The Role of Man Part II

With this post we are going to give some quick cliff notes to the role of man in church and then our greatest example found in Christ. Again, this is just a quick synopsis, so if you have questions or challenges, please feel free to comment and we can dig in further.

The Role of the Man in the Church

Look to 1 Timothy 3

The role of man in the church is told to us here.

The role of man that we see here is to be an overseer. This word is also used to mean, elder, shepherd. The word literally means: an overseer. a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent. The superintendent, elder, or overseer of a Christian church.

This cannot be a woman. Notice first, the many times the term “he” and the term "man" is used in the preceding statements. You will also notice that this man, is to be a husband of one wife. This is pretty specific, and never gives a hint of a woman being permitted to be a pastor or elder. If that isn’t enough, then also look at 1 Timothy 2:11-15 (this will be further explained in the post on the role of women) What I will say here is that the point is that Adam was the head of woman, he was the "firstborn", she was deceived, yet Adam was the one held responsible. This is very big deal, and we will again discuss this further when we look to the role of women.

Lastly look also to Titus 1:5-9

Notice the man must be able to exhort in sound doctrine, or instruct, encourage and strengthen by teaching doctrine and refute those who contradict.

How Does this speak to the rest of the men in the church?

This is all speaking directly to those who are the overseers, elders and shepherds of the church, but this is also speaking to all men. Paul told all of his followers to imitate him as he imitated Christ. So, we too, who are not elders, pastors and shepherds are called to imitate our elders.

Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.
Hebrews 13:7

Even apart from this, every man is to do just as every woman is supposed to do and that is to serve in the church.

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1 Peter 4:10

This is so important, especially for the men, because their family and wives are supposed to follow the man’s lead, and what better way to follow the husband and father than in service to the Lord. The ministry is not more important than the family but is also not to be replaced by the family or job. But these must work together.

Part of our devotion to God is our service to God. Part of our service to God, is service to the church.

Our Greatest Example

One of the biggest cries from people who hear teachings is, “Give me an example.” So I will give you the greatest example in all these things and that is Jesus Christ.

How was Jesus our greatest example in marriage? Although he was the head of the church, he did everything that was possible for them, even to death.

Who was the head? Jesus

What did Christ do for the church and his people?

We already read in Eph 5:25-27 that Christ died, sanctified, cleansed and presented the church.

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
1 Peter 2:21-25

The Bible basically says this to us men. “You want to be married? Then you must imitate Christ and how he handled the church when you look to your wife and family.”

It is a high calling, not a caveman calling.

Christ also shows us practically that he not only did all this out of humility but he also served the apostles:

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
John 13:3-5

What about our calling as men in the church?

Christ taught in the temple, he learned in the temple, and he refuted those who contradicted. Jesus was our ultimate example of knowing doctrine and refuting those who did not know doctrine from the Father.

Jesus is always our ultimate example in everything we do, there is no difference here.

Conclusion

This is a little different than the caveman mentality that is purported about Christians from other denominations and also the secular world, is it not?

The problem is that there are many jerks out there teaching the caveman tactics, instead of the calling of the man that is commanded in Scripture.

Think of this again. Here is the synopsis if you are a man:

You are to:

Be ready to die for your spouse
Be held in judgment for all the decisions of the house
Responsible for the spiritual growth of wife and children
Responsible for the salvation of the household
Responsible for the physical aspects of the household
Be leaders in the church
Know doctrine to teach, exhort, admonish and refute
Humble
Above reproach
Not self willed
Not quick tempered
Not addicted to wine
Not quarrelsome
Not Greedy
Having faithful children
Hospitable
Loving Good
Self controlled
Holding fast to the faithful word
Gentle
Peaceable

This is the calling of the man. You still going to hold on to the caveman approach of “Me in charge of woman!” or do you see the amazing example given to us by our Saviour, Jesus Christ?

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:5-8