Gender Roles: Titus 2

 

(Image courtesy of https://miro.medium.com.)

"But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.... For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions.... Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you" (Titus 2).

First of all, let me say the obvious: don't be mad at me. I didn't say it, God did. God is very clear in how he defines the functions of men and women. Today, however, we don't live according to the Word of God. It's not that the teaching isn't clear; it's just that we don't like it. Our culture has been influenced by feminism is so many ways that we can't help but be in opposition to God's Word. We need to be instructed in God's ways and have our thinking transformed (see Romans 12:1).

Let me be clear: feminist ideology embodies one of the greatest lies of hell and is one of the most destructive forces in our world today.

In our hyper-sensitive and progressive culture (AKA "our all-out rebellion against the truth of God"), we hate anyone who "puts us in a box." We live in an age of individualism, an age of "I can do anything, and I can be anything I want to be." We either embody this worldview and practice it ourselves or we are subtly influenced by it without knowing it. If the Adversary could, he would deceive us all. It takes great courage to stand by what God said and much more courage to preach his Word with conviction in the face of such opposition.

If you are wondering what I am talking about that is so offensive, let me be clear: God has designed men and women to function differently. That is to say, men and women have differing roles. While they are both equal in value and worth in the sight of God (i.e., "God created male and female, in his image he created them"), their functionality is distinctly different.

How so?

For one, in consideration of Titus 2, Paul instructs the older men to be "sober-minded," "dignified," and "sound in faith, love, and steadfastness."

Does this mean that women aren't supposed to be sober-minded, dignified, or sound in faith, love, and steadfastness? Of course not. But Paul just finished ordering Titus to set up elders according to specific criteria, which includes being a married man (Titus 1:6). His call for older men to embody these characteristics is purposeful. In order for men to lead well, they must strive to be godly and righteous.

There's one difference between men and women: headship. God created the man to be head over the woman; that is, to exercise authority over her in order to protect her, to provide for her, and to shepherd her. This has its roots in creation: "For Adam was formed first, then Eve" (1 Tim 2:13).

Likewise in Titus 2, Paul calls the instruction that the older women are to teach the young women as "good," which includes the explicit command to be "working at home." This is perhaps the single command that upsets people most these days. Our society views the home as second-rate and almost completely useless. In an age of expertise, our society outsources everything: child-rearing to the schools, family meals to fast food, self-protection to the government, etc. But God has established the home as the growing place for effective ministry (Titus 1:6), and the women are well-suited for the task of cleaning, cooking, and nurturing. This is not second-rate: this is primetime.

I once had an outspoken feminist student I taught. She was adamant about going to the university for eight-years to become a doctor. Then, after she had an established career, she would get married and have a couple kids. One of her reasons was that she wanted to help people. I challenged her: "But think about the people you could help if you took care of your home first. You'd have twenty-four hours a day, seven-days a week, to pour into people for approximately eighteen years. That's a huge impact!"

I think wives and mothers need to consider the home this way. It is a growing place to prepare people for God's service.

Paul calls this sort of teaching "sound doctrine" and he sets such sound doctrine over and against "ungodliness and worldly passions." Essentially, Paul is saying that to do the opposite of what God has commanded men and women to practice is to be ungodly and live according to sinful passions. These are commands to take seriously.

Furthermore, Paul relates the roles of men and women to the Christian's witness of God. In fact, his very reason why Christian men and women should operate in such roles is precisely because of the gospel to which we have been saved! In Titus 2:14, Paul says Christ gave himself for us "to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." Paul is saying that how we function as males and females matters, that we should be doing good works in our appropriate roles. Through these differing roles, Christ is purifying us and exalting his gospel.

There is so much more to discuss on this topic, but this will suffice as a primer to, hopefully, excite you and I to dig deeper into God's timeless Word to know him more. May God give us grace to serve him in our humble positions!

"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.... Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her..." (Eph 5:22, 25).