the role of "head"

As expected, the teaching from Sunday has brought an onslaught of questions, emails, phone calls. Not really an onslaught, that’s actually a negative word. Everyone has been very positive… just needing some more discussion to work out the bugs. This is to be expected. When all we’ve known for 20+ years is one thing regarding the marriage relationship, then you begin to read scripture and you see something totally different than what popular culture has taught you all your life… well, there are going to be questions, and even doubts. But as long as you keep journeying with the Truth you will find wisdom.

At the end of the study from Sunday I gave a teaser statement for us to chew on this week, saying that I will go deeper into it come next Sunday. I pointed us to the scriptures which parallel our love for our wives to Jesus’ love for the church. God says that the husband’s role should be the same as Jesus’ role to the church, his “bride.” We ought to be an illustration of Jesus and the Gospel story in our marriage lives. If the husband is the “head” of the wife in the same way Jesus is the “head of the church, then we must consider the role of “head.” Because of the nature of the word we are quick to assume it means “boss”… one who lords power over someone or asserts authority. But that is hardly our relationship with Jesus as the church. Yes, he has ultimate authority over us… but he doesn’t lord it over us. How does he function as head? He loves us… so much so that he takes responsibility for our sin. Let me say that again. As “head” over His bride Jesus takes responsibility for the bride’s sin… all of it.

What does that mean to us, husbands? It means we are responsible. Yep. We are responsible for our family. When my son sins, even though I am not at fault, I am responsible… as his head. The same is true for my wife. When I married my wife I (biblically) assumed the role of head… which means I assumed responsibility for her… her actions, whether good or bad.

Now, I know what the men are thinking this week. Wait a second… that can’t be right. That isn’t fair. Each person is responsible for their own sin. Yes and no. If they are under a covenant then there is yet another who holds that responsibility as well. And that other is the head of the covenant. Oh, and by the way… I doubt you will ever want to approach Jesus with the defense of “That’s not fair. It’s not fair that I should be responsible for someone else’s sin.” Don’t talk to Jesus about what is fair. He knows the feeling of being responsible for sin, trust me… and a billion times worse. But Jesus isn’t concerned with being fair… he is JUST. He is RIGHT. He is TRUE.

This is one major point on which we will elaborate this Sunday, along with some of the practical ways these roles are lived out in a marriage. Please continue to discuss. I love reading your thoughts.

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On a side note... Brock had his first Tee Ball practice tonight. Oh my gosh! It was great. These kids are going to be a lot of fun. He was so excited he couldn't fall asleep last night. He wore a uniform all day today (he has three or four different ones to choose from). Then, after we picked up the equipment from the park (I am his coach) he spent all afternoon hitting balls off the tee and tracking them down and hitting some more.....

In his practice he nearly took a kid's head off while hitting batting practice. All the parents starting yelling, "Back up! Back up!" I was a proud papa. He was pretty excited too. He's definitely going to be fun to watch play ball. Next Tuesday night, Game ONE.

Comments

[Des]

I see a theme developing here....

In addition to Chris' series on Headship, I received my Tape of the Month from Joyce Meyer the other day, and guess what the topic is for this month. "Learning to Come Under Authority". Double ouch. It is very interesting, and necessary, but very difficult to hear. My flesh begins to bristle, and then I have to keep reminding it that it was nailed to the cross with Jesus. "Thank you God for teaching me the proper respect for authority. Help me to have a good attitude, and help me to lose my rebellious nature, when dealing with authority. God I know that You are my ultimate authority and if I show you the proper respect, that you will bless me and help me to deal with the other authorities in my life, and it won't be so painful." AMEN...