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· The idea was created, not by feminist, but by abdicating husbands - they don't want the hard role of leadership and authority and headship; they "wimp out."

· Feminism was created by ungodly men - it has managed to maneuver multitudes of women into the work force outside the home.

· This doesn't mean that women are not competent in the tasks they do - it just means that

men are better suited to one particular kind of task (his vocation) and women are better

suited to another type of task (supporting the husband) .

· This should instill humility in men - their wives are created for them - they need help. Godly husbands must concentrate on being strong for the sake of their wives.

IV. The wife: Weaker Vessels

(1 Peter 3:7) and (Genesis 3:16)

· Husbands you are to dwell with her according to knowledge. You need to know her, know her desires, understand her sensitivities.

· This says the wife is weaker, and that the husband is to honor her. It was true then, and it is true now, that women are weaker and more vulnerable than men. Men, you need to honor or protect, (esteem of great value) , your wife. Her weakness is her strength in the relationship and in your leadership.

Gen. 3:16: The husband is to rule over the wife. This is the same word used in Gen 1:18 when he referred to the Moon and Sun as being set in the firmament to “rule” over the day and over the night. It means to have dominion or be a governor.

Is this sinful to say that the Wife is the weaker vessel?

· Feminists, and much of the world, would call this a sexist gaffe. Is the bible sexist? The Websters 1828 dictionary does not even contain the word. 2 definitions I found in different dictionaries are;

1 : prejudice or discrimination based on sex; especially : discrimination against women

2 : behavior, conditions, or attitudes that foster stereotypes of social roles based on sex

Adjective

1. Discriminatory on the basis of sex (usually said of men's attitude toward women).

Noun

2. A man with a chauvinistic belief in the inferiority of women.

· Since sin is defined in relation to God's law, and not the laws of men and women, this idea may be offensive to some but it cannot be called sin.

· According to the Bible, there is no sin in the fact that men are stronger than women. The sin is in whether or not that strength is used according to God's requirements.

· Weakness doesn't mean less in value - both husband and wife are equally valuable to the

Lord. Calling weakness "worse" is like asking "What's better, a teacup or a sledgehammer?" Neither is better; they are both designed very well for their specific (and good) purposes.

Honoring weakness
· Men have trouble honoring weakness. They are competitive, and want to attack

weakness when they see it (sports) ...society admires this (many women don't want to be

perceived as weak, and will fight back?).

· Relationships can become adversarial ("That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard") if men

exploit weaknesses...especially when men are in the wrong ("I know I did the wrong

thing, but you're so...").

· Instead, men must recognize the weakness as their own, as weakness on their own team. The husband and wife are a team.

· Example of a husband who disciplines his children better than his wife...but this really

means that he is a bad husband...the children should see his shadow looming behind their

mother.

· Her weakness is her strength, and may become his strength...his strength could be his weakness, but if overcome, it may become his (and her) strength.

V. The Husband: Responsibility

Husband is responsible for all problems

· Feminism is a result of two kinds of men - overbearing men and wimps.

· The husband is always completely responsible for all of the problems.

· There is a difference between responsibility and guilt. If a woman has cheated on her husband, she is guilty...but he is responsible.

· Example: captain of a ship or a CEO - the leader is responsible, though they may not be the guilty party.

· Men, whether through good leadership, tyranny or abdication, are responsible for any problems in the home.

· "If Christian men had loved their wives as Christ loved the church, if they had given

direction to their wives, if husbands had accepted their wives' necessary help with their

God-ordained vocation, there never would have been room for feminist thinking within

the church"

VI. The Husband: Evangelical Servant

The servant

· "Men and women should marry wisely. A woman should marry a man she respects, and

a man should marry a woman he is willing to love and lead with a servant's heart.

· (John 13:13-17) Jesus taught that any Christian who wants to become greatest must become servant of all. This is true for the family - the husband must use his strength for his wife's protection and benefit, not for his own. He must act in imitation of Christ.

The Evangelical Husband

· The evangelical husband here is a man who teaches his house and is a good example of how Christ loved his church.

· He must know what he believes and he must teach it to his family. He should not have a minimalist approach to teaching doctrine to his household

(1 Corinthians 14:35) , Paul instructs women to ask their husbands about doctrines they don't understand. This means the husbands have to know the scripture!

· Second, he must know why he believes as he does. Read the Bible, over and over again, and reflect upon the Word and read great classics of the faith and sit under good teaching.

· Third, he must cultivate a godly home consistant with his beliefs. There should be graces that create an "aroma" that is pervasive in the home: "a man

should never speak to his wife without affection and courtesy. He must never lose his

temper when correcting the children. When he sins, he should make all appropriate

restitution. He must be a rock in his home, a small pebble that somehow by the grace of

God pictures the Rock that is Christ."

VII. The Marriage: The Level Playing Field?

Hierarchies

· All human cultures are hierarchical - not everyone has the same amount of talent, brains, beauty, intelligence, money, etc.

· The Bible does not require the submission of women to men (as is commonly perceived), but rather of a woman to a man. This actually protects the wife from having obligations to other men. Women are not created to submit to just anyone, but to a particular man. Not every man can be the husband of every woman.

· In summary - the Bible presents men and women as having different, and complimentary, strengths and needs that must be acknowledged and respected. The husband's strength is, however, foundational and he is responsible for all areas of the marriage, whether or not he is guilty of the particular sins that cause the problems. His leadership and headship is inescapable. (continued...)

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