God’s Superior Messenger (Part 3)

Lesson Two

God’s Superior Messenger

Heb. 1:13-2:4

 

Theme: Christ is Superior to the Angels as God’s Spokesman and Revealer (1:4). 

Therefore, we must seriously listen to Him, carefully obey His counsel, and diligently nurture the great salvation we have in Him. 

LESSON:

1.      What is our relationship to angels?(Heb. 1:13-14)

a.      Angels also minister to us who are the “heirs of salvation” through faith in Christ. The angels today are serving us!

                                                    i.     “Salvation” here probably does not refer to a believer’s past experience of regeneration.

1.      Most likely it is something future as both the context (v. 1:13, 14:2:3, 5, 10) and the words “shall be heirs” suggests.

2.      This “salvation” also describes the ultimate deliverance of God’s people from the oppression of their enemies (1:13; 2:14, 15) and their consequent enjoyment of God’s blessings (Psalms 3:2, 8; 18:2, 35, 46, 50; 35:3; 37:39; 71:15; 118:14-15, 21; 132:16).

                                                  ii.     No doubt these Hebrew believers were under external pressure. They had endured persecution in the past and were exhorted to not give up now (Heb. 10:32-36). Here they are reminded that the final victory over all enemies belongs to God’s King (1:13) and that the angels presently serve us who are destined to share in that victory, that is, to inherit this salvation.

b.      Angels serve us who are saved from the penalty and power of sin but yet not saved from the presence of sin, that is, we who are still on earth.

                                                    i.     This means there are “guardian angels.” We should not be surprised at this truth. It is certain there are evil spirits who wage unceasing conflict against God’s people (Eph. 6:12). Therefore, it is fitting that there are holy angels who watch over us who are called to full salvation.

                                                  ii.     Note the service of angels to the people of God in the following passages (Ps 34:7; 91:11, 12; Dan 6:22; 9:21-23; 10:11, 12; Mt 1:20; 2:13; 24:31; Lu 16:22; Ac 5:19; 10:3,4; 12:7,23; 16:26; 27:23).

                                                 iii.     But we must go back to the main point of the passage—not the existence of guardian angels, but the fact that angels are inferior to the Son of God just as servants are inferior to the Universal Sovereign.

2.      How is our relationship to God different from His relationship with angels?

a.      Believers are sons of God and joint-heirs with Christ, while angels are ministers to God on behalf of believers executing God’s will with excellence. Again angels will not reign and rule with Christ but forever serve Him while we will actually reign with our Lord.

b.      Because of the grace of God and the work of Christ, believers will be exalted above the angels.

3.      How is Jesus’ superiority to angels related to us?

a.      An Application (Heb. 2:1–4). Note the word “therefore.” It was this writer’s habit to apply what he said as he moved along. He interrupts the flow of his thoughts to make application, which in turn stimulates more teaching.

                                                    i.     What is the application of this initial presentation of Jesus as the ultimate Spokesman?

                                                  ii.     The purpose of Hebrews was to encourage Jewish Christians not to turn away from the faith. If these Christians were not careful, pressure from non-believing Jews or other influences could lead them away from Christ. Because Christ surpasses angels and other messengers of the Old Testament (1:1-3), the writer challenged the Hebrew Christians to remember Christ’s teachings and the Christian message -- what we have heard.

                                                 iii.     We must pay more careful and serious attention, therefore, to what we have heard from Christ (v. 2:1). We dare not ignore the message of a great salvation, which has been announced by the Lord Himself and confirmed by Spirit-given signs.

1.      The greatness of salvation is confirmed by three facts: it was spoken by the Lord; it was confirmed by the apostles; it was attested by the ministry of the Holy Spirit through miracles and spiritual gifts (see 1 Cor. 12:8–11).

2.      It is an age-long expectation that such manifestations of Christ’s glory will be ministered by the Holy Spirit in confirming the spread of the gospel (Mark 16:20; 1 Cor. 2:4).

This article will continue in the next post.... 

God’s Superior Messenger (Part 2)

 

Lesson Two

God’s Superior Messenger

Heb. 1:6-14

 

Theme: Christ is Superior to the Angels as God’s Spokesman and Revealer (1:4). 

Therefore, we must seriously listen to Him, carefully obey His counsel, and diligently nurture the great salvation we have in Him.

a.      Jesus is Superior as Deity (1:6–9). A third way in which Christ is greater than the angels is that He is to be the object of their worship, whereas they are His messengers and servants.  None of the angels are called God, and no angel is worshiped by his fellows. Yet Jesus is given the name of God, and the angelic hosts worship Him.

                                                    i.     He is worshipped by the angels (v. 6).

1.      When He came into the world, the angels worshiped Him. God commanded them to do so, which proves that Jesus Christ is God; for none of God’s angels would worship a mere creature.

2.      This passage could also look forward to the time of the Second Advent of Christ (Matt. 13:39–42; 25:31, 32; 2Thess. 1:7, 8) when the kingly prerogatives of the Son will be recognized with the public worship of angels (Ps. 97:7).  Jesus Christ must be God, because the Father commanded these angels to worship Christ. To worship any creature is idolatry, and God resents idolatry more than any other evil. Yet God here commands that the Lord Jesus Christ should be worshiped by the angels. This can only mean that He is God.

3.      In any case, angels are not to be worshiped (see Col 2:18; Rev 19:1-10). It is idolatry to worship any but the true God. We should not regard any spiritual beings, spiritual guides, intermediaries, or authorities as greater than Christ. Jesus is God. He alone deserves our worship. He alone should be our ultimate leader. The angels of God are wonderful, but they are inferior to the Son. They are His angels, they are His ministers, and they are His worshipers. They worship Him. He does not worship them.

                                                  ii.     He is served by the angels (v. 7).

1.      This is a quotation from Psalm 104:4. The Hebrew and Greek words for “spirit” are also translated “wind.”

a.      Angels are created spirits, note the word “maketh.” They have no bodies, though they can assume human forms when ministering on earth (Gen. 18-19; Judg. 6:11-23; 13:3-23). The emphasis is upon the variableness of the angelic nature. They are what they are at any time according to the purpose of God, fit for any special service by this characteristic.

b.      The point is that the angels are not merely servants, but of such a nature that God makes them according to the needs of His service—they are changeable, in marked contrast to the Son who is their ruler, and unchangeable.

2.      Angels at times served our Lord when He was on earth (Matt. 4:11; Luke 22:43), and they serve Him and us now (Heb. 1:14).

                                                 iii.     He is God enthroned and anointed (vv. 8–9).

1.      He is the eternal Sovereign; His throne lasts forever and ever. His kingdom shall indeed “stretch from shore to shore, till moons shall wax and wane no more.”

a.      “Thy throne, O God.” This is God the Father calling God the Son God! Do you want to deny that Christ is God manifest in the flesh? If you do, then may I say that you are contradicting God Himself. God called the Lord Jesus God. What are you going to call Him? I don’t know about you, but I am also going to call Him God. He is God manifest in the flesh. He is superior to angels because He is going to rule over the universe. He is the Messiah. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who is going to rule over the earth some day. –McGee, J. Vernon

                                                                                                                i.     In some false cults this quotation from Psalm 45:6–7 is translated, “Thy divine throne,” because cultists dislike this strong affirmation that Jesus Christ is God. But the translation must stand: “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever.”

                                                                                                              ii.     Angels minister before the throne; they do not sit on the throne.

b.      One of the main teachings of Psalm 110 is that Jesus Christ, God’s Anointed (Messiah, Christ), is now enthroned in glory. Jesus Himself referred to this important psalm (Mark 12:35–37; 14:62), and Peter used it on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:34–36). Our Lord has not yet entered into His earthly kingdom, but He has been enthroned in glory (Eph. 1:20). Our Lord’s throne is forever, which means He is eternal God.

2.      He is the righteous King (v. 8-9).

a.      The psalmist speaks of Him as wielding a scepter of righteousness, which is a poetic way of saying that this King rules in absolute honesty and integrity.

b.      His personal uprightness is evident from the fact that He has consistently loved righteousness and hated iniquity. This doubtless refers primarily to His thirty-three years of life on earth, during which the eye of God could find no flaw in His character and no failure in His conduct. He proved His fitness to reign. –MacDonald, William

c.      “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity” is a tremendous statement. Imagine this old earth being ruled by One who loves righteousness and hates iniquity!

3.      He is anointed with the most excellent joy.  When Christ ascended and entered the heavenly glory, He was anointed for His heavenly ministry with “the oil of gladness” (Heb. 1:9).

a.      This probably refers to Psalm 16:11, which Peter referred to at Pentecost: “Thou shalt make Me full of joy with Thy countenance” (Acts 2:28). What a joyful scene that must have been!

b.      Psalm 45 is a wedding psalm, and our Lord today is the heavenly Bridegroom who experiences “the joy that was set before Him” (Heb. 12:2). Angels praise Him, but they cannot share that position or that joy.

b.      Jesus is Superior as Creator (1:10–12).

                                                    i.     He is Eternal Lord (v. 10). Eternal and “for ever and ever” (v. 8) seems to point to unlimited duration.

1.      Like the angels (who are immortal, not knowing birth or death as we do) Jesus will outlast the universe; He is eternal (Rev.  1:4–8; 11:17; 22:13).

2.      Unlike angels, however, He was there “in the beginning” when He laid the foundations of Creation. Angels change and grow in knowledge as the centuries unfold God’s plan, but Jesus remains the same; as God He knows all (Ps. 119:152).  But all of this suggests Christ’s past eternality.

3.      Note also the Father is addressing the Son as in verse 10 as “Lord.” 

a.      … God here in verse 10 addresses His Son as Lord, that is Jehovah. The conclusion is inescapable: the Jesus of the NT is the Jehovah of the Old. –MacDonald, William

b.      The context of Ps. 102, from which these verses are taken, clearly indicates that the LORD is the One who would appear in the future to Israel and the nations (see Ps. 102:12–16). Thus the psalm can only refer to Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, the only One who would become incarnate. Jesus is God become man. –Nelson Study Bible

c.      Acts 4:33; 16:31; Luke 2:11; Acts 9:17; Matt. 22:43–45. It is true that this term is used of men, e. g., Acts 16:30—“Sirs [Lords], what must I do to be saved?” John 12:21—“Sir [Lord], we would see Jesus.” It is not used, however, in this unique sense, as the connection will clearly show. In our Lord’s day, the title “Lord” as used of Christ was applicable only to the Deity, to God. … So when the New Testament writers speak of Jesus as Lord, there can be no question as to what they mean.”—Wood. –Evans, William

d.      The Son, then, is Lord and has created both earth and the heavens (Heb. 1:2).  The unchangeable and eternal power and majesty of the Son, spoken of in verses 11, 12, find their basis in the fact that He is the One who laid the foundation of the earth and fashioned the heavens.

                                                  ii.     He is the Changeless Creator (vv. 10–12). This long quotation comes from Messianic Psalm 102:25–27; it presents the Lord Jesus in his Creative work and in his final triumph.

1.      The angels did not found the earth, for they too are a part of creation. Jesus Christ is the Creator, and one day He will do away with the old creation and bring in a new creation. Jesus stands alone as the unchangeable One among changing things in a changing world.

2.      Everything around us changes, but He will never change. He is “the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8). Creation is like an old garment which will one day be discarded in favor of a new one.

c.      Jesus is Superior in Destiny (1:13-14).

                                                    i.     Christ is Destine to Rule as the Sovereign (v. 13).

1.      Here the writer sums up the function of the angels as compared to that of the Son. He is the highest dignity, a co-ruler with God. They are His servants, appointed to minister to the heirs of redemption. –Wuest, Kenneth S.

2.      Again, Psalm 110:1 is quoted. The fact that Jesus Christ is now at the Father’s right hand is mentioned many times in the New Testament (see Matt. 22:43–44; 26:64; Mark 16:19; Acts 2:33–34; Rom. 8:34; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3, 13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22). This signifies a position of highest honor and limitless power. This reality will be manifested in the earth in the Millennial Age.

3.      No angel was ever invited to share the rule of the universe as God’s equal. But for God to picture Jesus “on My right hand” indicates that Jesus shares God’s rule even now.

a.      In every way Jesus is superior—and thus it must be that the revelation He brings, and the salvation He offers is superior to the fragments offered in the Old Testament. There is no need to look elsewhere.

b.      In Jesus we have the whole truth—and in Jesus the best possibility of being made whole.

4.      To have all one’s enemies as a footstool signifies universal conquering and comprehensive dominion. Psalm 110 is used to highlight the final victory of the Son over all His enemies. If the Son is to have an eternal throne (Heb. 1:8), such a victory obviously must transpire. But the victory is His and not the angels. Their role, by contrast, is to serve those who will inherit salvation.

                                                  ii.     Angels are Destine to Minister as the Servants (v. 14).

1.      Angels are the ministering spirits who serve the Lord seated on the throne. The mission of the angels is not to rule but to serve. They are spirit beings whom God has created to minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation.

a.      To be “heirs of salvation” (1:14) includes reigning in the throne with Christ for faithful believers; it is the potential share in the Son’s triumphant dominion, in which He has “fellows” (Heb. 1:9) or companions (Rom. 8:17, 18; Gal. 3:7,9,29; Js. 2:5).

b.      The Lord Jesus Himself, while on earth, spoke much of His future kingdom and the participation of His faithful followers in that reign (Luke 12:31-32; 22:29-30).

2.      It would be impossible to do away with the evidence presented in these quotations. Jesus Christ is greater than the angels, and this means He is also greater than the Law which they helped deliver to the people of Israel.

 

To be continued in the next post.... 

Gender Wars and Battles of the Sexes

 

God Created Two Genders—Male and Female

Genesis 1:26-28, And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. ²⁸ And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

This article is concerned with the matter of two genders as the subtitle states, and to visit some of the difficult issues that fuel the battles between the sexes. Yes, I am very aware of highly educated folks claiming there are 63 genders. Some also insist there are about five sexes suggesting a distinction between gender and sex. Truly the disagreement and confusion among those who spout such ideas is more than a mathematician can calculate! I promise not to waste valuable time rehearsing these baseless and truly unscientific notions here. There are enough PhDs out there trying to make a name for themselves exploring something new…different or…full on weird. Biblically speaking, humanity is male and female as the Creator intended and nothing explains this patiently obvious reality better than the Word of God. The Lord Jesus states this at least four thousand years after creation, “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female” (Matt. 19:4). With this in mind, let us explore this concrete idea that God created two genders—male and female. Then we will look honestly at some precepts of peace in marriage that could end the wars.   

Clearly the Genesis chapter 1 passage gives attention to the origin and roles of the sexes. It explores two questions, “Why did God create two sexes? And the second question is, “Can men and women be equal and yet have different roles?” The fact that God created humanity male and female is self-evident and clearly stated in Genesis 1:27. There is zero notion of an evolutionary process as this is presented as a direct and deliberate origination of humanity. It is also mentioned in Genesis 5:1-2 where Moses asserts that male and female bear the image of God. Male and female shows God’s image in (1) harmonious interpersonal relationship, (2) equality in personhood and importance, and (3) difference in role and authority (Grudem, 1994, p. 454). Four major sub-divisions of the subject of male and female may be addressed here: (A) personal relationships, (B) Equality in personhood and importance, (C) Differences in roles, and (D) the application to marriage. It is beneficial to look at each of these separately.

The personal relationships between male and female tells us that God did not create humanity to live in isolation, but in relationship (Gen. 2:24). Because people bear the image of God, they can enjoy interpersonal unity in different relationships and society. In fact the interpersonal relationships of human beings mirror the fellowship that exists within the company of the Trinity.  Healthy human relationships can show the unity, harmony, and fellowship that exist in the Trinity. This reflects the plurality of Persons as in the Trinity also (Jn. 17:5, 24). So marriage to some degree is designed to illustrate the enduring and harmonious relation in the Trinity (Mal. 2:14-16; Rom. 7:2). This is just one way the Trinity can be reflected in human life.

God’s design of equality in personhood and importance should also be pointed out. Just as the Persons of the Trinity are equal in their full existence and distinct Persons, so it is with men and women. They both are equal in personhood and importance. Male and female are created equally in God’s image and both reflect the character of God (Gen. 1:27; 5:1, 2). The Bible repeatedly emphasis this equality in personhood and importance regarding both sexes (Proverbs 31; Acts 2:17-18). Both are worthy of honor and respect and each individual should be thankful to God for what he made them. In New Testament times, the Lord Jesus was an outstanding advocate of this equality as evidenced in his teachings, illustrations, ministry, and actions toward women. Both are valuable and gifted members of Christ’s body (1Cor. 12:7, 11). Paul in Galatians 3:27, 28 clearly articulates this reality of equality in the church.

Equality, however, does not eliminate the differences in roles laid down in the Scriptures. In the Trinity, the Father has the greatest authority in spite of the fact that He shares equal personality with the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Clearly there are different and non-interchangeable roles within the Godhead. In marriage there must be recognition of authority and submission. Men are granted headship and the responsibility to lead and wives are responsible to submit and follow (1Cor. 11:3).  Also in this connection, there is biblical evidence for the existence of this distinction even before the fall of man. It is not a consequence of the fall, but it is hampered by the fall (Gen. 3:16). This can be substantiated by several observations. First, Adam was created before Eve (Gen. 2:7, 18-23). Secondly, Eve was created as Adam’s help meet or helper and not the other way around (Gen. 2:18). Thirdly, Adam named Eve thus signifying authority over her. Fourthly, God named the human race “Man” and not “woman.” Then fifthly, the serpent came to Eve first to undermine the marriage (Gen. 3). Sixth of all, God addressed Adam first after the fall and not Eve (Gen. 2:15-17). The seventh observation shows that Adam represented the human race and not Eve (Gen. 3:6; 1Cor. 15:22, 49). Eighthly, the curse because of the entrance of sin brought about a distortion of roles and not the introduction of new roles (Gen. 3:16, 18, 19). The woman would desire to rule her husband and the husband would rule over his wife with harshness and insensitivity. This is the consequence of sin. Then lastly, redemption in the Lord Jesus Christ reaffirmed the order of creation (Col. 3:18, 19; Eph. 5:22-33; Titus 2:5; 1Peter 3:1-7).

There are several noteworthy implications for the roles of men and women contained in the phrase “help meet for him” (Gen. 2:18). The first is the stated fact that it is not good for man to be alone (Gen. 2:18) and after God created Eve and brought her to Adam, God viewed this as very good (Gen. 1:31).  The implication is that man is a social creature designed so by God.  In light of this the term help meet means a helper “fit” or “suitable” or even “face to face” to him.  Some define it as ‘corresponding to’ the man. Thus Eve is not merely a helpmate, but a companion who would fulfill the social needs of Adam. 

In this connection, it should be recognized that Ephesians 5:21-33 do not teach a universal mutual submission among Christians as some have concluded. No, Ephesian 5:21 teach us to be submissive to others in the church who are in positions of authority over us. The context and the following verses (Eph. 5:22-6:9) show this to be the correct understanding of the verse. Spirit-filled wives will be submissive to their own husbands, and Spirit-filled children will be submissive to their parents, and Spirit-filled servants will be submissive to their own masters. This order is never reversed, nor diluted by a false idea of mutual submission.

How should we refute the cultural argument against the interpretation of roles in Ephesians 5 and 6? The cultural argument against sound interpretation of the roles prescribed in Ephesians 5 and 6 can be refuted in several ways.  First Paul’s instructions in this passage clearly are enduring; there is no statement or even hint of them becoming obsolete during this present age in God’s economy.  Some may argue that just as slavery has been abolished, so God’s order has changed for women in today’s culture.  They purport that wives in the first century were to submit to their husbands just as slaves in Paul’s day submitted to their masters: out of love for God and their freedom in Christ.  When slavery ended so did the requirement of submission in the wife’s role. But, again there is no such statement in any of the principle texts dealing with marriage that teach God’s order for marriage would not endure. The command to submit to one’s husband is enduring.

Secondly, marriage is a divine institution started and ordered by God directly and throughout revelation he addresses it to influence its course. Slavery is not an institution ordained by God, but rather God sought to regulate it to ensure justice, fairness, and Christian propriety. Slavery is a human invention, but God sought to manage, police and control it to eliminate abuses.  Accordingly, it is the institution of slavery that has been abolished. Is the cultural interpretation advocating abolishing the institution of marriage? Perhaps not by intent, but arguably they indeed are in effect. The elimination of marriage would be the equivalent to the abolishment of slavery, not merely deleting the role of wives’ submission to their husbands. 

Thirdly, the wife is to submit to her husband as unto the Lord and just as the church is subject to Christ (Eph. 5:22-24). These verses present a correlation and parallel to demonstrate the wife’s role to her husband—the church’s submission to the glorious Christ her Head. The analogy will not tolerate manipulation or role reversals. Is Christ still the head of His church? The obvious answer is yes. To reverse the role of the wife to head would also advocate the church assuming the leadership over Christ. No Christian person is prepared to embrace or advocate such a ridiculous proposition. To advocate a change in principle marital roles is equally absurd. 

There will always be cultural influences that invade Christian thinking and disrupt godly values.  However we must not bow to popular ideas to accommodate the culture nor to placate our own desire to avert controversy. The command to submit is enduring, the institution of marriage is divine not human, and the irreversible nature of Christ’s headship over the church advocates a patriarchal society.

So how should the husband exercise his headship in the home? The manner in which a husband fulfills his role of headship in the home must be understood.  He is to love his wife as “Christ love the church” (Eph. 5:25) and “love his wife as his own body” (Eph. 5:28).  He must show the same selfish concern for her welfare that he exhibits toward his own person and is to “nourish and cherish” her just as his physical body.  On the other hand he is to have the same self-sacrificing love for his mate that Christ has for His bride, the church. When a husband is right with God and loves his wife biblically, he treats her in such a kind, considerate, and thoughtful manner that she finds it easy to respect and submit to him as “unto the Lord.” The husband’s primary goal is to emulate the love Christ demonstrates for His bride, the church.  This kind of loving is not just emotional, but an orientation, a chain of choices, a series of actions designed to bring about the wife’s well-being, happiness, and ultimate wholeness.

In addition, husbands are not to be cruel and harsh with their wives, but to love them as Christ loves the church. This certainly makes it easier for a wife to live in submission to her husband. Men are not to be tyrannical or passive. Both extremes drive wives to great frustration! Wives are not to usurp authority over their husbands. This will only buy her resentment and weariness! Wives are not to be totally passive either. Husbands should focus on loving, considerate, and thoughtful leadership in their homes for the glory of Christ. Wives should focus on active, intelligent and joyful submission to their own husbands as unto the Lord Jesus Himself.

Consider another related question…. Why is it important to have a balance in the number of roles played by a husband and wife? Honestly, it is important to have a balance in the number of roles a couple assumes as individuals. The multiplication of roles for both husband and wife will have an adverse impact on the marriage and the family. A husband may be father and bread winner along with a ministry in the church, or a second job or even a volunteer position in the community.  A wife may not only be a mother, and homemaker, but also serve in the church, or even in a PTA or other community functions. The truth is we can handle many different roles successfully, but problems arise when we devote too much time to one role to the gross neglect of others. There is also the possibility of becoming spread too thin; performing many roles but none very well.  Every husband and wife must understand their limitations regarding time, energy, strength and emotional endurance. Though there are many worthy causes, we must develop the ability to say no to many of them. This will allow us to manage fewer roles in a far more meaningful manner, and insure children and spouses receive a healthy amount of interaction. Again God created the sexes to complement each other and to mirror the relationship in the Trinity as the couple shows the image of God in them.

Is it true that “Conflict is inevitable in marriage?” Yes, I can honestly say that conflict is inevitable in marriage. This is true with most couples; confrontations will occur.  There may be disagreement on a certain subject that creates tension, quarrels, and even hostility. Such confrontations may serve a useful purpose in that they force the couple to deal with issues and face problems they otherwise avoid. Since conflict is inevitable, couples must learn how to work through them and develop their communication skills. Strong families have the ability or communication skills to resolve their differences. They are able to talk about them, to share their feelings openly, and come to a resolution of the problem.

Well…what methods may a couples use to solve conflict situations? Several methods could be employed by a couple in conflict resolution…many are quite obvious. Having certain guidelines for arguing may prove to be very helpful if the couple has the discipline to stick to them in the heat of battle. The first step is to get to the base of the issue or source of the problem. Then once the fundamental issue has been understood, then the couple must explore the motive. Is it an ego problem? Or is this evidence of an inferiority complex? Maybe it’s an attempt to strike back or seize control through some form of manipulation. Once the problem has been discovered and discussed, the couple can now explore viable solutions to permanently settle the issue.  In additions once the problem is solved it is not to be brought up again in future quarrels.

There are other helpful approaches couples could use with some success and hope.  For example they should avoid attacking the others personality. Being familiar with their strengths and weaknesses means we possess an arsenal of ammunitions to damage our mate. Do not succumb to this temptation! Another tactic is to realize that some times are more appropriate for discussing problems than others.  One should never air differences when others are present, when one is tired, or when hungry. These will only escalate the problem when better timing would have been an aid in resolution.  Some families tackle problems as they come up and others have a set family conference time to deal with such conflicts. One of the most important things a couple must learn is how to compromise when this is a viable option.  Sometimes a couple must simply agree to disagree, but genuinely respect the other’s point of view.  Differences can also be resolved by assimilation—accepting the view of the other.  Always bear in mind that many problems can be solve through careful analysis.  Conflicts will occur, this we can be sure of.  In light of this each couple must develop skills and procedures to overcome disagreements and conflicts.  Instead of these becoming destructive, they can be used as constructive vehicles of growth and enrichment.

As noted earlier, God created two distinct genders, male and female are created equally in God’s image and yes, both sexes reflect the character of God as individuals and in relationship (Gen. 1:27; 5:1, 2). Clearly, the verses we have highlighted here repeatedly emphasis this equality in personhood and importance regarding both sexes (Proverbs 31; Acts 2:17-18). Conflicts will occur and disagreements can be work through. The more the character of Christ marks us the more capable we will be at working through the wars and disagreements. However, the more we allow our fickle culture to influence our thinking the more conflict and disharmony will escalate. Again, the Scriptures insist that both genders are worthy of honor and respect and each individual should thank God for what he made them.