The Beauty of Order in the Family of God
It’s not easy to talk about roles, order, and headship today. These words often stir suspicion, even pain. But Scripture doesn’t avoid them—and not because it’s oppressive, but because it’s offering something freeing and beautiful: harmony under Christ.
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul appeals to a divine pattern—“the head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” He’s not trying to stir debate but to ground the church in something greater than opinion or tradition: the very relational nature of God Himself.
Order isn’t a chain of dominance—it’s a structure of love. Just as Christ submits to the Father without losing his worth, men and women can honour one another in their God-given roles without fear, rivalry, or shame. This is what our world struggles to see: that authority in God’s kingdom is never for exploitation, but for flourishing.
Paul speaks into a real Corinthian issue. Their worship gatherings were being disrupted not just by bad behaviour, but by confusion about identity and honour. The challenge wasn’t cultural irrelevance—it was gospel distortion. And that’s still our challenge today.
In the church, and especially in worship, God invites us into a life where men and women reflect His beauty together—not in competition but in cooperation. We honour God when we reflect His good design, even if the specifics look different in different cultures.
If we listen carefully, this passage isn’t oppressive—it’s freeing. It shows us that God cares not just that we worship, but how. Because how we worship reflects the kind of God we worship: not chaotic, but ordered. Not grasping for power, but overflowing with love.
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
— Ephesians 5:21
Reflection Question:
What does it look like in your life to reflect God’s loving order—in your relationships, your worship, and your view of authority?