In this short series of posts, I’m presenting a document I wrote while serving as a pastor in Ottawa. If you missed Part 1, you can read it here.
Household of Faith
One of the metaphors used to describe the church is the “God’s household” (1 Timothy 3:15).
In this picture, the church functions like a healthy home. The Bible describes God’s ideal for a household as having husband who sacrificially loves his wife (Ephesians 5:25-29; Colossians 3:19; 1 Peter 3:7) and a wife who willing follows his lead (Ephesians 5:22-24; Colossians 3:18; 1 Peter 3:1-7). While men are expected to provide godly leadership for their families (Ephesians 6:4), both partners work together to provide love and instruction to their children (Proverbs 1:8) and share in the managing of the household (1 Timothy 3:4; 5:14).
The pattern God established in the family is the same pattern he established for the church. As Gene Getz observes,
God has not given us one set of leadership principles for marriage relationships, another set for biological family relationship, and yet another for relationships in the larger family. Though each sphere of influence broadens in terms of function and responsibility, the basic leadership principles are the same. A husband is to be a servant-leader to his wife, a father is to be a servant-leader in his family, and elders/overseers are to be servant-leaders in the family of God.[1]
God has designed a working arrangement in marriage, family and church that consistently calls men to give godly leadership in the context of a male-female partnership. As a husband provides loving care and direction as the “head” of the wife (Ephesians 5:23), so elders are to give loving care and direction as overseers of the church.
Original Intent
The household model is consistent with what is in the creation account. Adam and Eve were equally created in God’s image; thus they are equal in value.“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;male and female he created them“. (Genesis 1:27)
Together the man and woman were given dominion over the creation (Genesis 1:28). The woman is created as a helper/completer for the man. “The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18).
The woman is “suitable” (literally “according to the opposite of him”) for the man. Her form and nature are designed to correspond and complete him. Together they can be stronger than either would be alone.
The woman is called a “helper” but not in a demeaning way. The same term is used of God (Psalm 46:1). She is rather an “indispensable companion.” Together they are to fulfill the mandate God has given them.
While men and women are both equal in God’s sight and essential in the marriage partnership, they are not identical in their roles. The man was created first, a fact that the New Testament cites to explain God’s design for male leadership in the church (1 Timothy 2:11-13). The man was also held primarily responsible for the spiritual condition of the first family. While Eve ate the forbidden fruit before Adam, God confronted Adam before Eve (Genesis 3:9). The New Testament holds Adam responsible for sin’s entrance into the human race (Romans 5:12).
In tomorrow’s final post in this series (Part 3), we’ll consider some of the practical implications and applications of this biblical perspective as it relates to ministry in a local church.
[1]Gene Getz, Elders and Leaders, (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 2003), 126.
Rick and Linda Reed 