Characteristics of the Head

At the church that I attend, October 25, 2015 was recognized as Purple Sunday. All members were encouraged to wear purple in recognition that October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. Our pastor preached from Genesis 2:15-25 and the sermon title was “Domestic Violence Is a Sin.” He emphasized that based on Genesis 2 and Genesis 1:26-28 man was created male and female and together they were given “rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth” 1:28, NASB). God created the man, but it was not good for the man to be alone so God created woman and brought her to the man because none of the animals were found to be suitable for the man. Pastor Thomas talked about how men have been taught to control a woman. Many believe that since they are the head that they have the right to use any means necessary to control the woman. For many men, this includes acts of physical aggression. At some point our pastor said that “men have been taught that they are the head, but you ain’t head of nothing.” After the service one of the men approached me about this statement. He quoted Ephesians 5:23 that says, “the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body” (KJV). I pointed out that the pastor’s point was that the husband is not greater than the wife, and he does not have the right to boss his wife. Genesis 1:26-28 tells us that the man and the woman were created equal. After I thought about my conversation with this man I am inspired to write this article. What does it mean to be the head? What are the responsibilities of the head? What characteristics describe the head? In this article I am addressing the “head” as described primarily in Ephesians 5:22-31. In the book of Ephesians, Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus encouraging them to walk in unity because of their shared faith in Jesus Christ, their Savior.

In Ephesians 5:21 Paul seeks to bring unity to the church. He instructs the church by saying, “Be subject (submit, KJV) to one another in the fear of Christ” (NASB). He follows by giving examples of submission. He says, “Wives, be subject to your own husbands as to the Lord (v. 22, NASB) Notice that Paul continues by adding that God has set up an order of authority. “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” (v. 23, NASB). It is at this point that many begin to be troubled by this text. Many people look at the words “submit” and “head” and believe that the apostle is promoting men over women. Women are inferior to men and the woman’s value and her identity is based on her husband. The husband is the “head” of his wife. He is in charge and he has the right of final say in all things. However, those who take this view often fail to consider verse twenty-five. “Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having not spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church because we are members of His body”(vv 25-30, NASB). The pronoun “we” indicates that all believers are included regardless of any social standing in the world.

There is nothing said in these verses that indicate that a person has the right to use his or her position to boss another person around; and especially, there is no right to abuse anyone in any way. This text is not about the value and ability of one person over another. It is about authority, and the military calls this a “chain of command.” The general is not greater than the private because both are soldiers who are serving for a common cause. Both, if need be, puts their life on the line for the sake of their country. Positions of authority do not give a person rights without responsibilities. Instead, privileges and rights are given to those with authority so that they can carry out their responsibilities. In Mark 10:35-45; Luke 22:24-27; Matthew 20:20-28; John 13:2-27, Jesus teaches His disciples that they are to follow His example instead of the ways of the world. Those who are in positions of authority have the responsibility to look out for the welfare of those under their authority. They are to remember that Christ is the authority over the church. He did not come to be served, but to serve and to die for sin so that those under His authority might be saved. As stated before, I want to explore through these verses the characteristics of the head; and for that matter what are the characteristics of the Christian leader or the one who has authority? Before we discuss the characteristic of the head, let us clarify why there are lines of authority and particularly why the husband is the head of the wife.

The accounts of the creation of the man and the woman recorded in Genesis1and 2 take place in the garden (of Eden), a sinless place. God commanded the man not to eat of the tree of good and evil (2:17), but the man and the woman disobeyed God. God banished the man and his wife from the sinless environment to a world outside the garden where everything was now corrupt (see Romans 8:19-23). By God’s grace, He established a line of authority for humankind to live by and by which He would communicate with them. The husband was given rule (dominion) over the woman (Gen. 3:16). Again, our modern understanding of the word “rule” does not have the meaning in the text in mind. In the text the word “rule” or “dominion” means that the husband is to take care of the wife’s needs and especially her protection in a hostile environment. Genesis 34 is the story of Jacob’s sons who defend the honor of their sister Dinah who has been raped. There methods may be questioned, but not their intent to protect their sister. Women have made great advances in America, but they are still physically abused. Could one of the reasons be that women today have less protection from men; especially in the absence of fathers, brothers, and other male relatives and friends?

The first characteristic is to have an attitude of mutual submission. Mutual submission is the attitude of one who understands that Christ is the ultimate authority. This attitude is the result of one who presents his or her body as a living sacrifice in God’s service to others, and whose mind has been renewed with the Spirit of Christ. In Philippians 2:1-11 Paul gives us a picture of the attitude of mutual respect and submission. This attitude of submission is first seen in Jesus’ submission to the will of the Father demonstrated in His death on the cross.

The second characteristic of the head is sacrifice. The head recognizes that the one who is submitted to him or her needs their leadership. The church is subject to Christ because Christ is the Savior. Christ is our Savior because of His love for the church. Christ became a sacrifice to save the church. In like manner the head must be willing to sacrifice his or herself for those who have submitted themselves to their headship. Leaders cannot expect those under them to submit to their authority if there is no love demonstrated through the head giving of his or herself for their benefit. Domestic Violence is the result of one believing that one’s position of authority gives them all rights without responsibility to another.

The third characteristic of the head is service. “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (v. 25, NASB). Jesus instructed his disciples to become great by following His example of not seeking to be served but to serve others. At the Last Supper Jesus served His disciples bread and wine. When they disputed over who was greatest Jesus told them not to be like the Gentiles who Lord their authority over others. He said: ‘“But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.’ ‘For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves’” (Luke 22:26-27, NASB).

The fourth characteristic of the head is sanctifying those under their authority. The word “sanctify” means that one has been made clean and set aside for God alone. This word implies possession at a price. The price paid for those who have been sanctified are love and sacrifice as demonstrated by Christ’s death on the cross. Christ died so 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” (v.27, NASB). The Christian who is the head never seeks to harm another person. The Christian head desires subjects who are at their best. The head must be one who loves others just as he or she loves his or herself. In verse twenty-eight Paul refers back to Genesis 2:24: “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh” (NASB).

When Paul instructed Timothy on ordaining one to be a church bishop, He said: “He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?)” (1 Tim. 3:4-5, NASB).

Marriage reflects government in heaven. John 1:1-3 shows the equality of God and the Word, in essence, in authority, in creation, and salvation. “The Word was God” (v. 1). Jesus is equal to the Father, but He submitted Himself to the will of the Father so that the purposes of God might be accomplished. “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, NASB). Jesus said: ‘“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner’” (John 5:19, NASB). He further stated: ‘“I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (v. 30).

Finally, these instructions are given to Christians only. Jesus makes it clear in Mark 10 and Luke 24 that the world does not live according to His teachings.

So, let us not be confused by the world’s ideas of what the Scriptures actually say. To be the head and to submit are Godly qualities that Christians are to possess in order to maintain unity among Christians. The one who is the head regardless of the situation is responsible for bringing out the best in those who are under their authority to the glory of God. Finally, the head is accountable to God for his self or herself and for those under their authority.