Forget the differences — be like Jesus!

“I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.” (1 Timothy 2:8-10 NKJV)

I’m fascinated by take on gender in the Bible; God always ask men and women to do that which seems the most difficult for them. Women are relationship-oriented and know the importance of loving others, so God tells the men to “love your wives.” Men, although they hate the thought of being hen-pecked or dominated in anyway by their wives, don’t have to be told to submit to them; it is the other way around.

These days, some would insist there are no gender differences, but how can anyone avoid that they exist? Men are generally more muscular from the waist up; women generally have stronger legs and wider hips. Men are generally linear thinkers; women think more like the way a computer finds information scattered all over a hard drive. I can think of dozens of examples.

In this passage, men need to watch that they do not compartmentalize their lives (women more readily see how everything relates to everything). God tells the men to keep every area of their lives clean and pure. They cannot cheat on their income tax or be lax at work and still expect to be powerful in prayer during a worship service. They cannot be angry at someone and push that aside while they worship God. They must not be hesitant to go to prayer because of doubt — and are reminded that sin in some area of their lives will produce that hesitancy.

On the other hand, women are more apt to preen for church. I get side-tracked by what I look like and what others look like. God tells me to watch that I don’t think appearances are the main thing, nor should I use the way I look to impress others. Instead, I am to be more concerned about modesty, humility and doing good. While God does not want me to ignore my appearance, my inner attitude is more important than what can be seen in the mirror.

The rest of this passage talks about the way women should learn — in silence and submission — which seems easier for men. I have a hard time being quiet during the learning process, and prefer discussion to lecture. I also have a hard time yielding to the thoughts and opinions of others. Of course some men also have this problem, and their need to submit is addressed elsewhere.

The point is, God knows what we are like and how our natural tendencies combined with sinful selfishness can get us into trouble. He asks both men and women to live differently, to curb what comes natural and live lives that require us to draw our ability to do so from the One who is supernatural. That is the greater challenge.