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This teaching blog brings together ideas from two earlier blogs first written in 2018 and now being retired in favour of this updated 2021 teaching. We hope you enjoy it

This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female, and He blessed them and named them Man in the day when they were created.

Genesis 5: 1-2 (NASB)

In Genesis chapter five, Man is described as both Male and Female or put another way - Male ‘man’ and Female ‘man’. We love this scripture because for us it debunks every claim to superiority that men have ever made and declares the true goodness of God. It states clearly and decisively the equality of the sexes.

In Genesis chapter two we read the story of the creation of Adam and Eve. It is from this story that misconceptions have arisen. The arrival of Eve - ‘second’ and the term used to describe her - ‘helper’ have been used to paint a picture of someone with lesser status. Self-interest and physical strength have reinforced the idea that Male ‘man’ has a rightful dominance. This has been damaging relationships throughout history.

The Word of God and its declaration of equality is clear. Both sexes represent ‘Man’, both sexes were blessed and both sexes were made in His likeness in the creative process. This tells us that male and female were always designed for relationship being in oneness ‘Mankind’. It assures us that not only are both sexes blessed by the Creator, but each has been created to bear the image of God.  Each person has a DNA that has the capacity to reflect God’s character.  Who then would even dare to imagine that either sex has the right to a greater status or any kind of dominance?  Those who are Christians have an obligation to resist every tradition that draws a different conclusion to equality. When you look at your spouse, you are seeing a son or a daughter of the King of Kings.  Our simple conclusion is this - In God’s plan and purpose, both men and women have equal value, and an equal status as heirs of God. They are true equals in heaven, and they should also be true equals on earth.

Now we’re no longer living like slaves under the law, but we enjoy being God’s very own sons and daughters! And because we’re his, we can access everything our Father has—for we are heirs of God through Jesus, the Messiah!

Galatians 4:7 (TPT)

Some might say that when the Bible talks about roles - assigning women as ‘helpers’ and men as ‘heads’, this shows inequality. Certainly not! Perhaps the reason why people get upset is because they view things from a worldly rather than a spiritual perspective. In the world, status is applied based upon your position, your job, your wealth or your social influence, and we are considered to be more important, more significant and more valuable based upon things that give us power over others. In the same fashion, we look at the biblical titles of ‘helper’ and ‘head’ and place a level of power and control on these titles in line with the worldly interpretation. This is not God’s interpretation. God has no favourites. The roles He describes are not roles of power and control - they are roles of sacrifice and service. Let us not confuse roles on the one hand with value on the other. God sees everyone as equal in worth, each is his beautiful creation.

In our modern world roles change and the traditional view of the household with a husband earning and a wife looking after the home is long gone in many cultures. This changes nothing about your worth or equality before God, and it changes nothing in terms of biblical roles. If my wife is the chief executive of a company and I am a house husband looking after our children, when my wife enters the door to our house, she is a ‘helper’, and I am ‘head’ of the family. We are both in service to each other in sacrificial roles that build our family’s identity and prosperity. It's not about power and control, it's about love and responsibility.

We will talk more on roles and their purpose in a later teaching but let us end with this simple but significant statement that Jesus made concerning a helper:

But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counsellor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.

John 14:26 (AMP)

Join us again soon and enjoy all the teaching blogs that are available.  

Steve and Khanya