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The Kyrios dialogue has three characters. Paul and John are two conservative Christian men who believe they have authority over their wives. The Gadfly character is the Socratic questioner. The dialogue will focus on the nature of authority.
Paul: The preacher’s sermon was excellent today. It was an inspiring message right out of the word of God.
Gadfly: It sounds like I missed something good. What was the message?
Paul: He talked about an issue that is very important to the health of families. The sermon was about the proper role of men in the home. The preacher said that husbands have a God given authority over their families and that wives should be submissive to their husband’s authority. He encouraged husbands to start exercising this authority over their wives. In this way God’s divine order and purpose for the family can be fulfilled.
Gadfly: Having a proper order and purpose in life is a very exciting idea, especially if it is from God.
John: I don’t think my wife liked the sermon very much. I do not believe she will let me exercise my authority, even if it is from God.
Paul: A lot of families are like this and it is a cause of great spiritual harm. In my home, I am in charge. I can testify that when a man exercises his God given authority, things are much better in the home. As Christ is over the man, so man is over woman. John, you should just start walking in that spirit. God wants you to be the head of your family, it is His will. He will guide you and be with you. Just take the first steps of faith and be obedient to Him.
John: I understand and believe. It’s just hard to convince my wife. I do believe that a husband’s headship is vital not only to the health and well being of families, but to the whole nation. Part of the reason that things are as bad as they are is that the natural order has been forsaken. What you said, Paul is true. The Bible does teach that the head of man is Christ and the head of woman is man. A husband has a God-given role of leadership over his wife.
Gadfly: Are you going to try to implement this principle in your families’ life?
John: Yes, if I am going to be obedient to God, I should try.
Gadfly: If this is really a gift from God we should embrace it. But I do not know what this gift is, or how it is to be employed.
John: It is a very clear Biblical teaching.
Gadfly: I have been talking to a number Christian men lately, and they seem less than clear.
John: What are you talking about? Many Christians understand it. I understand it very well, even if I’m not acting on that understanding right now.
Gadfly: Then I'm lucky today. Before you, I have never talked to anyone who could explain the nature of a man’s authority over his wife. May I ask a few questions? I would like to understand it. And you seem to be the person to teach it to me.
John: Of course, go ahead.
Gadfly: You believe that men should express leadership over their wives. Correct?
John: Yes.
Gadfly: And all leadership carries some kind of authority?
John: Absolutely. The Bible says that wives should submit to their husbands. This most clearly shows that men have authority; and God gives this authority. It has also been the view of the Christian church for millennia.
Gadfly: For the moment I will be content just to know your view. In regard to authority, is it not true that all authority carries the power to make decisions? For example, a ship's captain has authority. But if the first mate had the final say in all decisions pertaining to the ship, what would become of the captain's authority?
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What do you think?
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