What do Christians teach about the roles of men and women in a Christian family?

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What do Christians teach about the roles of men and women in a Christian family?

A family is consists of all the people living together in one household. In this case, it is made up of a husband, his wife and their child or children. A role is a part played by a person depending on what is expected of them or what they believe in. Although different Christians may have opposite views on family roles, they believe that both men and women are all valuable to God; “So God created man in his own image... male and female he created them”- Genesis 1:27.

        Many Christians believe that men and women have different roles in the family; they have the more traditional view. The Bible teaches equality of people, including the equality of men and women, “Paul said, <There is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, between slaves and freemen, between men and women, you are all one in union with Christ>”- Galatians 3:28. Therefore they believe that although men and women have different roles, they are unique to their gender and equal. In their belief, the man should go to work and earn a living to give financial support to his family, while the woman stays at home and looks after the children and home. Their interpretation of Ephesians 5:22-25- “Paul said, <Wives submit to your husbands, for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church. Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church>” may mean they believe that the wife should prioritise supporting her husband and children at home; likewise the husband should love and appreciate his wife - it’s a two way process. Another reason that some Christians believe that men and women should have different roles is because of their physical differences. Men are physically stronger than women; therefore some may believe that because of this, it is natural for the men to be the leaders. On the other hand, women give birth and breast-feed; it would seem logical that they stay at home and look after the children and house. The Bible teaching 1 Corinthians 7:3 recognises that men and women have differing roles: “Paul said, <A man should fulfil his duty as a husband, and a wife should fulfil her duty as a wife.>”

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        Other Christians however, hold an even more traditional view: they interpret the Bible’s teachings to mean that women are weaker than men and are helpers; “God said, <It is not good for man to live alone, I will make a helper suitable for him>”- Genesis 2:18. Because of this, some women choose to vow obedience to their husbands even though it is not obligatory; however, this option was not necessary for men in the first place: “Paul said, <A woman is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives>”- Romans 7:2. This belief emphasises the importance ...

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