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This
little essay proposes to take a brief glance at the following questions :
1.
Why did God create "male and female"?
2.
What is the function of the "male"?
3.
What is the function of the "female"?
4.
What are the differences between "male" and "female" in the
Kingdoms of Nature?
5.
What are the human differences between "male" and "female"?
6.
What does the Bible say about sexual differences?
7.
Biblical types and anti-types.
8.
Notes
1.
Why did God create "male and female"?
It
may be something of a puzzle to evolutionists as to why there should be both
male and female of almost all life forms, and the problem is compounded when
they try to theorise as to how the sexes were differentiated through
trial and error and mutations - especially in the light of the fact that there
are thousands of different species, all of which have specialised organs which
seem to be designed specifically for reproduction. Also, mutations have
been shown to have no beneficial effect. In evolutionary terms, in most
cases, the mechanics of reproduction would have had to work perfectly within a
single generation, otherwise there would be no offspring. Another huge problem
evolutionists have is the fact that changes are not inherited because all
physical inheritance is carried by the genes, and genes never increase in
complexity.
The
Bible states clearly in Genesis that God created life "male and
female", without any direct explanation as to why He did this. Alternative
forms of reproduction could have been employed, because God is infinitely wise
and therefore capable of a vast number of alternatives, but He has allowed for
basically only two natural ways : 1. Sexual and 2. Asexual,
although there are some variations in a few minor cases. (We have no idea about
how all the animals and plants on earth reproduced before the
Flood. Because about 80% of the world’s animal and plant-life was destroyed at
that time, we have no way of finding out what other mechanisms God created.)
1.
Sexual reproduction
requires the union of gametes (such as eggs and sperm). A variation on this is
self-fertilization, which occurs in a few hermaphrodites, such as the tapeworm.
2.
Asexual reproduction
which does not require the manufacture of sex cells, or the necessity for two
parents. All asexual reproduction produces is clones, or identical copies
of the parent, so there is no potential for the life form to adapt to a changing
environment (i.e. Climate, predators, disease)
There
are two types of asexual reproduction : binary fission and budding.
Binary
fission
involves the parent splitting into two or more ‘daughters’, such as in
bacteria and the amoeba and sea anemones.
Budding
involves ‘daughters’ growing from outgrowths. Such as ice plants, cacti,
strawberries, willow trees, and a wide range of other plants. Ferns and mosses
reproduce by spores (see note below), and many plants use runners, rhizomes,
bulbs and corms to make copies of themselves. Also see sucker shoots, produced
from roots, as in the creeping thistle, or tubers, as in the yam and potato.
Spores
are small reproductive bodies, usually consisting of one cell. A spore does not
have to fuse with another cell in order to develope into a copy of its parent.
Horticulturalists
depend on asexual reproduction in plants to produce huge numbers of new stock
for planting. Prunings can be placed in a suitable medium and soon roots will
grow - for example the photinia and rose. Harvesting of tubers (potatoes),
lateral growths (as in strawberries, bamboo and clover), and bulbs (as in
daisies, daffodils and so on) can produce an infinite number of exact copies of
the original plant.
It
is interesting to notice in passing that the evolutionary theory relies
heavily on sexual selection for an increase in ‘fitness’, whereas
the truth is, there is no noticeable increase in an animal’s ‘fitness’
beyond a certain point. In other words, the biggest, and most handsome male will
never be any bigger or more handsome than a certain limit, which is determined
by its genes. Unless new information is added to the genes, which never happens,
all sexual selection does is help an organism find its best, or maximum level.
Sexual
selection is one of the supporting pillars for ‘natural selection’ but both
areas of the theory depend totally on an increase in genetic information, which
never happens. This means that the plants and organisms which we have today are
basically the same as the original plants created by God.
But
as to the question, why God created "male and female", the most
obvious answer is "to produce offspring", but perhaps this is too
easy? Nothing God does is ever so simple as to have only one answer. God’s
wisdom is multi-layered, so we should therefore expect to find several good
reasons for sexual differences.
The
rule of First Mention - that is, beginning at the first mention of a subject in
the Bible - shows that the expression "male and female" is
inextricably tied to the exression "the image of God". This shows that
God portrays Himself as both male and female, although what the full
implications of this are is beyond the scope of this essay. It is clear however
that God is both male and female, since the two aspects must be presented
together to give a full picture of something true about God. The original male
and female which God created were perfect in every way - not fallen, so the
original presentation of humans - both male and female - must have been a
profound revelation by God of Himself. Unfortunately because of sin, this
"image" was subsequently marred, but not destroyed completely. Men and
women today, no matter how degraded physically, still represent in some way the
original creation by God.
"So
God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male
and female created he them". Genesis 1:27
"Image"
means "likeness" or "shadow" or "similitude".
Because it was Elohim (the 2nd Person in the Godhead, the pre-incarnate Son) who
created Man, therefore Man had some similarity to Elohim’s physical form.
(Col. 1:15, Heb.1:3, Rev.3:14, 1Cor.11:7). Logically, if God the father,
Jehovah, had created Man in His image it waould have been a nonsense, because
God is spirit, and therefore has no physical form - John 4:24, Romans 1:20,
"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every
creature:" - Col. 1:15, "Now unto the King eternal, immortal,
invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever."
1
Tim. 1:17
There
is no reason given for the fact that animals and plants are largely male and
female, but it may be that God created a descending order of authority when He
first began the world, with Himself at the head, then the man at the head of the
woman, and so on down the scale from the more complex to the least complex life
forms, with each level of life reflecting in some way the original pattern. This
may be mere conjecture, but what is true is the fact that we can learn a lot
about God by studying Nature. Nature is interdependent, symbiotic and even in
its fallen state, a total harmonious system. In fact, there is a theory going
about which says that the entire earth is one huge living, and self-regulating
organism. This would not be surprising, if God created the planet, as we would
expect Him to design into everything He made some sort of interelatedness.
When
Jesus was challenged on the matter of marriage, he said : "Have ye not
read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female
. . . For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to
his wife, and the two shall be one flesh?" Matthew 19:4,5 and Mark
10:6. The point being that in some way the male and female aspect of humans can
fufil some divine harmony when they are brought together in a monogamous
heterosexual relationship. The "one flesh" principle is not just a moral
one, it also reflects in some way the organisation within the Godhead, though it
is hardly likely that this would ever be presented to homosexuals or lesbians as
a valid argument against their behaviour!
So
it seems that "male and female" in animals and plants has a lot to do
with truth about the Living God. In the case of humans it comes even closer to
telling us something about Him.
2.
What is the function of the "male"?
Biologically,
to be "male" simply means being able to produce spermatazoa for
fertilizing an ova. In the Plant kingdom it means having a stamen, which is an
organ which produces pollen. If this was all being "male" meant, there
would be very little to add, and sadly, in a dehumanised society, there are
people who reduce the function of men to about the same level as machines with
only one purpose. As with all of satan’s lies, the great things and the
glorious things of God have been degraded and ruined, but God’s Word continues
to teach the truth regardless.
Males
without blemish.
All
through the Old testament, God repeatedly commands that people bring to Him
sacrifices of animals - males, and all without blemish. All these
sin-offerings prefigure the coming of the One Final Offering for sin, who was
the Perfect Male. References include :
Leviticus
1:3 "If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a
male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at
the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD."
Leviticus
1:10 "And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the
goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish."
Leviticus
3:1 "And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it
of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without
blemish before the LORD."
Leviticus
3:6 "And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the LORD be
of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish."
Leviticus
4:23 "Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he
shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish:"
Leviticus
22:19 "You shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of
the beeves, (cattle) of the sheep, or of the goats."
And
when Jesus was born, the Bible takes us back to the Old testament Law again, and
applies it to the Son of God. "And when the days of her purification
according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem,
to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male
that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) Luke 2:22,23. The Law
says : "All that opens the matrix is mine; and every firstling among thy
cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male. Exodus 34:19)
On
Passover night, God said : "Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male
of the first year: you shall take it out from the sheep, or from the
goats:" Exodus 12:5
As
a picture of Christ, the "lamb of God" who came to die for Israel,
this male had to be without blemish - that is morally pure. Jesus fulfilled this
- morally, but he did not fulfil it physically, since he inherited a fallen body
through his mother. He was tired, he hungered, he thirsted all things which God
cannot do.
There
must be something significant about the way God consistently presents Himself as
male. Jesus gave us full and complete name of God : "Go therefore, and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" Matthew 28:19
Jesus
also called his followers (later known as Christians) "the children of your
Father" Matthew 5:45
Christians
are told : "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in
heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48 and they are told to pray : "Our Father
. . ." Matthew 6:9
Matthew
10:19 And when times of persecution come, Jesus said : "take no thought how
or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what you
shall speak. For it is not you that speaks, but the Spirit of your Father
which speaketh in you. Matthew 10:20. This implies that the whole Godhead is
male.
It
is the male which takes predominance in the Bible genealogies. People are
usually called "the son of" and the name of the father follows.
Christians
are said to be the Father’s children because it is the father, or male,
which takes the initiative to produce the offspring. Pollen or sperm, or
spiritual power, all go out to the female to bring about fertilization. The
female becomes the vessel in which the offspring are formed, and usually from
which the offspring come. This means that people are like female spiritual
entities, with the potential to be fertilized spiritually by God. This is why
the Church is called the Bride of Christ. This is why Jesus picked male
disciples to start the Church with. This is why the Bible forbids women to be
priests. This is why God should never be addressed as "Mother".
When
it comes to the Church, the same principle operates. God creates a new child
spiritually when a person receives Jesus. The "new birth" occurs (John
3:3) and people who were once spiritually cut off from God, are adopted into His
family as true sons and daughters:
"For
you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received
the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father". Romans 8:15
Another
way of expressing this is through the word "begotten" which can
mean either "resurrected" or "birthed".
"For
though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have you not many
fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel".
1 Corinthians 4:15
"Whoever
believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that
loves him that begat loves him also that is begotten of him". 1 John 5:1
(i.e. Every person who loves the father, loves the Son).
So
the function of the male works on several levels. First biologically as a type
of Jesus, Secondly as a principle of creation, since it is the male which is the
progenitor of new life, and thirdly as a picture of the spiritual new birth,
where the Father produces His own family the Church. As with all types and
illustrations, they must not be stretched too far, because they all fail at some
point to tell the whole story.
3.
What is the function of the "female"?
"So
God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and
female created he them." Genesis 1:27
We
need both male and female to understand something rue and balanced about
God. Just as we need two sides to a coin to actually have a coin, so we
need to see the female as well as the male to have a true picture of God.
Biologically,
it is the female which, according to the dictionary, is the
"offspring-bearing sex". In plants she is the fruiting body. In
animals she carries the young and gives birth to them. In humans
the woman has a huge and complex task, because she not only bears, nurtures and
raises the offspring, but she is also expected to relate in the correct way to
her offspring, and to her husband who shares in this work. In all these areas
she is a picture of how the Church ought to relate to God - the Husband, or
Bridegroom.
When
we looked at the sacrifices of the Old testament, in regard to the male, we saw
that the male had to be without blemish. The female also had to be without
blemish, because God created male and female - both aspects of Himself, and
therefore aspects of the Messiah.
"And
if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd;
whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish
before the LORD". Leviticus 3:1
"And
if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the LORD be of the flock;
male or female, he shall offer it without blemish. Leviticus 3:6
"Or
if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his
offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which
he hath sinned." Leviticus 4:28
"And
if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without
blemish". Leviticus 4:32
Because
male and female both reflect God’s image, God forbade images of either :
"Lest
ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any
figure, the likeness of male or female" Deuteronomy 4:16
Jesus
confirmed original creation when discussing marriage :
"But
from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female".
Mark 10:6
When
Adam and Eve sinned, it was the woman’s "seed" which God said would
be at enmity with Satan’s "seed". "And I will put enmity
between you (Satan) and the woman, and between your seed (your followers) and
her seed (the Messiah); it (her seed, Jesus) shall bruise your head (i.e. kill
you), and you shalt bruise his heel (i.e. badly injure him)". Genesis 3:15
This
was a prophecy of the coming of Jesus, who was, after many generations, the seed
or offspring of the woman. When Jesus returned to heaven, He gave the Holy
Spirit to believers, and they also became the offspring, or seed of the woman.
God’s family is also God’s fruit. The Church is the result of a great
preparation, planting, fertilizing and harvesting process, which is why
agricultural terms are used so often to describe spiritual things so often.
The
Old Testament law about adultery is relevant here. As Jesus said
"And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she
committeth adultery". Mark 10:12. In the physical, moral realm God
considers it adultery, a sin punishable by death under the Law, but then this
same principle is lifted into the spiritual level, because when a Christian
mixes false teaching, or immoral living with the pure Christian teaching, or
lifestyle, they are said to be adulterers too.
God’s
Word carries the same teaching in many different ways. The threads of each
separate truth wind around each other (like a plant), overlapping and linking,
repeating and emphasising, like music), as the sounds of a great symphony, with
all the instruments playing in harmony produce a single sound made of many.
"For
the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
Neither
was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man".1
Corinthians 11:8. This makes more sense when we realise that God made Eve from
the rib (or side) of Adam, and in a similar way God did not come from the Church
(the Bride), but the Church came from God. The Church was also made for
God, and not God for the Church.
This
is explained further in Galations "But when the fulness of the time was
come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem
them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And
because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts,
crying, Abba, Father". Galatians 4:4-6. "Abba" means
"Daddy". It is usually one of the first words spoken by a baby to its
parents. This verse illustrates how God gave birth (in the sense that the male
produces offspring) to His own children - who call Him "Daddy" as very
young children.
4.
What are the differences between "male" and "female" in the
Kingdoms of Nature?
Apart
from the obvious physical differences, there are also behvioural
differences. In most of the ‘higher’ animals, it is the male which does the
courting. Naturalists have recorded the fact that the strongest, loudest and
most decorated males win the females, thus ensuring that the best genetic pool
is selected for breeding. (Artificial breeding of livestock uses the same
principle - i.e the largest animals are set aside for breeding, while the
weakest ones go to the works.) This rule, (called survival of the fittest, or
natural selection) which dominates the instincts of animals, seems largely to be
lacking in humans, who select their ‘mates’ for often quite arbitrary
reasons. Opposites as well as similarities attract.
God
seems to have a general rule for animals, but He has also created plenty of
exceptions. The general rule seems to be that the male is different in
appearance and behaviour from the the female. For example, as far as appearance
goes, the peacock male is blessed with a glorious tail, while the peahen is
quite drab by comparison. There is an obvious difference between seals and
sea-lions. Male elephants are usually larger than female elephants. Roosters and
hens, lions and lionesses, lyrebirds, and so on. Behaviour also varies,
especially at courting time, but then again, wherever the ‘rule’ is seen,
there is often an exception. Sometimes it is the male which sits on the eggs, at
other times it is the female which does most of the hunting. It is very
difficult to find an overall, consistent statement to cover all male and female
animals because there is so much variety - and we have no idea what the huge
number of species were like which were destroyed by the Flood. We also have to
take into account the fact that Nature is now ‘fallen’ so much os what we
call Nature today is not how it used to be before Adam brought sin into the
world.
The
role of the male as husband :
By
reasoning from the Scriptures - and this is not an exhaustive list - we can see
a pattern into which the husband should fit.
Ruler
:
To
the woman God said : "and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule
over thee". Genesis 3:16
Lover
:
"For
the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church:
and he is the saviour of the body. Nevertheless let every one of you in
particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence
her husband". Ephesians 5:23
Decision-maker
:
"And
if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips,
wherewith she bound her soul;
And
her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he
heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul
shall stand.
But
if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make
her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she
bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her.
And
if she vowed in her husband's house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath;
And
her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and disallowed
her not: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she bound her
soul shall stand.
But
if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them; then
whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond
of her soul, shall not stand: her husband hath made them void; and the
LORD shall forgive her. Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul,
her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void." Numbers
30:6 - 14.
Maintainer
of the family line :
"If
brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the
dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in
unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's
brother unto her.
And
if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go
up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuseth to raise
up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my
husband's brother". Deuteronomy 25:5 - 7
Confidant
:
"The
heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of
spoil". Proverbs 31:11
Advisor
:
"Her
husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land".
Proverbs 31:23
Approver
:
"Her
children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises
her". Proverbs 31:28
Sexual
partner :
"But
as a wife that commits adultery, which takes strangers instead of her
husband!" Ezekiel 16:32
Guardian
:
"Then
Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public
example, was minded to put her away privily". Matthew 1:19
Sexually
clean :
"Nevertheless,
to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have
her own husband." 1 Corinthians 7:2
Considerate
(kind, caring, sympathetic, empathetic, etc) :
"Let
the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife
unto the husband". 1 Corinthians 7:3
Submissive
:
"The
wife has not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the
husband has not power of his own body, but the wife". 1 Corinthians 7:4
Faithful
:
"And
unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart
from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be
reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. 1
Corinthians 7:10,11.
"A
bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good
behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;" 1 Timothy 3:2
"If
any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused
of riot or unruly." Titus 1:6
The
role of the female as wife :
By
reasoning from the Scriptures - and this is not an exhaustive list - we can see
a pattern into which the wife should fit.
Faithful
:
"Therefore
shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and
they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:24
"Let
thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth". Proverbs
5:18
"Surely
as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt
treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD". Jeremiah 3:20
Fruitful
:
"Thy
wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy
children like olive plants round about thy table". Psalm 128:3
"He
maketh the barren woman to keep house, [and to be] a joyful mother of children.
Praise ye the LORD". Psalm 113:9
Godly
: (implied)
"Whoever
finds a (godly) wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the LORD."
Proverbs 18:22
Prudent
(sensible, careful) :
"House
and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the
LORD". Proverbs 19:14
Monogamous,
Submissive, Loyal :
"Nevertheless,
to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have
her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and
likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own
body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own
body, but the wife.
1
Corinthians 7:2 - 4.
"And
unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart
from her husband:" 1 Corinthians 7:10
Submissive
:
"Have
we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as
the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 1 Corinthians 9:5.
Virtuous
:
"A
virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that makes ashamed is as
rottenness in his bones". Proverbs 12:4
Wise
:
"Every
wise woman builds her house (works for the betterment of her home and
family): but the foolish plucks it down with her hands". Proverbs 14:1
The
virtuous woman - Proverbs 31.
"Who
can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
The
heart of her husband safely trusts in her, (confidant) so that he shall
have no need of spoil.
She
will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. (considerate)
She
seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands. (industrious)
She
is like the merchants' ships; she brings her food from afar.
She
rises also while it is yet night, and gives meat to her household, and a portion
to her maidens. (hard-working)
She
considers a field, (able to manage a business) and buys it: with the
fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
She
girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms. (looks ahead)
She
perceives that her merchandise is good: (has a high-quality standard) her
candle goes not out by night.
She
lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.(skilfull)
She
stretches out her hand to the poor; (compassionate) yea, she reaches
forth her hands to the needy.
She
is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed
with scarlet.
She
makes herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.(well-dressed)
Her
husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.(respected)
She
makes fine linen, and sells it; and delivers girdles unto the merchant. (business-like)
Strength
and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She
opens her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.(wise
and caring)
She
looks well to the ways of her household, and eats not the bread of idleness.(not
lazy)
Her
children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
Many
daughters have done virtuously, but you excell them all.(a good mother)
Favour
is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the LORD, she shall be
praised." (not vain about her appearance)
Give
her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the
gates".
Although
it would seem literally impossible for any woman to do everything in the above
list, the pattern is there for woman to aim at.
Spiritually
discerning :
"But
every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered . . ." 1
Corinthians 11:5. (Logically, if a woman’s head is covered, she may
contribute freely and on an equal footing with men in a Christian fellowship.)
Modest
appearance :
"In
like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with
modest behaviour (from "shamefacedness") and sobriety ( the Greek
means ‘soundness of mind’, or control of the mind and emotions); not with
broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;" 1 Timothy 2:9
It
is interesting how different these above standards are from those
depicted in most music videos, and by rock musicians both male and female, and
in the high fashion world, and by many of the men and women in television
movies. James Bond, for example, has all the attributes of an unsaved man - he
is sexually immoral, he kills and destroys at will, and his ‘gods’ are
looks, power, money and independence. The women who fall for him are usually
similar. The world admires the popular Bond image, while the Church, being
diametrically opposed to his values, is meant to be quite the opposite.
It
seems that the "good old-fashioned" values, practised by Christians
and non-Christians alike, are the best ones for creating a happy, stable world :
love, faithfulness, modesty,
fidelity, diligence, compassion, submission, godlinesshard work, chastity, and loyalty.