Hey, thanks to those who offered their readings of Galatians 6…very helpful for me as I ponder the imperatives of that passage. I’ll probably return to it but today I want to share something I just read.
I am an off-and-on lectionary fan and recently discovered John Stott’s Through the Bible through the Year. Listen to this from the Creaton chapter:
“So God created man in his own image…; male and female he created them.”
“Although our human disobedience and fall upset our human relationships, God’s intention is to restore and even deepen them through the gospel. Thus Paul could write tot he Galatian Christians, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nore female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’ (Gal. 3: 28) This does not mean that ethnic, social and sexual differences are eradicated by Christ. No, men are still men, and women are still women. But in Christ, when we are personally related to him, our sexual distinctives constitute no barrier to fellowship with God or with each other. For we are still equal before him, equally justified by faith, and equally indwelt by his Spirit.
Men and women in the Christian community should honor and value one another more than they do in Non-Christian society. For we recognize our status. We are equal by creation, and even more equal (if there can be degrees of equality!) by redemption.
Question to ponder:
What attitude do I have toward the opposite sex? Do I see a difference between Christian and non-Christian society?
Dear Lord, Creator, Maker of Heaven and Earth and Humans and Sexuality:
Please help us understand this fallen realm of what it means to be men and women and what it means to relate as such. Forgive us for treating one another as if we are not made in Your image. By Your Spirit and because of the work of Christ who redeemed us, transform our hearts and our communities so the most beautiful male-female relationships are seen in the Christian community. May it be so by Your might and love.
