Ephesians 5:25 (NKJV) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.
The Bible lays out the difference between genders and their roles. Nonetheless, we must consider the position of wives carefully. On one extreme, there are cultures where women have no standing in the family and society, such that they are not even allowed to air their views or be seen in meetings. Conversely, in certain cultures, there is a demand for equal rights and privileges and strong advocacy for individualism, which is a deathbed for many marriages.
Our environment and culture can influence our perceptions of roles and responsibilities in a marriage. Unfortunately, the roles and responsibilities dictated by our cultures and traditions might not be correct or in line with what the Bible teaches. These different ideas, perceptions, traditions, teachings, and family practices are what lie behind many marriage challenges, especially in cross-cultural marriages.
If different expectations are not properly communicated, they can strain the marriage. Therefore, it is always better for the couple to discuss all the potential issues that they will face, using the Bible as a yardstick and guide, before they get married so that they will be on the same page.
A role is a position in which you are responsible for doing the work in that area to the best of your ability with the help of God. The man’s role is the husband and the father, and nobody can replace the husband or the father’s roles. The husband is also the head of the wife and takes on the role of a spiritual leader of the house.
The spiritual leader leads by example by bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit. He guides them to walk in the ways of the Lord in moral values and principles. He models the prayer life for them. He leads them to worship in a local church and participates in serving and running with the church’s vision. He models for them what a Christian marriage looks like. He shows them what it means to be a good steward of money and possessions.
The woman’s role is a wife and a mother. The wife’s role is irreplaceable as there is only one wife, and so is the mother’s role because only she can give birth, and nobody can replace, bond, love, and care for the children better than her.
With clearly defined roles and responsibilities, the couple will enter the marriage with an open eye and complete knowledge of what is expected of them. They will have agreed, and therefore, they will walk together on this journey towards the same vision.
Sermon Series：Before You Say I Do (Session 7&8)
明确角色和责任
以弗所书 5:25 你们作丈夫的，要爱你们的妻子，正如基督爱教会，为教会舍己。
圣经列出了性别的差别和角色的不同。然而，我们必须仔细考虑妻子的地位。在一个极端，有些文化中，女性在家庭和社会中没有地位，甚至不允许她们发表意见或参加聚会。相反，在某些文化中，女人要求与男人平等的权利和特权，并强烈提倡个人主义，而这是许多婚姻的致命弱点。
我们周围的环境和文化会影响我们对婚姻中角色和责任的看法。遗憾的是，我们的文化和传统所规定的角色和责任可能并不正确，也不符合圣经的教导。这些不同的想法，观念，传统，教义和家庭习俗是许多婚姻受到挑战的根源，尤其是在跨文化婚姻中。
如果夫妻双方没有妥善沟通各自的期望，婚姻就会紧张。因此，夫妻双方最好在结婚前讨论一下他们可能遇到的所有问题，用圣经作为衡量标准和指南，这样他们才能达成共识。
角色是指在上帝的帮助下你有责任尽最大努力完成该职位的工作。男人的角色是丈夫和父亲，没有人可以取代丈夫或父亲的角色。丈夫也是妻子的头，并承担着家庭属灵领袖的角色。
属灵领袖以身作则，结出圣灵的果实。他引导家人在道德价值观和原则上走在主的道路上。他为他们树立祈祷生活的榜样。他带领他们在当地教会敬拜，参与服侍和践行教会的愿景。他为他们树立基督徒婚姻的榜样。他向他们展示如何成为一个金钱和财产的好管家。
女人的角色是妻子和母亲。妻子的角色是无法取代的，因为只能有一个妻子。同样母亲的角色也是唯一的，因为生产只能由母亲亲力亲为，而世上也没有任何人可以取代一位母亲与子女之间的纽带，也没有比母亲更爱护和照顾自己孩子的人。
有了明确的角色和责任，夫妻双方将以开放的眼光和完全了解对方对他们的期望进入婚姻。他们将达成共识，因此，他们将一起踏上通往同一愿景的旅程。
讲章系列：步向红毯之前（第 7 和第 8 课）
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