“The Two Shall Be As One”

There is much wrong in society with the male – female “power” dynamic.  There is a sad reality of male privilege.  There are still those who speak of female inferiority.  Some stress “the fall” as being “Eve’s fault.”  But our relationships should not be based on blame.  First of all, Genesis 1 tells us that ” . . . God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”  Both men and women are made in the image of God.  But then we are given an account on the means of creation. “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.  The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man’ (Chapter 2: 21-23).”

Here we can reflect on the observation hared with me by a rabbi.  “Eve was made not from Adam’s heel – that he might stand over her.  Nor was she created from his head, that she might rule over him.  But she was made from his side, that they might stand side by side as partners.”

But even this falls short of the full biblical guide to male – female relationship.  Paul writes in Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

I found an interesting quote in one of Dianne’s study journals that really captures this concept. “Eve came from Adam’s side, and similarly at the crucifixion Jesus side was broken, so his bride could be released from within also, that is us, His Church (Gene Edwards).”

The only power dynamic that should be in a relationship is that of love.  Relationship is not built on “might.”  It is not built on fault or guilt.  It is not built on earning power or social standing, but on mutual support, partnership, and love.  A love so great as when Christ laid down His life for His church.

Padre