A Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
The Elders of Harbor Church affirm that God created human beings for his glory, and we affirm that his good purposes for humanity include our personal design as male and female. The conception of God’s creation of male and female includes, but is not defined by, or limited to, specific roles in the church and home. Male and female together, were created to project the image of God in both their sameness, and in their created differences. The unique and distinct roles that God has given to men and women are not arbitrary, but flow naturally out of their unique design as men and women. The beauty of the complimentary differences between men and women should be celebrated and reflected in every aspect of the home, the church, and society.
WHAT IS COMPLEMENTARIANISM?
What does it mean to be complimentary? If two things compliment each other they are different but work together uniquely well toward a common goal or purpose.
The term Complementarianism, as we understand it, recognizes the importance of the sameness of men and women, while also celebrating the God-ordained differences in both their designs and roles. We embrace the reality that those differences are given by God and work together toward a common purpose. Men and women are equal in value and importance to God and, in Christ, they share equally in the grace, the gifts, the benefits, and the inheritance of the saints. Their God-ordained differences, both in design and role, are meant to complement one another and express in mankind the image of the Triune God.
THE SAMENESS OF MEN AND WOMEN | HOW ARE THEY ALIKE?
Both are created in the image of God. (Gen. 1:27)
Both are distinct from the animals and the rest of creation, both have a role in the creation mandate (Gen. 1:28), and both are equally necessary in fulfilling it. (Gen. 1:28-30)
Both are equally heirs of Christ and of his grace. (Gal. 3:28-29; 1 Pet. 3:7)
Both are equally in need of redemption. Both are born into sin, both are tempted to sin and both are weak in the flesh. (Rom. 3:23; 7:18; 8:3; Matt. 26:41)
Both men and women are dependent upon one another. (1 Cor. 11:11)
Both men and women share authority over children in the home. (Eph. 6:1-3)
THE UNIQUENESS OF MEN AND WOMEN | HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?
The man was created first out of the dust of the earth, and God breathed life into him (Gen. 2:7). This is indicative of a unique role before God. (1 Tim. 2:12-14)
The woman was formed by God from the rib of the man (Gen. 2:21-22). Man was not created for woman, but woman for man. (1 Cor. 11:8-9)
Men and women each have unique roles in fulfilling the creation mandate. (Gen. 2:7-23)
The prohibition not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was given to Adam. (Gen. 2:17)
God gave Adam the authority to name the animals. (Gen. 2:19)
Females were given the name “woman” by Adam (Gen. 2:23), and the woman was given her name “Eve” by Adam. (Gen. 3:20)
Eve was created as a helper to Adam. This was the first characteristic uniquely ascribed to the woman in Scripture. (Gen. 2:18)
The mandate to leave Father and Mother and hold fast to his wife is given to the man. This indicates that the man is leaving his old sphere of authority and creating a new sphere of authority (a new family). (Gen. 2:24)
God’s curses because of sin each had a different and unique impact on the man and the women. The curse of the ground was not a curse on work, but brought pain and resistance to the man’s work, because the creation mandate for the man was oriented toward work, the land, and provision. The curse of pain in childbearing was not a curse toward having children, but brought pain into childbirth because the creation mandate for the woman was oriented toward nurturing life and fruitfully filling the earth with offspring. (Gen. 3:16-19)
The distinction between men and women is clearly evident by God’s design. Attempts to feminize the appearance or expressions of a man or masculinize the appearance or expressions of a woman is forbidden in Scripture. (1 Cor. 11:14)
In the gathered church, there should be a visible expression of God’s design: men exercising loving, Christlike leadership, and women displaying a humble submission to that leadership. (1 Cor. 11:2-10)
The woman is the weaker vessel. Husbands should honor, care for, and protect their wives as they would something extremely valuable. (1 Peter 3:7)
The protection of men over women includes both the physical (1 Pet. 3:7), and the spiritual (Eph. 5:25-30). The ground that Adam would work was cursed because he listened to the voice of his wife and ate of the tree, rather than protecting her from the serpent and listening to the voice of God. (Gen 3:17)
Adam, not Eve, was a type of Christ as the covenant head of all mankind. (Rom. 5:13)
As the federal head (representative) of humanity, all of humanity is guilty of Adam’s sin, not Eve’s sin. (Rom. 5:12-21)
CONCLUSIONS
Men and women are equal image bearers of God, and are equal heirs of Christ. They are therefore equal recipients of the grace of God and, although they may have different roles in the church and family, they are equal participants and ministers of the gospel to fellow believers.
God placed Adam in the garden with a distinct charge – to work it and keep it, and with a clear prohibition – not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In this, the man’s role is marked by leadership, cultivation, provision, and protection. The woman’s role in the creation mandate complements his by emphasizing help, fruitfulness, and the nurturing of life. Together, both roles are equally essential for humanity’s God-given task of exercising dominion over creation.
Men and women are more alike than different in their humanity. Yet their differences, which are designed by God, are critical to fulfilling their unique purpose and roles. Embracing these God-given distinctions and living them out biblically leads to human flourishing – physically, socially, and spiritually. Denying these distinctions will lead to a breakdown of the family, the church, and society.
Though male headship is expressly referenced in two key areas – the Church and the family – the unique and complimentary nature of men and women should be expressed in all areas of life. We recognize that those who agree with this statement may have varying good-faith opinions as to the extent that male headship must be expressed in the broader society. This statement is not intended to precisely or exhaustively answer that question, but rather to express the underlying truths that will help us to wisely navigate it.
The biblical mandate that only men are allowed to be elders or to lead in the home is not an arbitrary exception to an otherwise sameness of men and women, but related directly to God’s design for men and women. The distinct roles given to men and women flow naturally from their God given design.
The sameness of men and women (their unity in Christ, their equal inheritance in Christ, etc.) should be celebrated and reflected in every aspect of the church, family, and society. A culture of unity should be fostered among every believer that emphasizes sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, a humble mind, and the ministry of the gospel to one another (1 Pet. 3:8). Likewise, the unique design of men (their masculinity) and women (their femininity) should be celebrated and reflected in every aspect of the church, family, and society.
In the home and in the church a culture of masculinity should be cultivated among males (all ages) that emphasizes humble servant leadership, strength and resolve that is grounded in godly character, the discipline of work, self sacrificing love (“as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”), and protecting and honoring those who are weaker, including, but not limited to, women and children (1 Pet. 3:7). Husbands are to provide for and protect the physical and spiritual well-being of their families.
In the home and in the church, a culture of femininity should be cultivated among women (all ages) that emphasizes the internal beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Pet. 3:3-8), godly character, and the nurturing of families and of family life, including the church family. Wives are to help and support the godly leadership of their husbands and submit to them as the Church (the Bride of Christ) submits to Christ.
Because women are the weaker vessel, they are more susceptible to male physical violence or threats of violence than men are to violence from women. A culture where men do not protect and honor women will lead to the degradation and objectification of women. Where both the God-ordained sameness and the God-ordained distinctions between men and women are appropriately embraced and biblically expressed, there will be peace, harmony, safety, and true sanctification.
While godly masculinity and femininity are equal in value to God and necessary for the greatest human flourishing, the responsibility and accountability for godly leadership is given to men. Therefore, we should prioritize fostering a culture of godly masculinity in the home, church, and society.
This statement is a rejection of the idea that masculinity and femininity are social constructs, and affirms the truth that masculinity and femininity are designed and written by God into the very nature of men and women, not as competing dominating forces, but as complimentary natural expressions that bring unity to the image of God in mankind.
The answer to both domineering male leadership and feminist egalitarian influences that have found their way into some churches, is not to capitulate to culturally accepted language and norms. The answer to sin that distorted the image of God in men and women, including masculinity and femininity, is first and foremost found in the transformative gospel of Jesus Christ. Only the gospel provides true unity in Christ, which enables men and women to live out their respective biblical masculinity and femininity as a complementary expression of their God-given purpose as a sacred representation of the triune God and of Christ, and His Church. The gospel empowers men and women together to image the Triune God.
OTHER STATEMENTS ON BIBLICAL MANHOOD AND WOMANHOOD
In addition to the above statement, the Elders of Harbor Church affirm both the Danvers Statement written by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) and published in 1988, and the Nashville Statement, written and published by CBMW in 2017.
The Nashville Statement (2017)
