Godly Wisdom for Godly Living: Session 25 – The Principle of Headship

Embracing God's Design: Understanding Headship and Servant Leadership Have you ever wondered why there's so much conflict between men and women in our society? Why do we struggle with roles and authority? As it turns out, this tension goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. In this eye-opening sermon on 1 Corinthians 11, we explore God's original design for men and women, and how understanding the principle of headship can lead to harmony in our relationships and churches. The Principle of Headship Explained Pastor Ben starts by laying out the principle of headship as stated in 1 Corinthians 11:3: "But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God." This verse establishes a God-ordained order: God is the head of Christ, Christ is the head of man, and man is the head of woman. But before we jump to conclusions, it's crucial to understand what this doesn't mean. "The principle of headship is not making a statement about personal worth, about intellect, or about spirituality," Pastor Ben explains. "It's not making a statement about value. Men are not better than women, and women are not better than men." Instead, headship is about function and order, not value. Just as Christ submits to the Father while being fully equal in divinity, men and women have different roles while being equal in worth and dignity. God's Design for Men and Women To understand God's design, we need to go back to Genesis. Pastor Ben walks us through the creation account, showing how God created Adam first and gave him the responsibility to steward creation. Eve was then created as a "help meet" for Adam - not inferior, but complementary. "Men and women are distinct. Those are really the only two categories. Men and women. And by design, they're complementary," Pastor Ben emphasizes. This design is reflected in how men and women are called to live: 1. Men are called to lead, protect, and provide. 2. Women are called to support and help, embracing their feminine role. The pastor notes, "Men should be men, and women should be women. We are called to accept our gender and the roles that come with it, as God-given, because you know who made you? God, and he made you male or female." The Struggle Against God's Design Of course, we don't always embrace these roles easily. Pastor Ben points out that this struggle was predicted in Genesis 3:16 after the Fall: "Unto the woman he said... thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." This verse predicts the ongoing tension between men and women over leadership and submission. But fighting against God's design only leads to more conflict and pain. "The very fact that the roles in God's designed order were not embraced is what got us here in the first place," Pastor Ben observes. Jesus: The Ultimate Example of Servant Leadership So how should we live out these roles in a way that honors God? The answer lies in Jesus' example of servant leadership. Pastor Ben directs us to John 13, where Jesus washes His disciples' feet: "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he was come from God and went to God... riseth from supper and laid aside his garments and took a towel and girded himself." At the moment when Jesus was most aware of His authority, He chose to serve in the most humble way possible. This is the model for how men should use their God-given authority - not to dominate, but to serve and sacrifice for others. "Men, you functionally have the responsibility to lead your families. Yes, you're in charge, but you're really given leadership so that you can serve, so that you can protect, so that you can provide," Pastor Ben challenges. Putting It Into Practice So how do we apply these truths in our daily lives? Here are some practical steps: 1. Embrace your God-given identity: Accept and live out your role as a man or woman, recognizing it as part of God's good design. 2. Use authority to serve: If you're in a position of leadership (as a husband, father, or in the church), follow Jesus' example of servant leadership. 3. Support and complement: Women, embrace your role as a helper and supporter, recognizing its vital importance in God's plan. 4. Resist cultural pressure: Don't let society's changing views on gender roles sway you from God's unchanging design. 5. Seek balance: Avoid the extremes of domineering authoritarianism or passive abdication of responsibility.

Remember, when we align ourselves with God's design, we find true fulfillment and harmony. As Pastor Ben concludes, "When we fight God, we fight God's good plan for us." By embracing our God-given roles and following Jesus' example of servant leadership, we can bring healing to the battle of the sexes and reflect God's wisdom to a watching world.