1 MALE SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIPF. LeGard Smith (Book/Video) F LeGard Smith is a lawyer, previously a law professor at Pepperdine University (27 years) , and was at Lipscomb University as a Scholar in Residence (5 years) now Professor of Law at Faulkner University School of Law. Talented and prolific writer on current issues within the church. Previous book written in late 1980s entitled-Men of Strength for Women of God, and What Most Women Want Videotape 1990-Roles of Men and Women in the Church Reedited as one book in 1998-Male Spiritual Leadership Men’s Event Wiesbaden Germany 2001, and Sunday School class in Ft. Huachuca/Sierra Vista AZ 2004. Revisited Brother Smith, probably on the liberal end of the Church of Christ spectrum. Checked bio and some reviews on Amazon and discovered a member of our congregation had reviewed one of his books. Leadership roles in the church-women are made to feel “guilty” because of Eve’s actions in the Garden of Eden. Brother Smith shares some pretty insightful thoughts, and interesting commentary on gender relationships in the church that also have effects on our homes. Adrian Marsh-EO Advisor EO lectures-middle aged white male in a leadership position-feel “guilty” even though I haven’t done anything wrong. “Men, Don’t Be So Righteous!”
2 Gen 1:27 And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. How are we different? Different relative to each other Male & Female How are we equal? Created by God Equal in value, worth, purpose Different, but equal; Equal, but different
3 Gen 2:18 Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." How else were male/female (Adam/Eve) different? Male/Adam created first. Principle of the firstborn Not spiritual superiority Spiritual responsibility/spiritual protector Not cultural/custom Made at the point of creation Esau vs. Jacob Principle of male spiritual leadership was made before custom or culture came into existence.
4 Gen 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die." Who received the command? Adam Did Eve know? Yes, Gen 3:1-3
5 Gen 3:1-5 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?“ And the woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die.'“ And the serpent said to the woman, "You surely shall not die! “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." In their natural sinless condition, what was their condition or character. We say Adam and Eve were naive or innocent. Eve, in her innocence, had never experienced deceit, lying, dishonesty, sarcasm, irony, derision, cynicism.
6 Gen 3: And He said, …. Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" And the man said, "The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.“ Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." God confronts Adam and Eve What happens? Adam blames Eve, and then God Eve blames the serpent
7 Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-- Who committed the first sin? Adam What was the first sin? Failure to exercise his responsibility as a spiritual leader and protector Who else in Genesis failed to be a spiritual protector? Abraham-Gen 12 & 20. For his fear for his own personal safety, he put Sarah in both physical and spiritual danger. Acts-Ananias (& Sapphira)
8 Gen 3:16 To the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you shall bring forth children; Yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." Principle of the firstborn is more forcefully emphasized and without ambiguity. Eve had not looked consciously to her husband for spiritual leadership. Adam had too easily overlooked his protective role. Responsibilities (?)implied before the sin in the Garden, but, here, male spiritual leadership was reemphasized because of the sin in the Garden
9 Era of Patriarchs and the Old Testament: Male DominanceCircumcision was the sign of the covenant Most graphically exclusive male symbol The LAW was very male dominant Men seemingly more greatly valued than women Male spiritual leadership obvious in the OT Culture of the 1st Century (and before), male treatment of women was not appropriate
10 JESUS-New Covenant New Gender AttitudeJesus elevated women in all that He did Did not overturn principle of male spiritual leadership 12 (14) Apostles were all male Circumcision was out-baptism is now the covenant symbol Both male and female OT-Rahab Ruth Esther and, Deborah. NT: Mary-Jesus’ mother over Joseph Mary & Martha over Lazarus Paul, as a missionary, Lydia, Dorcas, Priscilla (& Acquilla) In the NT, women were identified separately, not lumped male of the household- (Mark Chap men) Acts 2:38 number of souls, not men, like feeding of 5,000 or 4,000 men
11 I Tim 2: Let a woman quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. Not a cultural issue or custom v 8-”in all the churches”/”everywhere” Implies public church assemblies Congruent with principle of Male Spiritual Leadership throughout Scriptures. 1 Tim 2:8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; Not a cultural issue during the time Paul wrote to Timothy, but is congruent with the principle of male spiritual leadership that is contained throughout the Scriptures.
12 Joel 2:28 "And it will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. And even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days." (Acts 2:17-18) Genders equally receive the Holy Spirit through their personal faith, and the faith response of baptism. Women’s identity with God’s covenant based on THEIR PERSONAL relationship with God, not through a male. Functional male leader-husband/father/brother
13 Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. All barriers have been toppled Race/nationality Bondage Gender Relates to our vertical relationship with God, not horizontal relationship with each other
14 I Cor 14: Let the women keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but let them subject themselves, just as the Law also says. And if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. We are equal, but called to be different It is not ability, but responsibility Males have been given the responsibility of headship or leadership. In the Jewish synagogues (implied likewise in the early church), women were separated from the men, so they could not discuss spiritual teachings or concepts at “church”, so were instructed to do so at home.
15 I Cor 11:3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Spiritual hierarchy God > Christ > Man > Woman God = Christ, but a spiritual and functional headship between equals. Man/Husband = Women/Wife, also a spiritual and functional headship between equals.
16 Male Spiritual LeadershipMale spiritual leadership in the: Garden of Eden Patriarchs Laws of Moses In Covenant change, God set aside: Animal sacrifices for Jesus’ sacrifice Worship-temple/Jerusalem for sprit/truth God retained male spiritual leadership. It is His pattern and His way.
17 Why principle of Male Spiritual LeadershipWhy principle of Male Spiritual Leadership? (according to Brother Smith) Women naturally more spiritually minded than men Motherhood-women naturally talk to children about spiritual (GOD) things 80% customers in Christian bookstores are female Sole spouse church attendees Norman Rockwell painting-father staying at home to read the Sunday paper
18 Norman Rockwell EASTER MORNING, DAD STAYS HOME FROM CHURCH
19 Why principle of Male Spiritual LeadershipWhy principle of Male Spiritual Leadership? (according to Brother Smith) Leaders/teachers must study more to learn/know more Male not placed in leadership positions because spiritually superior, but (maybe) just the opposite, spiritually inferior. To help/force(?) men to grow and mature Leadership is a responsibility, not a privilege The teacher of a Sunday School class (should) learn much more than the students. Male spiritual leadership may be God’s way of balancing spiritual motivation between women, who already thirst for a relationship with God, and men, who do not…..or who would prefer to spend time, effort, passion, on something else. “One of the nagging frustrations of godly women is that there are far too many men who hold positions of spiritual responsibility without being either spiritual or responsible.”
20 Male Spiritual LeadershipGod has revealed a consistent, identifiable pattern of roles and relationship within both the home and the church. Men are directed by God to be the spiritual leaders in our families and in our churches. That pattern is still applicable to us today. “Men, don’t be so righteous!” Men, don’t be so righteous Adam committed the first sin. You are commanded by God to be leaders in the home, and leaders in the church. If you are not being a leader, you are not obeying God.