SCRIPTURAL ROLES OF MEN AND WOMEN

2. SCRIPTURAL ROLES OF MEN AND WOMEN 1.Summary

3. STUDY 1 - SUMMARY 1. Ecclesias in the middle ages and 19th Century – Sisters respected and valued in Ecclesial life. 2. Christian Churches and their changing attitudes 3. The important role of mothers in the home 4. The weakening of the family and the absence of fathers 5. Ecclesias now challenged from within 6. The feminist agenda over the last 30 years 7. The confusion of roles – Deliberate attempt to blur the difference between Males and Females eg. media, fashion industry, attitudes in the workplace, roles in the ecclesia

4. The Vitally Important role of Sisters in the Ecclesia 1. Unique ability to assist children eg. Play groups 2. Mother’s role in bringing up her own children in the home 3. Sunday school teaching and assistance 4. Preaching work – Sitting next to seminar attendees to make them feel welcome, following up contacts 5. Correspondence Sunday School, Heritage College work 6. Welcoming older brothers and sisters, providing comfort to the lonely, attend Sister’s class

5. The Vitally Important role of Sisters in the Ecclesia 7. Writing cards and letters and visiting the sick 8. Unique role of Grandparents in children’s lives 9. Preparing meals, suppers, offering refreshments to visitors 10. Special role of Aunties for nieces and nephews 11. Playing piano, hall preparation, wine glasses etc. 12. Unmarried Sisters and Teenage girls – Vital role models for younger girls and younger sisters. 13. Prayer – One of the most important roles! God hears! A special role for widows (1 Tim 5v5) Galatians 2v6“Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfill ye the law of Christ”

6. The role of wives and mothers “The best guidance is to be found in the good examples in the pages of Scripture – Sarah, Ruth, Abigail and Priscilla, for example, and the many women who are included in the well-being of their children by the Old Testament expression, “and his mother’s name was…”. The effect of womanhood on the destiny of whole families can never be over-estimated. A good wife is dedicated to providing by the God-given qualities of grace and graciousness the home in which her husband’s and her children’s best spiritual interests are served. As the husband is exhorted to give honour to his wife, so the wife graces her husband and the home which he has provided.” “Wives have the threads of immortality in their hands and must seek to weave them into the minds of husband and children alike. Woman is the binder of family life. As she tends the injuries and harm of her children, so she applies her soothing balm to the life of the whole home. It is a gift which above all others God has placed in her heart and hands.” (Michael Ashton and Harry Tennant, The Family – The Divine Perspective, p.12-13)

7. SCRIPTURAL ROLES OF MEN AND WOMEN 1. Summary 2.The role of Fathers

8. “The weakening of the family and the absence of caring fathers are the primary reasons boys are in trouble today.” (Dr James Dobson, Bringing up Boys, p.161)

9. “Fatherlessness is the most harmful demographic trend of this generation” “It is the leading cause of declining child well-being in this society. It is also the engine driving our most urgent social problems, from crime to adolescent pregnancy to child sex abuse to domestic violence against women.” (Social historian David Blankenhorn, Fatherless America: Confronting Our Most Urgent Social Problem p.1) Note: Only 1/3 of children in the USA will reach age 18 with both biological parents living at home.

10. “Children who feel a closeness to their fathers are twice as likely as those who do not to enter college or find stable employment after high school, 75% less likely to have a teen birth, 80% less likely to spend time in jail, and half as likely to experience multiple depression symptoms.” “Boys with nurturing fathers scored higher than the boys whose fathers were less involved unless the father was a strict authoritarian disciplinarian.” (Yale Child psychiatrist Kyle Pruett, Fatherneed: Why Father Care is as essential as Mother care for your child, 2000, p.25,43)

11. Time out for Fatherhood “We are now seeing “a generation of sons who see little of their workaholic fathers.” “Parents across Australia are struggling to come to terms with the demands of their jobs and the all too recent discovery that while corporations may profit from their dedication, the young boys of absent fathers are footing the bill.” “In his best-selling book Manhood, Steve Biddulph cautions that the culture of work is potentially stealing from boys the very thing that they need – lengthy contact with their fathers... What often gives, according to researchers, is the boys. Lacking fatherly input, they gravitate to gangs, drugs, aimlessness and even suicide.” (The Australian, 8.12.04)

12. Boys and violence “Now there is violence in almost every school, not because the guns have changed but because the boys have changed. And why have they changed? Because popular culture has taught them that violence is manly… Protecting the family from this culture of violence is very difficult for parents. It’s like trying to hold back the falling rain. Nevertheless, we must shield our kids from it as much as possible, especially when they are young. Four prestigious national organisations have linked violence in TV, music, video games and movies to increasing violence among children..” (Dr. James Dobson, Bringing up Boys p.14)

13. “OUTRIGHT TERROR… BOLD AND BRILLIANT” Avertising a violent “R” rated movie entitled “The Descent”

14. A world filled with violence The Opposition leader, Kim Beazley, summed up the problem with Society by his following comment in parliament the day after the Port Arthur shootings in 1996. He said that the problem lay not just in guns but in Society itself. He gave the following statistics: In a normal week, the average child under 18 years old, spends 21 hours per week watching television. They spend 5 minutes per week in private consultation with their fathers and 20 minutes per week in private consultation with their mothers. And by the time they have turned 18, they have witnessed over 18,000 violent murders.

15. Father’s Role in the Home “The example of all fathers is critical… It is the father’s responsibility to lead his family to God’s Word. If daily reading is an onerous chore for him, he will communicate that feeling to his children. If instead it is the act of the day which all the family eagerly anticipates, the benefits will be past counting. We should never think a child is too young to benefit.” “The objective is to instill a love for God, His will and purpose. The inspired records of men and women who sought to please Him contain all that will enthrall a child’s imagination. Once prompted, they will begin to enter into the lives of those whose exploits they read. Under the educative power of God’s Word, their understanding will flourish.” (Michael Ashton and Harry Tennant, The Family – The Divine Perspective, p.20)

16. What happened to Dad? “Today it’s common to see the father’s role disparaged in media, many times making him out to be a bumbling, inept fool while the children are saved by an almost superhuman mother. This is a subtle but withering attack on the proper role of the father. “The effect of filling our children’s heads with negative images of fathers, of ignoring men who share equally in raising their children,” says Dr Ross Parke, “and of showing nothing but part-time or no-time father is, quite simply, devastating” (Throwaway Dads, 1999, p.81)” “Modern literature thrives on this carricature of the father figure… yet when we see the statistics on how hedonistic and dysfunctional society is becoming by following such ideas, we ask, Where have all the fathers gone?” The answer? Many have selfishly deserted their responsibilities. But others have been cowed by today’s liberal, morally relativeistic culture nad have slsowly relinquished their God-given roles as providers, protectors, teachers and nurturers. (Mario Seiglie, Good News, p.6)

17. What happened to Dad? “A particularly unsettling passage from the book of Isaiah describes society not only as it was in Isaiah’s day, but prophetically as it would be at the time before Christ’s return (Isaiah 3v4-5,9,12)” “Yes, it was prophesied that the father’s role would one day be mostly forfeited in the face of an increasingly blind and lawless society. “Much of our national discussion of youth crime,” writes sociologist David Blankenhom, “simply ignores the elephant in the room called fatherlessness. Moreover, many analysts come quite close to viewing all traditional norms of fatherhood not as a remedy for the problem of youth violence but rather as a leading cause of it.” (Fatherless America, 1995, p.29) (Mario Seiglie, Good News, p.6)

18. Re-establishing the Father’s authority 1 Tim 3v4 One that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity Heb 12v9 Fathers corrected us and we gave them reverence - God is like this Mal 1v9 A son honours his father – If God is a Father where is His honour? Prov 2v1-5 Father to provide diligent Biblical instruction Prov 13v24 He who spare the rod, hates his child, A father who loves his children disciplines them

19. SCRIPTURAL ROLES OF MEN AND WOMEN 1. Summary 2. The role of Fathers 3. Homosexuality

20. The influence of Modern Culture “I am concerned not only about the sexual abuse of boys (and girls), but also about what they are being taught by the culture at large. Suddenly, everyone seems to be talking about a subject that I didn’t know about until I was 11 years old. Now we seem determined to tell every 5-year-old about this aspect of adult sexuality. Our public schools appear to be moving relentlessly in that direction. Can you see how this persuasive teaching will be terribly confusing to very young boys who are experiencing a gender-identity crisis? How about he other cultural influences including television and movies, that are urging boys and girls to “think gay” and to experience role-reversal behaviour? (Dr James Dobson, Bringing up Boys, p.127)

21. The influence of Modern Culture “NSW Greens leader Lee Rhiannon today backed a decision by a party colleague to approve of pre-schoolers being taught about gay, lesbian and transgender lifestyles. Rhiannon congratulated Marrickville Council for including “family diversity” in its childcare curriculum and urged all councils to follow its lead. May Sam Byrne of Marrickville, a Greens Party member, has approved lessons at the Tillman Park Childcare Centre that challenge mainstream perceptions of sexual identity.” MX 29.05.06

22. The effect of Modern media today “Modern media entices the weaker side of human nature, and in so doing erodes the family unit with such TV shows as Desperate Housewives, Two and a half Men and Wife swap (all airing during prime family viewing time in much of the US). Media executives and producers say they are simply showing society in a more realistic manner…” “In taking advantage of the basest human desires to milk consumers for money, media actually corrupts reality and is on the wrong side of family values.” (Jerold Aust, Good News, May 2006 p.10)

23. The Feminist and Homosexual Agenda Two of the big problems faced by mainstream churches today – Both issues are linked “It is part of the feminist agenda to show women as powerful, courageous, and indomitable, while men are weak, emotional, and easily manipulated. The entertainment industry, which seems determined to unravel us, works hand in glove with feminists and homosexual activists to bring us into that brave new world. Its presentation of male and female role models is almost always perverted or warped in one way or another. (Dr James Dobson, Bringing up Boys, p.177-178,179)

24. The Role of Fathers “In 15 years, I have spoken with hundreds of homosexual men. I have never me one who said he had a loving, respectful relationship with his father. Many of these fathers loved their sons and wanted the best for them, but forever reason (perhaps there was a mismatch between the father’s and son’s temperaments), the boy perceived his father as a negative or inadequate role model. Dad was “not who I am” or “not who I want to be.” a boy needs to see his father as confident, self-assured and decisive. He also needs to be supportive, sensitive and caring.” (Clinical psycologist, Dr Joseph Nicolosi, Preventing Homosexuality: A Parent’s guide, quoted as “the foremost authority on the treatment and prevention of homosexuality today”, by Dr James Dobson in Bringing up Boys, p.118)

25. The Role of parents “When combined with the absence or disengagement of fathers, we can begin to understand why the incidence of homosexuality appears to be rising and why more and more children and teens are reporting that they think they are homosexual. As the institution of the family continues to unravel, we are laying the foundation for another epidemic like those that have occurred historically. Moms and Dads, are you listening? This movement is the greatest threat to your children. It is of particular danger to your wide-eyed boys, who have no idea what demoralisation is planned for them. I would ask, “Is there anything more important than taking the time to protect your kids and to be there when they need you most?” I think not. (Dr James Dobson, Bringing up Boys, p.127)

26. The influence of modern culture “There is not a single example, as I write, of a healthy family depicted on network programming that includes a masculine guy who loves his kids and is respected by his wife… Invariably, sitcoms today feature at least one gay or lesbian character, who is cast in a sympathetic role. It is a powerful force in the culture. One overriding goal of homosexual activists is to influence the next generation and to recruit children to their movement, if not to their lifestyle. How can impressionable boys and young men possibly discern what it means to be a heterasexual male, let alone a disciplined husband and father, which this tripe is fed to them every night and when their own dads are nowhere to be found?” (Dr James Dobson, Bringing up Boys, p.168)

27. SCRIPTURAL ROLES OF MEN AND WOMEN 1. Summary 2. The role of Fathers 3. Homosexuality 4. Homosexuality and “Christianity” today – A case study

28. Philip Yancey comments “Among the marchers were at least 3000 who identified themselves with various religious groups: the Catholic “Dignity” movement, the Episcopalian group “Integrity”, and even a sprinkling of Mormons and Seventh-Day Adventists. More than a thousand marched under the banner of the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), a denomination that professes a mostly evangelical theology except for its stance on homosexuality. This last group had a poignant reply to the beleaguered Christian protestors: they drew even, turned to face them, and sang, “Jesus loves us, this we know, for the Bible tells us so.” The abrupt ironies in that scene of confrontation struck me. On the one side were Christians defending pure doctrine (not even the National Council of Churches has accepted the MCC denomination for membership). On the other side were “sinners”, many of whom openly admit to homosexual practice. Yet the more orthodox group spewed out hate, and the other group sang of Jesus’ love.” (What’s so amazing about Grace? P.165-166)

29. Philip Yancey comments “The whole notion of a “gay church” seems bizarre to me. I have met celibate, non practicing homosexuals who wish desperately that another church would welcome them, but have found none. I feel sad that the churches I attend are missing out on the spiritual gifts of these Christians, and sad too that the MCC denomination seems to me so fixated on sexual issues.” (What’s so amazing about Grace? p.173)

30. Comment Yancey then tells the story in this chapter of his friend Mel White, a pastor of an evangelical church, who left his wife and children to live in homosexual relationship. Despite going to great lengths to show that White is just “different”, Yancey does however go on to say that “Mel and I have deep differences. I cannot condone many of the decisions he has made.” In saying this however Yancey makes no comment on what the Bible says about the issue or what his own views actually are, except that he doesn’t agree Mel White should be inducted into the priesthood. He conveniently says, “I am not discussing my views of homosexual behaviour, only my attitudes towards homosexuals.” ..”

31. Questions to ask • Why won’t Yancey tell us what his real views are on homosexuality, or at least what he thinks the Bible says? • Why does Yancey spend page after page showing how “loving” and how “Christian” these homosexuals are compared with the harsh, hard line, right wing “Christians” who are appalled by the arrogance of unrepentant homosexuals? What is the benefit of this? Should we therefore tolerate homosexuality? • Why is it that those who are disgusted by the homosexual lifestyle are shown to be bigots and unforgiving while the homosexuals are presented in a good light? • Why is it that in this whole 15 page chapter (chapter 13), there is hardly any reference to Scripture? If Scripture is not the basis, then how can we trust that Yancey’s opinions are right? Of what use are all these stories if we are not willing to look at the Bible’s instruction? So what does the Bible actually say?

32. God offers forgiveness “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6v9-11 NIV

33. God offers forgiveness God opens the door for forgiveness to homosexuals who wish to forsake their previous way of life and turn to Him. God’s forgiveness is total and absolute, but this is conditional on repentance and a forsaking of the old way of life (Luke 15v10; Acts 3v19). Yancey however spends just so much time trying to convince us of how nice these homosexuals can be, but why nothing on God’s forgiveness? Why doesn’t he emphasise that homosexuals can beforgiven? Why doesn’t he encourage them to repent? The important issue here is surely God’s wonderful promise of forgiveness: Luke 13v3“Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Isaiah 55v6-7“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Acts 17v30“Now (God) commandeth all men everywhere to repent.”

34. Philip Yancey continues… “At one point, a TV interviewer asked Mel’s parents on-camera, “You know what other Christians are saying about your son. They say he is an abomination. What do you think about that?“ “Well,” the mother answered in a sweet, quavery voice, “he may be an abomination, but he’s still our pride and joy.” That line has stayed with me because I came to see it as a heartened definition of grace. I came to see that Mel White’s mother expressed how God views every one of us. In some ways we are all abominations to God - All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God - and yet somehow, against all reason, God loves us anyhow. Grace declares that we are still God’s pride and joy.” (What’s so amazing about Grace? p.170-171)

35. Comment and Questions • Yes, we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. However he misses the critical issue. There is a difference between unrepentant homosexuals and repentant brethren in Christ. Brethren in Christ who are repentant, have been baptised and have forsaken their old way of life are counted righteous for Christ’s sake (Rom 3v24; Eph 4v32). How can unrepentant homosexuals be placed in this category? Because of his belief in the doctrine of substitution, it all gets back to Yancey’s main catchcry, that “God loves us anyhow.” Let’s now ask the following crucial questions: • Are unrepentant homosexuals really “God’s pride and joy”? • What Scriptural evidence is there to show that an unrepentant homosexual is no different in God’s sight to those faithful believers who are Christ’s brethren? • What is the practical result of all this? Is this really where Yancey’s philosophy about grace leads us? Is it that nothing matters in our lives either, because “God loves us anyhow”?

36. God offers forgiveness Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile…. For this shall every one that is Godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Psalm 32v1,2,6