7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.[d] 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.
— 1 Cor 11:7-12, ESV
In the discussion of a recent post the conversation turned to the different temptations faced by men and women. That the two sexes would face different temptations is only natural. However, there is at least one temptation that men and women share; both are strongly tempted to worship women, to put women in the place of God. You can see this outside of Christianity with the prevalence of mother goddess religions. You can also see it in Genesis 3, in the way that the serpent tempted Eve (emphasis mine):
4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[b] she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
Eve was tempted by telling her she would be like God. Adam’s temptation was to listen to his wife instead of God:
17 And to Adam he said,
“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten of the tree
of which I commanded you,
‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground because of you…
Modern Christians have succumbed to this same temptation. Thus despite us living in an age where female rebellion is considered a virtue, conservative Christians constantly warn men that they need to be wary of the sin of not listening to their wives.
Others, like FotF’s Glenn Stanton, come right out and teach* that men require their wives to take on the role of headship, so the wife with her natural goodness can instruct her husband on issues of morality.
Man and woman are not equal. He owes what he is to her. That is hardly her only power, but it is among her most formidable. Christianity has always known this….
Woman is the most powerful living force on the globe. She creates, shapes, and sustains human civilization.
Most women, of course, love this message. But if we are honest, so do most men.
*HT Smithborough
