Cheryl Schatz

Gaza,
You said:

but your next sentence “In contrast the very nature of “roles” brings division.”
Is where I am having trouble keeping up. I know we have mentioned it twice already but parenthood was a task given equally to both but with distinct roles within it. Neither the father or mother is any less of a parent but the father will never carry the child and give birth – that is simply the mothers role.

The carrying of a child in the womb is not a “role” but a function of the woman. There definitely are functional differences because of pregnancy, but the discussion is not on physical function but things that are not physical. Are there “role” differences that are not physically functional areas related to gender i.e. a “cook”? In the marriage who takes the “role” of cook? Does God determine who is the “cook” by designing the woman in such a way that the physical difference makes her the cook? Can we agree that some men love to cook and some women don’t love to cook so that the “role” of cook is not dependent on God’s design but on personal preference?

I do not think the fact that they are physical distinctions means they are any less intended by God and so I don’t think that they can be so simply dismissed. The main issue to me is if there are distinct roles in this part of the promise that are not precisely defined in the text (and it would seem that we agree that there are) how can you state so strongly that there are not similar distinctions in rule? Ie Is it not possible that both the man and the women are equally rulers of creation just as they are equally parents with different roles that are not defined in this verse?

Design differences are easy to pick out. For example which gender is designed to breast feed? I think that we can agree that when a baby is born, the baby will not likely survive by sucking on the nipples of the father so there is a design difference in this function.

However in the issue of “ruler” there isn’t any limitations listed that would deny a woman the ability to command a dog to obey or to rule over the earth. A woman too has the wisdom that makes her a good ruler.

The reason that I am able to say so strongly that there are no design differences in rule, is that God never limits the rule when He gives them both rule over His creation. When God makes a barrier the limits function, it is clear. There were limits to the foods that they had permission eat. But God gives no limit to the rule of the woman. When God gives rule to both without limits to either, then we can confidently say that the woman has no design that limits her rule in anyway that the man is not limited.

Ie Is it not possible that both the man and the women are equally rulers of creation just as they are equally parents with different roles that are not defined in this verse?

It is the absolute certainty with which you interpret 1:28 that leaves me feeling like I am missing something important.

When you say “equally parents with different roles” we can understand physical differences but what other “role” differences are there? The issues that I am specifically dealing with are issues where there are limitations that are restrictive. I am not saying that men and women do things exactly alike just as not all men do everything exactly alike. I am saying that God does not place restrictions on the rule that would stop a woman from exercising her God-given ability. Without restrictions (whether physical or spiritual) there cannot be a design difference in the command to be a ruler of the world.

If you can be more specific as to your concern, I can better understand how to answer.

Let’s take one last look at the verse that you said may include distinct “roles”.

Genesis 1:28 (NASB95)
28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

There is not a single thing in this verse that would “limit” the rule of the woman. She isn’t given part of the animals to rule and if we try to fill in the blanks and limit women because of what we think how God might limit women to restrict them in certain tasks, we are on shaky grounds.

I appreciate the questions that you asked me. If your questions haven’t been answered in the way you need, I would welcome you to refine the questions so that I can help with my answers.

Thanks!