{"id":1419,"date":"2019-10-17T15:00:41","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T20:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.mlc-wels.edu\/wels-educator\/?p=1419"},"modified":"2019-09-16T09:24:02","modified_gmt":"2019-09-16T14:24:02","slug":"headship-and-submission-timeless-principles-challenging-applications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.mlc-wels.edu\/wels-educator\/2019\/10\/17\/headship-and-submission-timeless-principles-challenging-applications\/","title":{"rendered":"Headship and Submission: Timeless Principles, Challenging Applications"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Dr. Kristi Meyer<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cLaura summoned all her courage and said, \u2018Almanzo, I must ask you something. Do you want me to promise to obey you?. . . Even if I tried, I do not think I could obey anybody against my better judgment.\u2019\u201c<\/p>\n

Growing up, I couldn\u2019t get enough of Laura Ingalls Wilder. I loved her strength, courage, and independence\u2014an independence that refused to say \u201cobey\u201d in her wedding vows. But does her attitude align with God\u2019s Word? And how can we communicate the nuanced and potentially offensive subject of the roles of men and women to the next generation of WELS members?<\/p>\n

Biblical Principles
\n<\/strong>The biblical concepts of headship and submission began at the very dawn of time. God created Adam and Eve to fulfill distinct, complementary roles: head for Adam, helper for Eve. This \u201corder of creation\u201d was established before the fall into sin and is therefore perfect. Although the fall into sin tarnished the head-helper roles God designed for men and women, this does not give us license to set them aside. Nor did God intend for the head-helper relationship to apply only to Adam and Eve. Rather, it is a relationship that applies to mankind and womankind in general.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the best-known application of the \u201corder of creation\u201d is recorded in 1 Timothy 2:11-14, where Paul does not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man. In order to understand these verses, we must distinguish between biblical principles and applications. Communicating this distinction is essential when we teach our students how to faithfully live out the roles they fill in their various callings and vocations.<\/p>\n

Application of Biblical Principles
\n<\/strong>Because the biblical principles of headship and submission are timeless, we stand with Paul and \u201cdo not permit a woman . . . to have authority over a man.\u201d How to apply the principles, on the other hand, varies across the centuries and can be challenging. Both MLC and WLC call female professors\u2014myself included\u2014and so there is implicit agreement that not all teaching is authoritative.<\/p>\n

When we consider how to explain the roles of men and women to our students\u2014especially to female students who live in a secular world where there has never been a stronger push for gender equality\u2014a few cautions are in order. First, the terms \u201chelper\u201d and \u201csubmissive\u201d\u00a0should\u00a0not carry negative connotations.\u00a0Although\u00a0many women\u2014myself included\u2014bristle when we are told to be\u00a0submissive, the\u00a0God-given role of helper is not one of inferiority. It is simply a complementary role intended to establish good order. From personal experience, I assure you that this concept of \u201cdistinct, not inferior\u201d must be emphasized.<\/p>\n

We should also be careful not to conflate \u201cauthority\u201d and \u201cleadership.\u201d Many women\u2014myself included\u2014are blessed with gifts of leadership. It is entirely possible for women to exercise this gift without assuming authority over men or stepping out of their helper role.<\/p>\n

This became clear to me several years ago when I was discussing church polity with my pastor. I expressed my frustration that as a single female unable to vote in the church, I had no official voice in decisions made by the voters\u2019 assembly. He said something that continues to resonate with me: that not being able to vote in my church should not be confused with not having influence in my church.<\/p>\n

Since then, I have seen that \u201cin spite of\u201d being female, I do indeed have a significant amount of influence in my church. I say this not to be boastful or to step out of my helper role but instead to point out that God has given me the spiritual gifts he desires. I have a responsibility to use these gifts as best as I can\u2014not in violation of the \u201corder of creation,\u201d but in harmony with it.<\/p>\n

When we teach the next generation about the biblical roles of men and women, we must do more than simply quote 1 Timothy 2:11-14. We must differentiate between biblical principles and applications. We must remind young men and women that these roles were established by God to bestow blessings on his people. We must emphasize that these roles are not a mark of inferiority and are not primarily intended to limit how women can serve in the church. And we must always use the gifts God has given us to the best of our ability. When Christian men and women live within the roles God established, we are freed to serve him and bring glory to his name.<\/p>\n

Kristi Meyer serves as a mathematics professor at Wisconsin Lutheran College. She is enrolled in the MLC Master of Arts in Theological Studies program. <\/em><\/p>\n

Adapted from a paper written for THE 5002: New Testament Theology.<\/em><\/p>\n

References
\n<\/strong>Clark, Stephen B. (1980). Man and Woman in Christ<\/em>. Ann Arbor, MI: Servant Books.<\/p>\n

Knight, George W. (1975). New Testament Teaching on the Role Relationship of Male and Female with Special Reference to the Teaching\/Ruling Functions in the Church. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 18<\/em>(2), 81-91.<\/p>\n

Lawrenz, Carl J. (n.d.). The Role of Man and Woman According to Holy Scripture. Retrieved from http:\/\/essays.wls.wels.net<\/a><\/p>\n

Schroeder, Edward H. (1972). Orders of Creation: Some reflections on the History and Place of the Term in Systematic Theology. Concordia Theological Monthly, 43<\/em>(3), 165-78.<\/p>\n

Schuetze, Armin W. (2000). The People\u2019s Bible: 1, 2 Timothy & Titus<\/em>. Milwaukee, WI: Northwestern Publishing House.<\/p>\n

Wilder, Laura Ingalls. (1943). These Happy Golden Years. <\/em>New York: Harper & Row Publishers, Inc.<\/p>\n

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