Walkie Talkies & Empty Couches-Part 3

Having set the stage, Paul moves on to discuss the importance of unity. Beginning in Ephesians 2:11, Paul sets the stage. He is talking here about the difference between the circumcision and the uncircumcision; between the Jews and the Gentiles. The Jews and Gentiles were from different camps. They had different traditions and beliefs.

Men and women also come from different camps so to speak yet God desires unity in marriages. We see this in Mark 10:7-9 which points back to Genesis 2. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” This call to unity is so much more than just our sexual relationships. It is a call to togetherness. A call to covenant.

Are you ever amazed by this? We are called to unity even though our nature is to seek after ourselves with all of our God endowed traits, personalities, and attributes. We are different, but God calls us to oneness. Men and women are biologically, and emotionally different from one another. Think about all the books that have been published on differences between men and women. Mars vs. Venus. Waffles vs Spaghetti. Snakes and snails vs sugar and spice. Beast vs beauty.

When Heather was first pregnant with Grace, I became profoundly aware of the difference between men and women. It was the finals of the women’s world cup in soccer and America was playing against China. A pinnacle moment in American sports. There were about 4 minutes left in the match. Heather came in and asked if I could help her with something. Now, I’m not a sports guy. I watch maybe one football game a year. I don’t watch any sports regularly. OK, so when she came in and asked if I could help, I said “honey, there is only 4 minutes left in this match. Can I help you afterwards?” She responded, “YOU ALWAYS WATCH SPORTS!” and she began crying as she left the room.

I can only presume it somehow related to changing hormone levels, but the only thing going through my head was what…just…happened and where is the wheel?

This one of those cases where I think there is Biblical agreement. There are examples in the Bible describing men and women. In I Peter 3:7, for example, women are described as the weaker vessel, for example. In Genesis 1, for example, it says “Male and female, he created them.” As a result of the fall, men and women faced different burdens. We are different.

Add to this the fact that we are each endowed with unique personalities. Human beings are not mindless automatons, all similar to one another. We are all gloriously different by God’s plan. Any parent of 2 or more children understands that God gives us each unique traits, interests, and abilities.

Take Heather and me for example. I tend to be more extraverted, decisive, and big picture. She tends toward introversion, contemplation, and detail focus. It is not at all uncommon for me to come up with some grand idea and when it is time for it come to get put together, Heather works out the details.

Despite the vast chasm between us, however, Jesus covers the divide. In Ephesians 2:14 Paul writes, “for he Himself is our peace, who made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.” So when we are feeling hostile toward one another, Christ is our peace. In all of our relationships. He tears down the wall.

OK, so we know that Christ loved us, that he is our peace, that he can break down the dividing wall, but what do we do, practically speaking?