|
FAITH
God's covenants are never purely individualistic but have been given to federal heads and their households.
Christ is the federal or covenantal head of the church, and as such, He is the head over His house, whose
house we are (Hebrews 3:2; Ephesians 1:22-23). The husband is the head of his wife, as Christ also is the
head of the church (Ephesians 5:23). According to the apostle Paul, this analogy of the headship
defines the nature and responsibilities in family relationships. Therefore, our concept of the family is to
be molded by the nature of biblical covenants rather than American individualism. In the household, headship
is the responsible stewardship for the spiritual, physical, and emotional welfare of the family for the glory
of God and His kingdom.
Typically, households or families are thought of as more than one person. However, "household" equally
applies to a family of one as to a family of four. In a sense, a single adult is as much a household as a
married couple with children and has similar responsibilities to the church and the world. Lydia, as a single
woman, was head of a household (Acts 16:14). A widow or widower does not stop being a household simply because
her/his spouse is no longer living. Nor do covenantal responsibilties of a household stop just because there
has been a divorce. While different circumstances may alter how certain things are done, or even severely
complicate our biblical roles, our responsibilities still stand. A strong church will have strong households
that are growing expresions of biblical manhood and womanhood in the circumstances God's providence has
provided.
Adam and Eve together uniquely expressed the image of God's character in the world. This image is most
clearly expressed in terms of male and female laboring together as the two become one flesh in the covenant
of marriage. Adam's calling was to a task given to him by God for the care of the garden and the subduing of
the earth. Eve was Adam's suitable helper, uniquely gifted by God for work in His kingdom. Together they were
to fill the earth with righteous progeny and subdue the earth to the glory of God. The rebellion of our first
parents has not removed this responsibility or its attendant commands. This is why all the New Testament
instructions concerning the roles of men and women are tied to the creation narrative and not contemporary
culture.
In God's kingdom, value is a quotient of essence not function. This is clearly seen in the Godhead itself.
Jesus is not of lesser value than the Father because He is sent as a suffering servant. Neither is the Holy
Spirit inferior to the Son because He is sent by Christ to glorify Him. Our value as persons is a result
being created in God's image. Therefore, distinctions in biblical roles for men and women are rightly
understood by analogy to God's self-disclosure as trinity and not by an arbitrary significance based upon
culturally approved usefulness.
Men, as the covenantal heads of their households, are to be responsible stewards of the spiritual,
emotional, and physical welfare of their wives and children. As Christ initiates the relationship with his
church, so the husband is to pursue his relationship with his wife and family. He is to lead, love and
nurture his family in the gospel, worship, discipleship, service, and evangelism. The apostle Paul warns men,
writing in 1 Timothy 5:8, "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his
household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever."
Wives are to love, respect, and be subject to their own husband as the church is subject to Christ,
cultivating the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God
(1 Peter 3:4). As mothers, they are to love their children and take proper
care of their families and households, living modestly in faith, love, and holiness. Wives are to assist
their husbands in all good things, helping them be profitable servants for the kingdom of God. Together, they
are to subdue the earth as they express the glory of God in the quality of their two-in-one relationship,
expand their influence through generations of godly progeny, and make disciples of the nations, teaching them
to observe all that Christ commanded.
Part of the subduing of the earth is the raising up of a godly progeny. Parents have the primary
responsibility for the training of their children inside and outside the home, in order to effectively pass
on the faith to the next generation (Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Psalm 78:1-8). Confident in God's covenantal faithfulness, parents diligently
applying the means of grace by faith should anticipate future offspring not only to be believers, but also to
make greater progress for the kingdom than previous generations.
PRACTICE
Community Baptist Church seeks to teach and admonish heads of household to
joyfully fulfill their God-given responsibilities as covenantal heads. Therefore, we desire to effectively
equip and train heads of households (and future heads) in the practice of family worship, discipleship,
catechism training, and service as families to the body of Christ and to their neighbors.
Community Baptist Church seeks to teach and equip older women to mentor and encourage the younger women
"to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject
to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored" (Titus 2:4-5).
Not every family has a godly father or mother and some have only one parent, while others are a blending
of several households. This in no way negates the covenantal responsibilities though it can serve to greatly
complicate the issue. Every head of a household will give an accounting for their stewardship. Even an
unbelieving father will be held responsible for how he has led (or not led) his family for God and His
kingdom. Therefore the church will have to carefully consider what appropriate measure can be taken to aid
each household according to its own circumstances.
|
