Bible based teaching of the elder women. If it were not so serious it would be amusing how both men and women use extreme examples trying to prove such instructions will not work. However, the Word of God is true and reliable and is sharper than any two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12).
Spiritual respect from others is divinely attributed
to the woman. All others are to "entreat" those with whom they associate in a
godly manner such as the women referred to above in 1st Timothy 5:2, 3. Women then
must receive this respect accepting the accompanying responsibility. God has
given them all the attractiveness needed to gain the respectful attention of the
man. They also have God given guidelines to follows in appearance and actions.
Practical guidance for this is found in God's word and not in the styles created
by a godless society. It is God's will "...that women adorn themselves in
modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or
gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing
godliness) with good works" (1st Timothy 2:9,10). First Peter 3:1-7 also relates
proper direction for attire for both men and women as well as their actions one
toward the other.
Forsaking God's Assigned Role Brings Disaster
The created universe functions by God given roles. With all the scientific wisdom accumulated today the mystery of creation looms large on the minds of unbelieving scientist. It is simply too easy to accept creation by faith as stated the Book of Beginnings. Untold millions of dollars are spent in so-called scientific research to estimate the age of the universe and how much longer it will last. The Bible leaves no doubt that it is five days older than Adam's race and will last until the Second Adam judges the world in righteousness.
The very seasons respond to their God given role for the continuance of seeding and harvest. "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." (Genesis 8:22) The day's length is the same as it was the very first day. It is man that has the problem of reconciling the things he doesn't understand. The earth and sea respond to their role without a miscue. Notwithstanding there are serious catastrophes of floods, hail, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes, each are responding to a role designed by the Creator of all things. The mighty sea has its proud waves stayed at the proper place (Job 38:8-11).
The sun, moon, and stars will only refuse to shine at the command of God (Isaiah 13:9-11). Until then they will perform their proper function and operate effectively. Only man has determined to change his God given role. What a sad charge it is to those created in God's image to be the only part of His creation to rebel against their role. Why? Sin!
God's design for Adam was such as he needed another. God designed from him a helper for him, a part of him to love and cherish. God made them "one" but the descendants of Adam did not long stay in that role of one man and one woman. Our Lord Gives the reason for leaving that role as "sin" (Mark 10:1-8). Hardness of heart and yielding to sinful desires lead men from their God given roles to a life of separation from God. Lamech was the first recorded to step beyond God's design in this matter of having two wives (Genesis 4:19). It was only a short time before Lamech was a murderer as well (Genesis 423).
Men and women leaving the natural use of the other and burning in their lust in a same-sex relationship is the grossest of sin and debauchery. It is a blasphemous act against the God and His Word. Man made laws may make homosexuality permissible on earth but it will never be sanctioned by heaven. Satan is no doubt laughing with glee as state governments are seeking to legislate same-sex marriages. Most states, if not all, recognized other states matrimonial laws as legal in their own state. The first state to make sodomy unions legal places upon all other states the responsibility of accepting it.
Every person has a role to fill in respect to others. Honor to their father and mother is their role from God (Ephesians 6:1,2). Be reminded again that young men are to respect the elder women as mothers and the younger women as sisters in all purity. The older men as fathers and the younger men as brothers (1st Timothy 5:1-3). This includes the young people toward the elderly as well as the elderly toward the young. The entire Christian life is one of yielding in respect to the other. "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;..." (Romans 12:10)
Whatever else is required of believers the principle end of our desire should be to know from God what our role is in life. It is revealed in His inspired word. The manner of affection, the modesty of attire, the method of our action, all have proper guidance revealed in the Word of God.
When role boundaries are stepped over God's judgment is sure to fall. Although society in the a new century may be ever so enlightened all men still have to answer to God. Take heed to your God given role for His honor and glory that the Word of God be not blasphemed. All will give account to the Creator. "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (Romans 14:11,12) All things will be open to the One Who made us all. "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." (Hebrews 4:13) Seek and fill God's doctrinal role for your life.
