Then God said, Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27 NIV)
To review, God first created Adam. He was created in the very image of God, the Father, Jesus, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He had both a masculine and feminine nature. Any argument to the contrary would be unscriptural, unscientific, and quite foolish because at this point woman had not been created. Yet, we earthlings often overlook this fact for the more popular notion that these two verses are referring to Adam and the woman, Eve, as two entirely separate beings…one fully male and the other, fully female.
Indeed, most people are horrified at the idea of even considering the possibility that as individuals we each have innate male and female traits and characteristics.
So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh.
Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. (Genesis 2:21-22 NIV)
Why you do suppose it is that today’s society focuses almost exclusively on the “differences” between men and women? Why is there such a premium put on “getting what you want” in relationships, no matter what the costs? Why is there such a reluctance to explore the “similarities” between men and women? After all, we were created to inhabit and take dominion over this planet. We are not “aliens” from Mars or Venus, as some would have us believe. And, we should not be alienated from each other.
Perhaps, the following comments offer some answers to the aforementioned questions.
It is apparent that negativity is in vogue. Pointing the finger at everyone else is easier than taking responsibility for our own views and actions. “Celebrating” differences can serve as an excuse from having to admit that as different as we are, we are still the same.
If we accept the fact that we are from the “same” planet and truly created in His image, we may be forced to be a tad bit more inclined to serve and love one another. A simple willingness to entertain the male-female mystery requires us to dig a little deeper into what can happen when the two are woefully out of balance.
Please take a moment to consider these observations.
Males must go through rites of passage in order to fully mature as men. Certain activities further teach males how to provide and for “protect” their families. Other Christian men should guide and direct younger boys and men as they transition into manhood. When these rites of passage do not occur, many males are left over mothered and under fathered. Likewise, it is also possible to be over fathered and under mothered.
In either case, these young men may find themselves confused because the “balance” between masculinity and femininity is completely out of kilter.
Learning to love a woman as Christ loves the church is not an easy process.
A similar situation can occur with females.
Young girls often view God in the same way they view their dads. If “dad” is absent from the home or behaves in an unhealthy fashion within the family, his actions may hinder any relationship the young woman has with her heavenly Father. Hence, a young woman may find herself struggling with intimacy, identity, self-esteem, or security. If the masculine-feminine balance is skewed too far, results can be catastrophic as described in Romans Chapter 1.
The male and female cohabitation of the human brain is not a new concept. A number of “religions” readily embrace this notion. Buddhism is one that delineates a right and left hemisphere of the brain, with the right side being female and the left, male. The left side of the brain is in charge of the right side of the body. The right side, or female hemisphere, is in charge of the left side of the body.
The Mayan civilization adhered to this belief and practitioners of yoga do the same.
Some Final Thoughts
Oftentimes, men will quote the scripture found in Ephesians 5:22.
Wives submit yourselves to your husbands.
It is easy to abuse this reference and thus inch ever more closely to making a victim out of your spouse. Using scripture as a form of control and manipulation is a form of domestic violence and must be identified as such. Awareness of this potential pitfall will aid in avoiding the devil’s snare. Women must be educated to watch for ANY “red flags” indicating even subtle moves in this direction. These behaviors must be nipped in the bud or otherwise they can gain a very destructive foothold. At this juncture, it is best for a wife to confront her husband in a “masculine to masculine” manner.
Submit yourselves to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:21 NIV)
This scripture guarantees the greatest likelihood of relational success and maturity in the faith. The Word is edifying and keeps both parties on their knees in prayer. Practical application in the daily lives of both men and women will help offset most masculine-feminine imbalances and encourage a win-win in relationships.
The following two questions are pivotal in our search for the truth in the matter of male and female.
Who is the Bride of Christ?
Who is the Bridegroom?
Since the Church is the Bride of Christ and Jesus is the Bridegroom, it stands to reason that both men and women are “brides.” Men who eagerly accept and embrace this reality could have a “balanced” male-female nature and humbly appreciate that woman was formed from man’s rib.
Men are not from Mars and women are not from Venus.
We were put on this earth to live and love one another with a servant’s heart. [click-to-tweet] Although we were created male and female, we must have a desire for an appropriate balance. Desire alone is not enough, but it is a good place to start. Recognize that this balance will vary from one person to another and be patient with others as they gain this knowledge. Remember, this whole idea may be foreign to many people.
Do a heartfelt “discount double check” on your own life to see where you stand when it comes to the masculine-feminine mystique. You may be surprised at what you discover.
If we are to be made whole, we must ponder these things in our hearts and minds. We have spent enough time examining our differences. Maybe we should investigate our similarities?
Besides, Men were NEVER from Mars. Women were NEVER from Venus.
