I’m blogging about nothing to do with the New Year. While I was catching up with people on a social media site, there was a photo of a husband reading the Luke 2 Christmas story to his family. Someone replied with this: “I can‘t truly express how beautiful this picture is. A man being the spiritual leader of his family.”
Sigh. Bang head against wall. Ouch.
So…apparently reading the Bible to your family makes you the spiritual leader? Thus if a mom/wife reads the Bible to her family that would make her the spiritual leader too, right? Uh-oh. According to some, a woman should not be the spiritual leader. Therefore, the mom/wife had better avoid all Bible reading to her family as she will be usurping her role and becoming leader! Yes, the biblical family following biblical roles will make sure the woman never reads the Bible to her family.
Would it be okay for the woman to read the Bible to her family if her husband hands her the Bible and tells her to do it? I suppose that might be okay. So, under the supervision and direction of her husband this would be fine. Or if the husband is not around and only the kids, would it then be okay for the mom to take the initiative and read the Bible to her kids?
If a man reading the Bible to his family elicited the response of “I can‘t truly express how beautiful this picture is. A man being the spiritual leader of his family” – shouldn’t the response to a mom/wife reading the Bible to her family also be “I can‘t truly express how beautiful this picture is. A woman being the spiritual leader of her family.” But no, I think not!! Rather it would be something like “oh how sweet, mom reading the Bible to the family.”
How is it that a man and woman doing the SAME thing
are NOT doing the same thing?!?! Help me out here.
Yes, I am being downright snarky! And don’t miss my point. It is certainly wonderful to see a man reading the Bible to his family! This is a good thing. But why does this have to be turned into some gender role issue or spiritual leadership thing?!
That’s all. Happy New Year!
Update, January 2020: This blogger delves into this issue in a deeper way. I hope you will read her thoughtful post:
In Search of Male Leadership: The Logical Inconsistency of Defining a Man’s Initiative in One Way and a Woman’s in Another
Enough Light 
I’m sniggering at the snark, but I hear and agree with your rant. Maybe it’s just because so many men are disengaged that the sight of a dad reading is a rare (and special/praiseworthy) thing? Snark away though. Snark away 🙂
I think you saw this before. Very fitting for your rant.
I did, and it is fitting. I hope some will follow your link. Yeah, that song Lead Me by Sanctus Real (referenced in your link) bothers me to – I usually change the station.
People can see what they most want to see, and in that commenter’s case what was wanted was a man in the role of spiritual leader. The tragedy in that, as you get to so well, Laura, is that it is a divisive gender issue that the Bible does not at all call us to adopt.
Rant and snark all you like, Laura!
Tim
Hi Tim, I remember that post and the amusing cartoon illustration. : ) Hope some people will check out your link.
Thanks Bronwyn, Lisa, and Tim for your gracious and understanding responses!
Laura, I agree: How could we, when a man and a woman do the same thing, call the man a spiritual leader and the woman not?
In fact, this blog entry is partially on that topic: http://biblicalpersonhood.wordpress.com/2012/08/08/what-the-man-should-be-the-spiritual-leader-did-to-me/
Thanks for this link Retha – for sharing part of your personal story, and addressing the spiritual leader issue. Do head over and read it everyone!
I like your point here: “In practical terms, that would be a man who knows more of Christianity and loves Jesus more than I do. Should a Christian man who wants to marry have a pastoral and teaching gift, as he should use this knowledge to lead his wife and children spiritually?”
Seems for a man to be the spiritual leader would indeed require a pastoral and/or teaching gift. But clearly all men do not have these gifts. Uh-oh, should this mean celibacy? Should all Christian men be tested at age 18 for spiritual gifting and marriage ruled out for those without the gifts to lead in their home? But I’m getting snarky again. : ) Thanks again for your comment and link.
What does it say about me that I felt better after reading your rant? Loved it!
Thanks Gail! : )