62 gengwall,

You said:

I also think that men are designed to be guardians and that is why Adam was given that responsibility. I think the activities above are guardian activities.

Was Adam given the responsibility of being a “guardian” because he was a male or because he was the first created and had more experience that made him eligible for the responsibility of “guardian”? Also was Adam’s responsibility to guard the garden or Eve?

I think godly men should try to succeed where Adam failed, just as our example, Jesus, has succeeded as the second Adam in all areas that the first Adam failed. We can’t be perfect like Jesus, but we absolutely should try to emulate Him…

The closest model I can think of for “head” in the biblical sense is the captain of a team. The team captain has no authority over the other team members. That is reserved for the Coach (Jesus/God). His position is only one of responsibility and service to the team. He does not have unilateral decision making authority, nor does he uniquely and individually do any team job. In fact, in reality, the captain is often not even the most skilled player on the team. But he does have a “guardian” responsibility and is expected to interceed, sacrifice, and serve on behalf of the others.

I can agree that a man is expected to sacrifice for his wife and he has a responsibility to her that should flow from his love for her, but I am not so sure that the term “guardian” would be appropriate. Does a woman need a “guardian”? Is she deficient in some area that she has a need that the man was created to fill? If she has a need to have a guardian, then she would not be able to fill the responsibility of a “guardian” (overseer) herself.

I see the text as God giving one person a responsibility because of the overwhelming revelation that had been given to him. I do not see that all men are made to be “guardians” or that women are not created to be a “guardian”. If I am wrong in seeing this as a responsibility given to one man alone because of his unique experience with God, then is there something that I have missed that makes all men “guardians”? Perhaps my own circumstance has blinded me, but I just don’t see it. God has given me gifts in the “guardian” area. I have been used by my previous church in a place of protection because I could see things that others did not. I have been consulted by pastors and my wisdom has been used as the determining factor for the protection of the church. I have never seen myself as going beyond the gifting and calling of God. I do believe that the wisdom and knowledge that is given to a person is to be used for the benefit of the body. I do not believe that it would have been right for me to remove myself from using my gifts just because I am a woman.

As far as your “model” goes, I can agree with it in principle without seeing men as a God-provided “guardian” for women. I do believe that women are more naturally gifted in nurture so they typically function with a sacrificial care. Men need to be prodded at times to offer themselves as a sacrifice for their wives because their nature because of the fall tends to be more selfish and “me first”. I believe it is a God-thing to indicate to men that they should be “first” in sacrificial love.