Sunday, February 11, 2007

Thoughts on the fall to the Boys

This past Sabbath the lesson at our church was on the Fall of man. Eve according to Paul in 1Timothy 2:14 was deceived into sin whereas Adam sinned undeceived or knowingly. Adam's sin was therefore the greater, as it was a sin of rebellion. His punishment should have been commissurately higher than Eve's. How is it then that he came to rule over Eve?
To ask the question implies that to rule is better than to be in submission but is that the case? First, with authority comes responsibility. Second, Christ said he that is greatest among you shall be servant of all. Adam before the fall (according to Paul) had authority over Eve by virtue of being created first. If this authority meant preiminence one would expect that Adam would lose it after his negligence in allowing Eve to stray from his side.
In the Christian economy Men are called to be leaders. This call to leadership is a call first to death to self, second to servanthood, and third to responsibility. In Ephesians 5:25 Paul calls men to death for their wife's sake even as Christ died for the church. This is first a death to self and if need be a death to life itself for our wives' sake. Adam was charged with provision of sustanence for his family through the sweat of his brow. Men today are called to the service of their families and communities to provide them with the necessities of life. Lastly, as Adam was in a measure responsible for the fall of Eve, so today Men are in a measure responsible for the safety, temporally and eternally, of their wives and children. It is a charge we should not take lightly.
As leaders Men should seek to liberate not subjugate, they should guide not dominate, they should seek to benefit not to be benefitted, they should spend and be spent for those in their charge. We have the highest calling to the lowest position, that of leadership. If we accept it it is likely that the fog of confusion engulfing male/female roles in leadership will burn away as we light the way through imitating the servant leadership of Christ. Love Dad

4 comments:

barry said...

Here's my analysis: complete, well written, and satisfyingly deep.

The View from Great Island said...

Thanks, Barry.

Jonas said...

Much appreciated.

Paul said...

Thanks Dad. Real men are in short supply. your post showed the reason why. we're too lazy to take our duties seriously, and to quick to use our powers for ill.
you ought to submit this to the review or some other publication...