As Christians, we live in a backward, oppressive society that often operates by the Law of Moses when it comes to gender expectations. When Adam and Eve sinned, one of the curses that resulted was unequal relationships and male domination. Although Jesus restored God’s original plan of equality between man and woman, the world still hasn’t gotten the message. It’s now up to us to spread the news that because of Jesus, the old, patriarchal gender roles have evolved to the point where they no longer apply.

God Made Men and Women Equal

The restrictive roles we see around us that limit women’s potential were never God’s idea. Both men and women have been made in His image, and they initially were created as equals. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:26-28). The fact that God used the plural, not the singular, term is significant. God’s use of the word “them” and not just “him” in describing mankind indicates that He was referring to both genders, not just the man.

While God was creating everything, He approved it all and said it was good, but when man and woman came on the scene, He declared it very good. This is because we were created to be in relationship with each other; God created Eve to help Adam, and so that Adam wouldn’t be alone. “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him...’ So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man” (Genesis 2:18, 21, 22, NLT). We all need someone we can talk to and fellowship with, and God knew that.

Male Superiority Resulted from Original Sin

God blessed both the man and the woman, and gave both of them dominion over the earth and everything in it. It’s important to note, however, that He did not give them dominion over each other. Male domination came about later, as a result of the sin that originated in the garden of Eden.

Forgetting this important detail causes an imbalance in Christian homes 

and Christian marriages. We all have the best of intentions, but wives can operate in blind submission to their husbands without either of them realizing that this doesn’t line up with God’s covenant of grace. God honors our faith, but an unequal marriage relationship isn’t His best for us.

Jesus Restored What Satan Stole

After God was finished creating, everything was fine until the serpent showed up. He saw the peace, joy, mutual authority, and co-leadership that existed, and decided to destroy it by twisting the truth and introducing doubt and uncertainty. “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die” (Genesis 3:1-3). There was only one rule in the garden; the devil used it to trick Adam and Eve, persuade them to eat of the fruit, and lead them away from trusting in God. Their decision ruined their relationship with God and with each other. “Then the Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.’ Then he said to the woman, ‘I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you’” (Genesis 3:14-16, NLT).

This is what the world experiences, and many people think it’s just the way relationships are designed. Thankfully, when Jesus came, He restored the abundant, superior, high-quality life that the enemy had stolen. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Jesus moved women out from living under subjugation and patriarchal mindsets and back into a place of dignity and respect.  

God’s Plan is Equal Authority for Men and Women

Knowing God’s view on marriage radically influences our relationships with others, and especially with our spouses. We no longer have to live like people used to live under the law. Marriage is an equal partnership, and no one is ruling over anyone any more. “In the same way you married men should live considerately with [your wives], with an intelligent recognition [of the marriage relation], honoring the woman as [physically] the weaker, but [realizing that you] are joint heirs of the grace (God’s unmerited favor) of life” (1 Peter 3:7, AMPC).

We as God’s people must move past the traditional religious teachings on one-sided submission by women. Understanding His purpose for all of us helps us shed the world’s restrictive gender roles. Applying God’s Word in this area allows everyone to grow into their true potential.