I don’t think it is a surprise to anyone that we are in the midst of a radical identity crisis in our nation when it comes to understanding what it means to be a man and what it means to be a woman. When a boy is not given a proper vision for manhood he will struggle with passivity and anger. If these are not brought under a biblical vision for manhood his passivity can lead to emasculation and an effeminate identity or it can go the other way toward some kind of macho male image. Both of these extremes are very destructive to the individual and society as a whole. And both of these flawed aspects of manhood are seen in Genesis. It was Adam’s passivity in leading Eve that ultimately caused the Fall (Genesis 2:6-7). And a result of the Fall was that man would rule woman in a harsh way rather than loving way (Genesis 3:16).
The world’s vision for womanhood today is, “Vogue on the outside and Vague on the inside.” From the Fall there has been enmity between Satan and woman (Genesis 3:15). Satan has from the beginning tried to destroy the beauty of God-created womanhood. And if we look at history it is women who have been mostly abused, mistreated and undervalued. God’s vision for womanhood is, “Vibrant on the outside and Virtuous in the inside.”
In the first three chapters of Genesis we can find the wonderful God-created vision for manhood and womanhood. We can also see from Genesis 3:16 that one of the results of the Fall is the corruption of manhood and womanhood and their proper roles. The unique roles of manhood and womanhood were created by God in the beginning and they were corrupted at the Fall. Part of the powerful gospel of Jesus Christ is the renewing and healing of what it means to be man and what it means to be woman. The Church should be modeling and giving testimony to this reality among their relationships and marriages. God created man first and then woman. Manhood and womanhood are to beautifully complement each other just like in a dance.
Manhood = Leader; Womanhood = Helper
Man was created to be the initiator and leader. Woman was created from man to be by his side and be his helper. This is not an inferior role, it is a unique beautiful complementary role. Look at how the beauty and uniqueness of womanhood is consistent in the Genesis account and then given greater detail in Proverbs 31. Also, it is important to realize that a woman is not dependent upon a man to be fully woman and to live out the idea of helper. Mother Teresa is a beautiful and powerful example of that and there are many other great models of single women throughout history who were living out the vision of biblical womanhood.
Manhood = Provider; Womanhood = Nurturer
Man was created to have dominion over the land and harvest it to provide for his family. Woman’s unique and beautiful role is to nurturer that provision. This can be seen quit graphically even in the child bearing process. The man provides the seed and the woman provides the womb. These functions flow from identity not just physical process. Again, look at Proverbs 31 to see the beauty of the woman as a nurturer.
Manhood = Protector; Womanhood = Cultivator
Man was created outside the garden in the wilderness. Woman was created in the garden. Inherent to biblical manhood is that he protects womanhood. This protection is to be physical, emotional and spiritual protection. When Adam failed to protect Eve from Satan the Fall occurred and they were cast from the garden. When man properly protects women they can blossom in their unique God given role as cultivators of culture, beauty and modesty. As the old saying goes, when women lose their virtue the whole nation loses its virtue.
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