Identifying My Identity in an Unidentifiable Age of Identity Politics.

Pastor Jonathan Hansen

Identity • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

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In Light of God and God's defining authority, how then shall we live?

Notes

Transcript

Handout

Opening:

Welcome back. We are going to continue one in our study of Identity in our crazed age. So far we have not covered this topic in relation to the insanity of our day and age. Rather than diving into the culture or the culture war, I wanted to lay a foundation for the topic. It is so central to understand the terms and what is being said.

Recap of Previous Sessions:

We opened by discussing who God is. You cannot know who you are unless you know who God is. This is the chief question. Who is God. We focused primarily on the fact that God is the maker and sustainer of all things. Therefore, God is the definition Giver of all things.

God is the Definition Giver of all things.

This is the only logical conclusion we can come to when we think about the fact that God made all things and that all things continue to exist because of His power. God, by nature of being God has the right to define all things. God defines mankind as well. When looking at who we are, we must admit to the fact that God is the one who says who we are and all the aspects of our life. God defines what we are, ought to be, are to do, and are for.

God Defines what we are, ought to be, are to do, and are for.

God has the ultimate right to define these things. We have no right to disagree with these things. And we know how God defines us because He has told us in Scripture.

Transition:

That is what we have covered so far. Really, in essence, we have covered the first three questions from the Westminster Shorter Catechism.

1. What is the chief end of man?

Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.

2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him?

The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him.

3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?

The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

Cultural application:

But now we must venture into the dangerous waters. Here there be dragons, and we must not be faint of heart. Now we must apply the truth to our world at large. Perhaps it is easy to hear these truths here, in a church building, safe and uncancelable. But now we must look outside of the doors of the church and see the world at large. How do we answer the wicked and crazed culture we live in? How do we identify our identity in an unidentifiable age of identity politics? We must speak the truth, but how? How are we to understand what is happening in this age?

When we look outside, we see a truly unprecedented time. Our media is filled to the brim with LGBT imagery and indoctrination. But the term LGBT is no longer complete. It changed from LGBT to LGBTQ to LGBTQIA to LGBTQIA+ to LGBTQQIP2SAA+. Which stands for the following: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, pansexual, two-spirit, asexual, and ally. One must fear the inevitable adding of even more. Hence the plus sign, just to ensure we have everyone covered. Regardless of how you feel, everyone must admit that this has been ramping up insanely fast.

In the 1800’s we had the rise of women’s suffrage. This radically rewrote the idea of gender roles and purpose for the times. In the 1920’s we had the rise of feminism which again radically redefined the idea of gender for the times. In the 60’s we had the sexual revolution which radically changed the idea of the purpose of sex. In the 90’s we had the homosexual revolution which again changed things. Then in the 00’s we had the legalization of gay marriage. Now in the 20’s we have radical sex and gender theory being taught in elementary school. If we were to graph it out it would look a lot like we started at a reasonable place and then fell into a descent straight to hell.

In this session, I want to take some time and discuss some of our current cultural issues. I want to show what Scripture has to say about them and really how we as Christians ought to view them. I want to discuss gender identity and with that I want to discuss masculinity, what it means to be a man, and femininity, what it means to be a woman. Then I want to discuss the institution of marriage dealing with the beauty of the roles given within marriage.

Transition:

So let’s begin with gender identity.

Gender Identity:

First, what is gender? Well, there are primarily two series of thought. There are those who hold that gender and sex are completely separate and non corresponding. This means you have a sex you are born as, male or female. However, your gender has no connection to your biological sex. This teaches that women are not by necessity female and men are not by necessity male. The other series of thought is the classical thought that gender and biological sex are directly linked and have a genuine impact on one another and are inseparable. This teaches that women are females and men are males. Keep in mind that I am speaking in broad terms, but let me state it for the record, that anyone who teaches that biological sex is completely disconnected from gender expression is either dumb beyond comprehension on the level of an exceptionally simple rock, deceived beyond recognition on the level of those duped by Stalin, or evil on the same level as the Nazi eugenic doctors.

It is painfully obvious from nature and even the most basic reasoning that men are male and women are female. However, our current culture has sped so fast off the cliffs of insanity that they must have beaten every stunt jump record in history. Our current culture holds religiously to the idea that gender and sex are completely disconnected. And as we descend into the hell of this madness, they are even beginning to deny biological sex, proved by the mantra “trans women are women.” So here is the question I have. How many genders are there? Let’s assume for a moment that we can affirm two biological sexes. And let’s make the idiotic assumption that gender and sex are completely disconnected. How many gender’s are there? Well, there is no concensus on that. I have read articles saying there are a handful, others say there are perhaps dozens, while there are others who hold there could possibly be over one hundred recorded gender expressions. The intellectually consistent must hold that there have to be infinite gender expressions, because it is entirely up to the individual. The only determining factor is the emotional state and feeling of the individual. This could mean that a 30+ year old biological man could identify as a 12 year old girl, and society and many governmental experts expect us to simply go along with that. And we are demanded to refer to this man as a she and confess with religious fervor that trans women are women. Or someone could identify as a two spirit man of trans experience who now identifies half as a xenogender wolf and half as endosex, whatever all that means. And we are all expected to nod our heads in agreement and say “wow, how brave.”

But what is the truth? When confronted with such insanity, how do we answer it? How do we understand this? Well, we must remember that God has given us a sure and true rule for all of life and godliness. The Sacred Scriptures are our guide. And in them, we must remember that God has defined what mankind is, ought to be, is to do, and is for. So let’s see what Scripture says.

Matthew 19:4-5 says, “And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female,5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?”

These two verses containing the words of Jesus address exactly what Scripture, and therefore God Himself, teaches about sex and gender identity. In these two verses we see the words male, female, man, wife, father, and mother. Behold, here is the truth. Jesus took Genesis as literal history describing Adam and Eve as real humans made in God’s image. And Jesus uses terms we would call biological sex along with terms we would associate with the idea of a gender identity. And Jesus is here speaking of the ideal. He is setting this forward as the truth of and for all of humanity. These words are the standard. What sexes are there? Man and woman. He (God) made them (mankind) male and female from the beginning. What are there genders? They are directly related to their sex. Male is man, female is woman. What are their roles associated with their genders? Husband, wife, father, mother. Here is the truth of Scripture from cover to cover, beautifully stated in these verses. God, in the beginning, made mankind, in His image, male and female. Any perversion of this is ultimately sinful and destructive. There are not limitless genders, there are two. Your gender corresponds with your sex. As a man, you are male. As a woman, you are female. Those are the only options. And if as a man, you are attempting to deny your male-ness, you need help. You are in sin and are not well. If as a woman, you are attempting to deny your female-ness, you need help. You are in sin and are not well.

My heart truly breaks for the men and women who have fallen prey to this radical gender ideology. I am broken hearted for them. There are only two genders, man and woman. I wish to see men be men and women be women. But perhaps it would be helpful to look more at the two genders. What are they and what are they for? What are men and women for? What are our sexes like? What is the gender of man like? What are they to do? Well, let’s start by looking at men and masculinity.

Men and Masculinity:

What is a man? A man is a human male. Scripture is filled with passages about men. It is filled with commands for men. But when we cut to the essence of what the Bible says a man is, it is this. A man is to be strong and courageous. He is to be the protector and provider of his family. The man is the one who puts himself in danger for the sake of his family and loved ones. A man is to be gentle but dangerous. A man is to be capable of great destruction, but filled with enough wisdom to know how to temple this violence. Primarily, the Bible teaches that it is good to be a man. It is a good thing to be a man. Masculinity is not toxic, but is righteous and holy when expressed in accordance with God’s commands. But hear me very clearly, it is a good thing to be made by God as a man. Expressing your masculinity is righteous. It is good that God made you men. You have divine purpose and a goal and task set for you by God. Submitting to God does not mean becoming neutered. Submitting to God is to find the truest and most holy and genuine expression of your masculinity. It will set you free as a man. It will strengthen you as a man. Christ came not to destroy men and masculinity, but to redeem it. By bowing to Christ as King, you can become a true man. By bowing to Christ as King, you find the truest and strongest expression of masculine strength and virtue possible. But let’s look at some verses regarding masculinity and men. And do not forget, it is good to be a man.

It Is Good to be a Man.

1 Corinthians 16:13 “13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”

Godly men are to be vigilant. They are to know the faith and be solid in their faith. They are not to surrender their masculinity but to embrace it as Christians. And the are to be strong. A man’s glory is in his strength.

1 Timothy 5:8 “8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Godly men are to be providers. They are to work hard and make a living in order to provide for their family and others. Any man who is lazy and refuses to work is worse than someone who is not saved. It says that he has denied or abandoned the faith. Work hard and make money in order to provide for your family and those in need.

Proverbs 24:5-6 “5 A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might, 6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.”

Godly men are to be filled with wisdom and strength. They seek knowledge in order to enhance their might. They are wise enough to wage war and they know that they need good godly council in order to win the fights they are in. Notice that godly men are not to be cowards or pacifists. They fight and they wage war, but they do so in wisdom and righteousness.

Romans 12:10 “10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

We are to have a bond of loving brotherhood. Godly men are not devoid of emotion or love. We love one another as brothers. And we have competitions to outdo one another in showing honor. We should be trying to honor one another as men more and more and more.

There is so much we could say about men from Scripture, but let’s look at some passages from Titus. Here we see commands for men in the church.

Titus 2:1-2. But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. Titus 2:6-8. Likewise urge the younger men to be sensible;7 in all things show yourself to be a model of good works, with purity in doctrine, dignified,8 sound in word which is irreproachable, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

So men here are commanded to be training other men and being trained by other men. Paul tells Titus that he is to speak only sound doctrine. Do not speak any heresy or false doctrine. Do not lie or miscommunicate about God. Paul then passes on commands for old and young men. Older men are to be temperate. They are to be well reasoned. They are to be dignified. They ought not do things that are crass or undignified. They are to be sound in the faith. They should know the Scriptures and be well learned. They are to be loving. And they ought to be men who persevere. This is what what old men are to be and this is what young men are to strive to become. Young men, let me ask you some questions. Are you right now living a life that will lead you to become these virtuous things by the time you are 50?

Are you right now living a life that will lead you to become these virtuous things by the time you are 50?

What practices can you put into place that will make you fit Paul’s description of elderly masculinity by the time you reach 50?

What practices do you need to stop in order to fit Paul’s description of elderly masculinity by the time you reach 50?

I challenge you men to live a life that will lead you to become men like this when you are older. But what of young men? Young men are also to be sensible. Do not be irrational. Live out good works. Do not occupy your time with worthless pursuits, but do good works for Christ. Be a model of good works. Be pure in doctrine. How is the state of your theology? Are you a good theologian? As a young man, you ought to be. You should have dignity. Do not do foolish things. Speak clear and holy words. Do not sully your mouth with foolish talk and dirty jokes. Be pure in your words. Live your life in such a way that you are above reproach. You should live a life where if anyone falsely accused you of sin, it would be obvious they are lying. Let me ask you some more questions.

Young men:

Are you sensible or irrational. Are you driven by your emotions and desires or by sound reason?

Are you a model of good works? Do others look to you in order to see how to live a godly life?

Are you a good or poor theologian? Is your doctrine sound and righteous in accordance with God’s Word?

Are you dignified or childish?

Are you living a life above reproach?

What do you need to change today to begin to exemplify these qualities?

Alright, that is what it means to be a godly man. That is a small taste of what God’s Word says about masculinity. What of femininity? What of women?

Women and Femininity:

I wanted to encourage the men because our culture has lied and taught men that they are inherently evil if they are masculine at all. Now, as I talk about femininity, it may seem as if I am discouraging. I want to state outright that I am not attempting to be discouraging to the women. I want to be truly encouraging. And this is hard, because society has attacked women in a much different way. Men they have attempted to crush and destroy. Women, they have attempted to butter up into believing a lie. Women, you have been told that you are the same as a man. That anything men can do, you can do better. You have been sold a basket of rotten goods. You have been lied to and made to believe you are something you are not and that you are somehow better at it than anyone. This is a lie. Feminism has lied to you. You have been told that you are to be strong and bold. You have been told that you are to be warriors. You have been told that you are brave when you are being brash. Society has attempted to turn women into men and men into women. But hear me very clearly. Women are not men. Women are not good at pretending to be men. Women are good at being women. Women are to act like women. Women find their glory in being who God made them to be. And hear me very very clearly. It is good to be a woman. God made you beautiful and gentle and nurturing. God has given women the ability to bear children and bring immortal souls into being on this earth. God has given women the ability to feed their children. God has made women soft and gentle. God has made women lovely and given them a unique ability to bring joy and love.

It is Good to be a Woman.

Women are blessed by God when they live how He has commanded them to. Women are cursed by God when they attempt to live how men are called to live. Women, you cannot be men. God made men to be men. If you attempt to be men, you are in sin. You are to be women. Femininity is beautiful and to be more valued than much fine gold. Yet, our day and age has lied to you. It has attempted to destroy you by telling you that feminine virtue is outdated and sexist. It has attempted to tell you that submitting to your husband, bearing and raising children, and living as a woman is slavery. It has sold you a bill of lies and sadly the church has even accepted this. But I reject it. Women are created by God to be and do what men cannot do. And there is nothing more beautiful than a woman of God living as a woman of God.

Proverbs 31:10-31 is considered to be the epitome of the best a woman can be.

10 An excellent wife who can find?

She is far more precious than jewels.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,

and he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good, and not harm,

all the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax,

and works with willing hands.

14 She is like the ships of the merchant;

she brings her food from afar.

15 She rises while it is yet night

and provides food for her household

and portions for her maidens.

16 She considers a field and buys it;

with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

17 She dresses herself with strength

and makes her arms strong.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.

Her lamp does not go out at night.

19 She puts her hands to the distaff,

and her hands hold the spindle.

20 She opens her hand to the poor

and reaches out her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,

for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes bed coverings for herself;

her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates

when he sits among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them;

she delivers sashes to the merchant.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,

and she laughs at the time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27 She looks well to the ways of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many women have done excellently,

but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,

and let her works praise her in the gates.

Women, do not ever let anyone tell you that the Bible has a low view of women. This is the most beautiful proverb in the entire book of proverbs. The Bible has the highest and most wonderful view of women because it teaches the true beauty and value of women. But let’s look at Titus again see the commands for women.

Titus 2:3-5. Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,4 so that they may instruct the young women in sensibility: to love their husbands, to love their children,5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be slandered.

Here we see Paul again give commands for older and younger in the church. But here he is focused on women, not men. To the older women he says they ought to be reverent. They are not to be disruptive or argumentative. They are not to be gossips. This is a sin seldom talked about in church but it is one of the worst of sins. They are not to be drunks. And they are to be good teachers. But who are they to teach? They are to teach the young women how to be godly women. Old women are to be able to instruct young women on what it means to be godly. So I give these question to you women?

Are you right now living a life that will lead you to become these virtuous things by the time you are 50?

What practices can you put into place that will make you fit Paul’s description of elderly femininity by the time you reach 50?

What practices do you need to stop in order to fit Paul’s description of elderly femininity by the time you reach 50?

But now to the young women. I don’t know if you are married, but if you are, you are to love your husbands and children. This is godly and it is an act of worship. You are to be sensible. You are not to be pulled too and fro by all the varied emotions of life. Be sensible. Be pure. Do no be promiscuous. Embrace purity and value it. Be good workers at home. Do not view the work of a housewife as somehow a lesser task than working in an office for a boss. There is no greater career than that of a housewife and mother. C.S. Lewis said that “The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career.” When you are married, you are to submit to your husband. So I ask you these questions.

C.S. Lewis- “The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career.”

Do you view being a mother and wife as less than other careers?

Are you sensible?

Are you living a life right now that would be described as pure?

Are you a hard worker?

Are you kind?

Make no mistake. It is good to be a woman. God made you to be something greater than I will ever understand. But He is the one who gets to define all of this. He defines what you as women are to be and do. Submit to Him and embrace the beauty in this.

Transition:

And perhaps this would be a good time to touch briefly on the concept of sexuality. We’ve talked about gender, so what about sexuality?

Sexuality:

I would exhaust my time just trying to list all of the sexual perversions of our day. We are surrounded by sex. Sex is everywhere. And nowadays it is praised to be sexually attracted to almost anything. You can be sexually attracted to men, women, both, neither, animals, automobiles, trees, or any other thing. There is even a large push to normalize sexual attraction to children. This used to be call pedophilia, but now it is being relabeled as “minor attracted people” or “MAPS. But let’s suffice it to say that sex has become hyper emphasized in our day. Porn is free and everywhere. So what are we to do? Well, rather than waste hours discussing all the varied sexual attractions out there and why they are incorrect, Let’s look at what the Bible says an appropriate sexuality is.

Genesis 2:24-25 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother, and cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Matthew 19:4-6 “4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.””

Sex was made to be between one man and woman in the bond of the life-long covenant of marriage. Anything outside of this is sexual immorality.

1 Corinthians 6:13-20 Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.14 Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be!16 Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “The two shall become one flesh.”17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.18 Flee sexual immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral man sins against his own body.19 Or do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?20 For you were bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

Sexual immorality is any form or expression of sexuality outside of the bond of marriage. This includes extra marital sexual action, premarital sexual action, pornography, homosexual action, sexual action with animals. All of it is wrong and sinful. But how do we make sense of our culture? Our culture says all these things are morally good. Our culture views sex as just a physical action. Scripture condemns this clearly.

If you want a clear description of the sexual ethic of our day, look no further than Romans 1:18-32. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, both His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.21 For even though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened.22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the likeness of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.26 For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions; for their females exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,27 and in the same way also the males abandoned the natural function of the female and burned in their desire toward one another, males with males committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to an unfit mind, to do those things which are not proper,29 having been filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,30 slanderers, haters of God, violent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;32 and although they know the righteous requirement of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

The Bible clearly teaches that sex and sexuality is only to be expressed between one man and one woman in the life-long bond of marriage. So what is marriage?

Marriage:

Remember, God is the one who defines marriage. God gets to say what all things are, ought to be, are to do, and are for. So what is marriage.

Look again at Genesis 2:24-25 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother, and cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Again, Jesus affirms this.

Anything outside of this is not marriage. Our culture can attempt to name other things marriage, but they are not marriage. Marriage is not two men. Marriage is not two women. Marriage is not one man and two women. Marriage is not one woman and five men. Marriage has a meaning and it is a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman. And if I were not already cancelled, God has also given specific roles within marriage. There are roles for the husband that he must never abandon. There are roles for the wife that she must never hate.

Roles Within Marriage:

And these roles are not obscure. Scripture is clear on these and it repeats them. You cannot avoid them. They are to be obeyed and followed and enjoyed.

Ephesians 5:22-33. Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and blameless.28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,30 because we are members of His body.31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.32 This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

Colossians 3:18-19 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.

1 Peter 3:1-7. In the same way, you wives, be subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives,2 as they observe your pure conduct with fear.3 Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on garments;4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible quality of a lowly and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands,6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children if you do good, not fearing any intimidation.7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

These are clear and are not to be ignored. Wives are to submit to their husbands. This does not mean that they are less than their husbands. It does not mean they are of less value or somehow lesser beings. No, remember, men and women are both made in the image of God, equal but different. So wives are to submit to the authority of their husbands.

Husbands are to love their wives and lead their families in Christ. In fact, husbands have the harder command. Which is easier, to submit to someone’s leadership or to perfectly reflect the love of Christ? Nevertheless, men are commanded to do so. Husbands are to perfectly love their wives and sacrificially lead their homes well.

God gave these roles and we have no right to disagree with God. Remember, to disagree with God is sin. We are to look at what God has said and say, “Yes Lord. Amen.”

The Joys of Biblical Marriage and Gender Roles:

And perhaps you hear these things and you don’t like them. Maybe they seem narrow or restrictive. Maybe it seems mean or unkind to say that men cannot do and should not do certain things. Maybe it seems sexist to say that women cannot do and should not do certain things. Perhaps it seems hateful and bigoted to say “gay marriage” is not real marriage. Perhaps it seems homophobic to say that anyone who believes themselves to be a gender that they are not is in need of spiritual and mental help. But I want to say very clearly that there is nothing better than being what God has made you and called you to be. It is deeply joyful and fulfilling to submit to the roles God has given us as men and women. There is nothing more loving than to tell something the truth and aid them in living that out. There is nothing more hateful than affirming a lie someone believe and pushing them further into that lie. When a man says he is a woman and asks to be called “she,” the single most hateful thing you can do is affirm his lie. The loving action is to be direct and honest. “I cannot call you a woman because you are a man. I love you and I love how God made you. I cannot and will not lie to you or about you. I will spend extra time in prayer for you, and I am always here for you. I love you too much to lie to you or about you.” This seems counter intuitive in our day and age, but we must not determine truth by the culture. God determines truth.

And if I could speak from the heart for a moment, there is a joy beyond belief in how God made us to be. There is a joy in saying, “God made me a man. He did not make a mistake. I should embrace my masculinity for His glory and my joy.” There is a joy in saying “God made me a woman. He did not make a mistake. I should embrace my femininity for His glory and my joy.” There is so much joy in seeing that God has told me what to do and be as a husband and father. Please hear this. God’s commands are not burdensome or limiting. They are freeing. I do not have to learn from trial and error. I do not have to wonder what I have to do to be a good husband. God has said it. And the same is true of being a father. I am free. God has set me free by telling me what I am made for. God has set me free by telling me how I am to live as a man, husband, and father. These are not chains. The lies of the world are chains. The truth of God’s Word is the key that sets us free.

I want to make sure that I say this clearly because you will never hear it from the world. Here is the truth:

Men, God has made you as men. There is nothing better you can be than a man as God defines you. You are to be strong and brave. You are to be wise and kind. You are to be able to defend your families. You are to work hard so as to provide for your families and those in need. You are to bow the knee only to Christ. Do not give your strength to women. Be bold, brave, unbreakable, strong, honorable, righteous, dangerous, meek men. Your masculinity is a gift. Be the husbands God calls you to be. Be the fathers God calls you to be. It is good to be a man. Do not be brash, brutish oafs. Be wise, well read, discerning men who are not pulled by their passions but are commanded by their love for God. Be good men and be good at being a man. It is good to be a man.

Women, God has made you as women. There is nothing better you can be than a woman as God defines you. You are to be gentle and kind. You are to be wise and loving. You are to nurture your families. You are to work hard to see your family love Christ and grow into fruitfulness. You are to submit to your husbands and to Christ. Do not give into the lies of the culture. Be beautiful, uncompromising, honorable, shrewd, gentle, nurturing, and filled with grace. Your femininity is a gift. Be the women, wives, and mothers God has called you to be. It is good to be a woman. Do not be shrill, gossiping, nagging women. Be wise, joyful, loving women who are not pulled by the lies of the world but are joyfully in love with God and His Word. Be good women and be good at being women. It is good to be a woman.

Let’s pray.