Phylicia Masonheimer is a national bestselling author, speaker, and host of the Verity Podcast. Her blog -
Does Being "the Head" of the Household Make the Husband More Powerful?
March 25, 2019
What does it mean for a man to be “head of the household”? Where does that even come from? Headship of husbands is a controversial issue. Headship is hotly debated in church and culture, often misunderstood, misinterpreted, and abused. But could headship be very different than what we’ve seen described thus far?
Before you get riled up at the very mention of this term, take time to read on. Biblical headship has been twisted, yes, but it’s worth taking time to see what the biblical authors – and God Himself – really meant when discussing this issue.
What Headship is Not
Headship is not power. It is not control. It is not preference, favoritism, or even special authority.
Headship is responsibility.
It is a responsibility given BY God TO man, creating an accountability relationship in which man answers to God for how he spiritually disciples his family. As I have pored over Scripture on this issue, I have searched for the best analogy to describe headship. The military captain doesn’t work, because this puts the wife in a rank “under” the husband, when we know they were created equal. The boss-employee analogy doesn’t work for the same reasons. What is headship if the man and wife are equal in the eyes of God?
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