This morning, I read a very interesting and thought-provoking article titled, “I Believe in Male Headship.” In the article, the author, Gilbert Bilezikian, takes a hermeneutical look at the passages in the New Testament that refer to “headship.” While I highly recommend giving this article a read, I can’t help but include an excerpt:
“When the New Testament metaphor of headship is understood generically and is protected from corruption by meanings foreign to the text, it describes perfectly the relation of Christ to the church and of husband to wife as servant life-givers.”
This article encouraged me to think (as well as an another article “Toward an Understanding of Ancient Conceptions of ‘Head’” by Catherine Clark Kroeger), as much as I am able, outside of myself and look at Scripture which reflects the character and virtue of God. When I consider the Savior’s passion for the world through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, I can’t help but be overcome by the beautifully perfect expression of love…an expression of love that we are invited to participate in.
Through the ancient texts of the New Testament, I’m reminded, that a full expression of love…
…never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.–1 Corinthians 13:4-7, The Message
In the context of this post, I was reminded that love is more about being with others, than it’s about being over another. It’s about uplifting, not suppressing. It’s about “caring more for others than for self.” That is the character of God.
