IN CHRIST AND CHRIST ALONE!

As we enter into the topic of gender roles we need to grapple frankly, with both revolutions. For scripture upholds both gender commonality and gender contrast.

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor …male and female,” Paul declares in Galatians 3:28, “for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28).

“Women must not pretend to be men” Moses commands in Deuteronomy 22:5, and men must not pretend to be women. The Lord your God is disgusted with people who do that. (Deuterony 22:5).

It’s critical we uphold both commonality and contrast as well. For the heart of biblical faithfulness is ‘holding in tension’ realities the world views as opposites.

Declare: Men Must Be Men,

And Women Must Be Women!

“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)

According to Gray and Annis

• men tend to focus on the product, women tend to focus on the process

• men tend to develop tunnel vision under stress, women tend to multi-task and get creative under stress

• men tend to want to fix things, women tend to want to listen, feel and nurture things

• men tend to withdraw when wounded (into their ‘man cave’), women tend to engage and empathize when wounded.

Look For God’s Gifts, Poured Out On Both Men And Women, For A Whole

Variety Of Roles

For “…I will pour out my Spirit on all people.” God declares in Acts 2:17. [Both] your sons and daughters will prophecy…” (Acts

2:17).

God gave “…some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists…some to be pastors and teachers to prepare God’s people for works of service, [to build up] the body of Christ…” (Ephesians 4:11-12).

Encourage All -- Men And Women Alike – To Be Faithful, Fulfilling Their

Calling In Christ

For as Paul notes in Ephesians 4:1 – we’re to be prisoners for the Lord, living “…a life worthy of the calling you have received…[Making] every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit…

For there is one body, and one spirit -- just as you were called to one hope…[for there is] one Lord, one faith, one baptism -- one God and Father of all -- who is over all -- and through all -- and in all…” (Ephesians 4:1-6).

“Missionary life is simply

a chance to die.”

The Christian life is simply a chance to die

For only one identity must permeate life: Christ and Christ alone -- who in the words of Paul – is to be “…over all -- and through all -- and in all…” (Ephesians 4:6).

For in Christ “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor …male and female”-- Paul declares in Galatians 3:28, “for [we] are all one in [Him]. (Galatians 3:28)

“Give me the Love that leads the way --The Faith that nothing can dismay -- The Hope no disappointments tire -- The Passion that'll burn like fire -- Let me not sink to be a clod -- Make me Thy fuel -- Flame of God” ― Amy Carmichael