LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 304

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THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS­­—COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

304

The Creator’s Tapestry

Introduction

Scriptural Perspectives on Man–Woman Relationships
in Marriage and the Church

Imagine an eye-catching tapestry hanging on a wall. Its maker
uses two kinds of threads: warp threads and weft threads. Warp
threads are stretched on a loom, and weft threads are interwoven
through them. The creator of the tapestry is able to take these two
different kinds of threads and weave them together into magnificent patterns.
The biblical perspective on man and woman resembles a patterned tapestry, woven with multicolored threads both alike and
different. Within the Creator’s design, man and woman share a
common human nature. They also differ in significant ways. In
their sameness yet difference they interrelate beautifully—most
intimately within the one-flesh union of marriage. The Creator
“weaves” one man and one woman into a pattern that produces a
rich harmony to His glory and their good.
The physical and social sciences can provide helpful perspectives on the relationship between man and woman that Christians
can readily affirm. Recent research, for instance, indicates that
there are significant ways in which males and females have essentially equal abilities and tendencies. There are also strong tendencies among men and women to have differences in such things as
the emphasis each group gives to power versus values, justice versus relationships, and analytical versus process-oriented thinking.4
Above all, Christians want to hear what God’s Word has to say and
pray that the Holy Spirit will weave our relationships as men and
women into a God-pleasing tapestry.

Preface
The Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR)
of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has prepared the present
document in response to a 1995 synodical convention request that
the Commission “prepare a comprehensive study of the scriptural
relationship of man and woman” (Res. 3-10).
The Commission has completed a number of significant assignments since 1995 that address certain aspects of the scriptural relationship between man and woman specifically referenced in 1995
Resolution 3-10.1 Thanks to a grant from Thrivent Financial for
Lutherans, the CTCR was able to assemble individuals with various expertise and a common interest in this topic for a series of four
consultations on the relationship of man and woman. This process
enabled the collection and discussion of a wide variety of valuable
insights and opinions.
The Commission recognizes that this document does not fully
address many issues that can and should be discussed regarding a
Christian understanding of the relationship of man and woman. It
does not provide thorough answers to many specific questions and
concerns, including some of those raised by members of the CTCR
and its consultation groups.
Without in any way denying the importance of such concerns,
the Commission determined that it could not address all of them
fully in this study. This is a foundational document. Its purpose is
to provide the scriptural basis for the Christian understanding of
man and woman. In this document we have attempted to address
questions raised in 1995 Resolution 3-10.2 It is our prayer that it
will help to build consensus on the biblical starting point for addressing additional questions before us.
The Commission intends to continue the work begun here by
providing additional resources to address specific areas of concern
under the general topic of “Man and Woman in the Contemporary
World.”
Among the questions and concerns which could be addressed
are the following:
• the influence of culture on the Christian understanding of man and
woman;

• the study of passages and arguments often cited in support of both an

“egalitarian”3 view of marriage and the ordination of women to the pastoral ministry;

• the understanding and value of such ideas as “order of creation” and
“headship”;

• violence and oppressive behavior toward women in society, home, and
church;

• general and specific roles/responsibilities of men and women in variable contexts (society, home, church);

• the relationship of men and women outside the context of marriage;
• the significance of Jesus’ relationship with women;
• the Christian understanding of such contemporary issues as pornography, online relationships, “hooking-up,” and so forth;

• continuity and discontinuity between such theological questions as ordination of women and ordination of practicing homosexuals.

Such concerns must be respected and cannot be ignored. The
Christian faith has a beautiful vision of human relationships, particularly the relationship of men and women in Christ. That vision
is one to be shared with each new generation.

From beginning to end
As we consider the biblical perspective on man-woman relationships, we confront a difficult question: How do we organize
a wide array of biblical materials on a huge topic like this? The
Bible is a library of books written by many authors, inspired by the
Holy Spirit, and spanning different times and places. We have chosen to follow Scripture’s overall story summarized in the creeds of
Christianity. They speak of God’s dealings with His creatures from
beginning to end. In these creeds we confess the God who begins,
rescues, and restores His own creation through His Son and by His
Spirit. Thus, we want to consider the topic as follows:
First Article: God Creates Man and Woman
Second Article: God Redeems Man and Woman
Third Article: God Renews Man and Woman
This creedal outline is more than a convenient way to organize
the biblical data. Theological reasons underlie this arrangement.
First, the creeds focus our attention on what the Creator does.
Second, the very terms “man” and “woman” designate a created
distinction—without which we could not even speak of man and
woman in relationship to each other. In the beginning God created
man and woman in relation to each other. This is also true of our
personal story. Before baptizing us, God created us. He knit us in
our mothers’ wombs as a male or female. By beginning with creation, we acknowledge the foundational nature of God’s first actions.
Tragically, God’s good creation underwent a cataclysmic
change. Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, rebelled against
their holy Maker. This rebellion has had devastating effects on
all creation, including the relationship between man and woman.
Thanks be to God that He did not abandon them to their plight.
Out of His boundless mercy He reconciled all sinners to Himself
through Jesus of Nazareth, His Son in human flesh. In this way,
God also reconciled man and woman to each other in Christ. Baptized into Christ, they are together members of Christ’s one body,
the church.
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