Why You Shouldn’t Put Men or Women in a Box (Marriages too)

Please be careful to not put people in a box, either gender; marriages too. For instance, Jacob was renamed Israel and became the progenitor of God’s nation on Earth, but he was a Momma’s boy who favored hanging around the tents while his half-brother, Esau, was a hairy manly man who preferred the outdoors and hunting (Genesis 25:27, 27:11 & 27:22-23). In short, Jacob was stereotypically Liberal whereas Esau was stereotypically Rightwing. Obviously God had no problem using a so-called “Momma’s boy” as an instrumental figure in the divine plan for humanity’s redemption.

In the New Testament Christ reveals his loving gentleness at times (Matthew 11:29) — a supposedly Liberal trait — while at other times he was a veritable holy terror (Mark 11:15-18). As Solomon said, “It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes” (Ecclesiastes 7:16-18). Meanwhile the Lord pointed out the glaring contrasts of those who live off the grid in the wilderness, like John the Baptist who wore garments made of camel hair and ate locusts & wild honey, as opposed to those who live in palaces, wearing fine apparel and dining on exquisite cuisines (Matthew 3:1-6 & 11:7-8).

Regarding women, the Bible features the all-encompassing national leadership of Deborah for four decades (Judges 4:4-9) as well as the meek purity of Mother Mary (Luke 1:26-56). Then there’s mighty Jael (yah-AYL) who had no qualms about smashing a tent peg through the temple of a Canaanite commander (Judges 4: 17-21). Meanwhile sisters Martha & Mary were like night and day (Luke 10:38-42).

As far as marriages go, they all feature different dynamics based on two unique people and their corresponding social stratum. In today’s society, women aren’t necessarily preoccupied with raising kids for about 30 years from the start of their early marriages, as was normally the case in biblical times. They may likely work outside the home and have careers while husbands may have unconventional occupations, working from or at the home.

Allow Christian couples to make their own decisions about these matters and who does what or why, working within scriptural guidelines as led of the Holy Spirit. Don’t nose into other people’s business. How God works in other believers’ lives is none of our concern; our concern is to follow the Lord and fulfill the responsibilities of our distinctive callings (John 21:21-22).

Paul expressed it perfectly when he asked, “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?” (Romans 14:4). He was referring to judging other believers on any type of disputable matter, like what food to eat and what holiday to celebrate. By stressing “someone else’s servant,” Paul meant God’s servant, that is, other believers. Simply put, other believers are God’s servant, not your servant or my servant. Even in cases where a believer functions within a pastor’s “flock,” the pastor is merely the under-shepherd, not the Chief Shepherd; Christ is the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:1-4). This is why the text instructs pastors to not lord it over believers, but rather be humble, godly examples (if they can’t do that then they have no business being pastors).

This article was edited from the book…

You can purchase the print book here for only $5.99

Or get the Kindle eBook here for only 99¢

Legalism — Understanding its Many Forms

Understanding “the Right” and “the Left” from a Biblical Perspective

Women of the Bible / Women in Ministry

Understanding Humility

The Fivefold Ministry Gifts — Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher

Ministerial Pitfalls and Abuses

Mentor & Protégé Dynamics