First Principles Lesson 4 Lesson Text—I Corinthians 11:3-5 I Corinthians 11:3-5 3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. Lesson Text—I Corinthians 11:3-5 5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. Lesson Text—I Corinthians 11:6-9 I Corinthians 11:6-9 6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. Lesson Text—I Corinthians 11:6-9 8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. Lesson Text—I Corinthians 11:1012 I Corinthians 11:10-12 10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. Lesson Text—I Corinthians 11:1012 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. Lesson Text—Ephesians 5:22-25 Ephesians 5:22-25 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Lesson Text—Ephesians 5:22-25 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Lesson Text—Ephesians 5:26-28 Ephesians 5:26-28 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Lesson Text—Ephesians 5:26-28 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. Focus Verse—Genesis 1:27 Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Focus Thought God intended that there be a distinction between men and women. Each gender has its place and roles, but sinful culture has blurred the roles of the sexes. Culture Connection I. Viva La Difference Men and women are different! Have you noticed? Of those differences, someone observed, “Viva la difference!” Dr. Chad Brand, a Southern Baptist minister, wrote the following commentary as posted on the website www.baptist2baptist.net: “At our Convention in Salt Lake City, Southern Baptists declared as a body that we agree with Paul’s words to husbands and wives in Ephesians 5:22-33. Southern Baptists? Agreeing with the Bible? That might not sound very C. Sign of Submission startling at first, but there are Baptists who think Paul’s words in this chapter are a bit outdated. Some even reject his teaching on marriage outright, and have said as much in response to the Family Amendment to the Baptist Faith and Message.” Dr. Brand’s observations regarding Southern Baptists appear to be typical of modern culture today—across organizational and denominational lines. It seems that fewer and fewer people C. Sign ofwhat Submission understand Paul recognized as the incredible value of the complementary roles of men and women. The roles of men and women are not superior/inferior; rather, they are focused differently in ways that incredibly boost the effectiveness of marital partnerships! Men and women complement each other in powerful ways. Regardless of how politically incorrect the notion may become or C. Sign of Submission how outdated Paul’s words may seem to some people, God designed a superior plan for achieving powerful synergy through marriage. It may not be God’s plan for every man and woman to marry, but for those who do marry, it is always His plan that they achieve true partnership and synergy through their complementary roles. Contemplating The Topic C. Sign of Submission Our world desperately needs the solid foundation of the inspired Word of God. The challenges of postmodern, North American culture seem greater than ever. Contrary to biblical principles, the culture actively seeks to blur the line of distinction between the sexes, going so far as to openly embrace and promote homosexuality. Although comprise less C. Signhomosexuals of Submission than 2 percent of the total population, the culture seeks to promote this aberrant lifestyle throughout all of society, politics, and media. Refusing to accept absolute truth, today’s postmodern, “politically correct,” and confused culture seeks to lead people away from biblical principles toward humanistic ideology. TheSign church critical moral and C. offaces Submission cultural issues today that have caused us to look to the Bible for a clearer understanding of fundamental principles. Consider some of the many cultural challenges today. 1. Some religious denominations are now ordaining homosexual clergy. C. Sign of Submission 2. Legislatures and courts are pushing to legalize same-sex marriage. 3. There are numerous gender neutral restrooms appearing in public places. 4. The media, movies, and TV programs glorify homosexuality and aggressively promote acceptance of the gay lifestyle. 5. Public schools promote homosexuality, gender confusion, and sexual perversion to children. 6. Feminists promote the idea of women assuming the role of men in C. Sign of Submission society. 7. The institution of marriage between one man and one woman is under constant attack. 8. Issues of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gay marriage fill daily news reports. 9. Deviant acts of perversion permeate the culture. 10. Today’s gender neutral society confuses the youth. Historically, Christianity has elevated C. Submission the Sign status of of women even when society demeaned them. The Greek and Roman societies, similar to most older cultures, did not extend many civil rights to women. Instead, they treated women as mere property, inferior to men. Christianity brought change to society by recognizing the equal worth of both sexes. Today, it is time for the church again to resist the trends of feminism, sexual confusion, and sexual perversion, which modern society often promotes. Searching The Scriptures I. Viva La Difference Viva La Difference We should recognize and accept our sexual identity as a man or a woman and refuse to resist or distort God’s natural design for the human race. Men should confidently embrace their masculine identity, and women should relish their feminine role rather than trying to fill a masculine role for which they were not designed or suited. A. Distinction Designed by God A. Distinction Designed by God “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:27). The Bible states that God created humankind in two separate and distinct C. Sign of Submission types—male and female. (See Genesis 1:27; 5:2; Matthew 19:4-5.) Made in the image of God with full equality and value, God gave the male and the female distinctive tasks, roles, and positions. At the peak of Creation, God placed Adam in a paradise that contained everything he needed. Noting the only exception to this completeness, God declared, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” (Genesis 2:18). The meaning of the words “help meet” indicate that Eve would complement or C. Sign of Submission complete Adam, becoming his counterpart. Literally, it would indicate that she would become like him, standing opposite to him. She would be a perfect resemblance or reflection, neither inferior nor superior, but alike and equal. Interestingly, God did not create two males or two females, but He created different sexes capable of interacting, working together, and reproducing. As one preacher said, “God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.” In their book Brain Sex: The Real C. Sign of Submission Difference Between Men and Women, Anne Moir and David Jessel say, “Men are different from women. . . . To maintain that they are the same in aptitude, skill, or behavior is to build a society based on a biological and scientific lie. . . . Infants are not blank slates, on whom we scrawl instructions for sexually-appropriate behavior. . . . They are born with male and female minds of their own. They have, quite literally, made up their minds as to their sexual identity in the C. Sign of Submission womb, safe from the legions of social engineers who impatiently await them.” The differences between male and female are both genetic and physiological. From conception, both the male and the female have different amounts and arrangements of chromosomes and genes. Some people promulgate a message to our society that gays and lesbians were born as such and cannot change. While it is true that culture and C. Sign of Submission circumstances exert strong influence on the psychological composition of a person, no person is born as a homosexual. Individuals are born genetically and physiologically as either male or female. For a person to attempt to alter his God-given sexual identity is insulting to God and a perversion of the plan of God. B. Mars versus Venus B. Mars versus Venus Author John Gray wrote a book called Men Are from Mars; Women Are from Venus. Maybe it is a little extreme to say that men and women come from different planets in the universe, but it is true that they are as different as a buffalo and a butterfly. Although men are attracted to women and love them, they do not understand them. Likewise, women have difficulty understanding men. One of the main reasons for this eternal quest comes from the differing B. Mars versus Venus ways in which males and females think. Quite literally, their brains are wired differently. Medical science has discovered that the corpus callosum connects the right and left sides of the brain with more than 300 million fibers that function as cables to transmit impulses from one place to another. Before birth, the gush of testosterone in a male fetus generally dissolves portions of these fibers, decreasing their number. The opposite generally occurs in an B. Mars versus Venus unborn female. Estrogen causes the nerve cells to grow more of the connecting fibers and expand the corpus callosum. The difference in the size of the space between the right and left sides of the male and female brain is generally so pronounced it can be visually detected on an ultrasound of the fetus. In her book, The Female Brain, Dr. Louann Brizendine writes, “There is no B. Mars versus Venus unisex brain. Girls arrive already wired as girls, and boys arrive already wired as boys. . . . Their brains are different by the time they’re born, and brains are what drive their impulses, values and their very reality.” The male brain generally is larger and contains six and one-half times more gray matter, the “thinking” part of the brain, and is highly compartmentalized—much like a file cabinet. However, the female brain generally has ten times as much white matter, B. Mars versus Venus the “processing” matter, and is intricately interconnected like a massive ball of wires—much more than a computer hard drive. Usually, a man tends to open a file in his brain, and with his strong power of concentration, deals with that one matter while the rest of his brain sits idle and waits to be called upon. In contrast, a woman often cannot understand how a man can sit and do nothing while her brain never rests, never turns off. Men tend to analyze, reason, and think through a problem, reach a C. Sign of Submission conclusion, and then provide a logical explanation of the answer. Often, a woman who reaches a conclusion cannot explain the logic of her reasoning, which generally demonstrates further the difference between the male and female brain. The female brain usually uses the right side and left side of the brain simultaneously, mixing the logic and the emotions together. In communication, the male C. Sign has of aSubmission generally single area in the left side of his brain to listen, talk, and process conversation. The female, on the other hand, has at least seven different areas spread across both sides of her brain for processing conversations. No wonder she often talks more than he does. The female brain also tends to be much more sensitive to non-verbal communication. Hot-wired for empathy, she often C. Sign of Submission monitors facial expressions and body language and catches unspoken emotions that a man may not notice. We commonly refer to this as a “woman’s intuition.” Her “processing” advantage—the white matter of the brain—will let her make immediate conclusions, whereas the man usually requires time to think through and logically analyze his decisions. Men and women are different. Men are basically full of action while women C. Sign of Submission are more concerned with emotional connections. Men speak the language of action while women speak the language of relationships. Men tend to externalize, and women tend to internalize. Men generally find their identity in their work or job; women often find identity in their family and children. Men tend to compete; women generally cooperate. In navigating, women generally follow landmarks while men tend to see a geometric system of routes. While little boys often play with mechanical trucks and make noises, C. Sign of Submission girls often play with dolls and make conversation. The list of comparisons could go on almost indefinitely. We could spend the rest of our class time just talking about male and female differences, and certainly it is intriguing. It is important to recognize, however, that all these differences are generally characteristic of the two sexes, but every person is a unique individual with the imprint of God’s creativity. It is impossible to draw a rigid line C. Signthe ofsexes Submission between when it comes to specific characteristics—only between the generally observed distinctions can the line be drawn. The important thing is that we realize these differences between the sexes are complementary. That is why males and females join together, interact, court, get married, and form families. God knew what was best for the whole species. C. Dress and Appearance C. Dress and Appearance “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 22:5). God is not overly interested in fashion and dress styles, but He is C. Sign of Submission concerned about maintaining the sexual distinctions and gender identities He established. By divine decree, we should dress in a way that honors and acknowledges His design, and in a way that causes no confusion of sexual distinction and identity. Men’s manner of dress should be distinctly masculine. He should avoid styles that would appear effeminate or detract from his masculinity. He should look like a man, walk like a C. Sign of like Submission man, and act a gentleman. Likewise, a lady should dress in feminine styles and avoid appearing masculine. She should desire to look and act like a lady. To put it plainly— men should wear the pants and ladies should wear the skirts. No matter what the culture or nationality, there should be a distinction in the appearance of the male and the female. Individuals should be content with C. Sign of Submission their gender and not pretend to be something they are not, nor should they dress in such a way that they appear to be something else. It is disgraceful to meet an individual and not be able to determine whether the person is male or female. The word “abomination” in Deuteronomy 22:5 is a very strong word, which indicates that something is more than just wrong, sinful, or evil. An abomination is utterly detestable, extremely disgusting, and shamefully C. Sign of Submission vile. It proverbially causes God to hold His nose as if to say, “It stinks. It makes Me sick.” Why do the Scriptures reveal that it is an abomination to dress like the opposite sex? It is because of God’s design in creation for the sexes to be absolutely distinct. Anything less than that is abominable to Him. Gender confusion and gender identity fads are contrary to God’s plans for mankind. cross-dressers, drag C.Transvestites, Sign of Submission queens, and female impersonators all create confusion of gender identity. They act in ways that are an abomination, which God detests. Paul admonished women to “adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array” (I Timothy 2:9). Certainly, modest dress is becoming for a lady. For a proof text, Paul reached back to the Book of Genesis where God had C. Sign of Submission created Adam and Eve with divinely designed sexual distinctions. (See I Timothy 2:13-15.) In his first letter to the church, Peter related dress and adornment to the role of the sexes and the divine order and headship of the family. (See I Peter 3:1-7.) He admonished women to avoid decorating themselves with jewelry, wearing fancy apparel, or “plaiting the hair,” which was the weaving of gold and silver threads or decorations into the hair. Rather, he of called for women to C. Sign Submission manifest a submissive, meek, and quiet spirit. He further appealed to the example of godly women like Sarah, who adorned herself so as to manifest her subjection to her husband, Abraham. Roles II. Roles Men and women differ by God’s design, yet their roles are complementary in nature. This is part of the “eternal purpose” of God’s plan for mankind—to reproduce and populate the world, to form families and communities, and eventually to produce a church to bring about a bride for Christ. To resist our role in life is to miss our call and purpose, placing us at odds with the will of God. C. Sign of Submission The roles of husband and wife should portray a type of the relationship of Christ to the church. Ultimately, true joy and happiness in life come only by our being in harmony with God’s plan. A. Roles of the Man A. Roles of the Man Men often are natural leaders. That is not to suggest that women do not make good leaders or that all men are good leaders; such could not be further from the truth. It does recognize, however, the general composition of a man in the way that God created him. Because of his God-given composition, a man possesses a natural strength for and duty to lead his family. The term “leader” does not indicate that one should become a boss who C. Sign of Submission simply barks out orders. One does not lead from behind while driving and cracking a whip, but he leads from the front, going ahead of others and showing the way. A true leader provides an example that inspires others to follow. He determines direction, sets the standard, provides inspiration, raises the banner, and establishes the goal. He further helps others to determine what is right and wrong, or what is good and bad for those under his charge. Joshua provided an excellent example of leadership when he C. Sign of Submission challenged Israel, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). He did not just tell the people what he thought they ought to do, but he did it himself and provided the example for others to follow. God also designed men to be the primary providers for the family. Again, that is not to suggest that a woman never provides for her family. Moreover, in some situations the woman has to take on the role of C. Sign of Submission being the primary provider. Possibly, she may be a single parent or her husband may be disabled and unable to work. Still, God generally created man to be a primary provider for those under his charge. As a husband, the man often should be the principal breadwinner, supporting his wife and children. Circumstances may dictate exceptions or variations to this pattern, but it is God’s primary plan for a man. C. Sign for of his Submission Providing family provides a man with self-confidence and satisfaction, and it creates in his wife a sense of confidence and security. Often, when exceptions to the norm have to be made, both the man and the woman suffer some difficulties in these areas of their relationship. God also designed men to be the primary protectors of their homes, families, and society in general. The man should be like a guard at the C. Sign oftoSubmission door, willing fight the devil and the evil forces of culture and worldliness that would attempt to destroy every member of the family. Men should be teachers and spiritual leaders within their home. Although his wife may be directly involved in training the children, the man bears a significant responsibility to oversee the imparting of wisdom and correct values to his family, community, and society. Further, the man should be the chief administrator of discipline to insure his C. Sign of Submission family’s spiritual prosperity. A man should serve in a priestly role within his family, connecting the family and God. He should occupy a spiritual role of transmitting truth and the ways of God to his family. He should pray for his family and lead his family to worship God. Further, men should seek to influence their surrounding society and culture for good so there is a holy environment in which to raise their families. B. Roles of the Woman B. Roles of the Woman God generally placed within the nature of a woman the desire to fulfill a supportive role alongside the man in her life. When she responds to his leadership by seeking to follow him, her actions strengthen him and make him better at fulfilling his role as husband. Women generally are natural homemakers. As the queen of her castle, the wife usually oversees the home and provides for the needs of her husband and children. The wise man described the “virtuous C. SignasofoneSubmission woman” whose “price is far above rubies.” (See Proverbs 31:1031.) Her husband trusts this valuable lady who strengthens him by her support, and he is proud of her reputation and productivity within the community. The writer of the Book of Proverbs further described her as one who is not idle, but industrious, working diligently to provide for her family and see that they are wellclothed and fed. Women often are mothers, for a woman’s nature generally leads her to C. Sign of Submission nurture others, which equips her to care for, train, and rear her children. Through her nurturing influence she holds the future of the world in her hands. In several passages of Scripture, the apostle Paul reminded women not to usurp authority over men. However, there is a ministry for women, working in harmony with the masculine authorities in her life. Further, she occupies a natural role of teaching within the church in addition C. Sign of Submission to her role of helping in the training and rearing of her children. Paul instructed Titus, “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed” (Titus 2:3-5). God’s Divine Order III. God’s Divine Order “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God” (I Corinthians 11:3). A. Headship A. Headship According to Paul in I Corinthians 11, the chain of command, or headship, has four links: (1) God, (2) Christ, (3) man, and (4) woman. The Greek word kephale, translated as “head,” expresses a relationship of subordination, meaning that the one who stands over the other is the basis of the other’s existence. As Jesus Christ—God in flesh—comes from the heavenly Father, He is subordinate to God, lives for Him, and does His will. Consequently, Paul wrote that Christ C. Sign of Submission “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7-8). In the end, “then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all” (I Corinthians 15:28). Now God has set Christ “far above all principality, and power, and might, C. Sign of Submission and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church” (Ephesians 1:21-22). Christ is the head of the church, His body, and the head of all principality and power, and thus all mankind is subordinate to Him. (See Ephesians 4:15; Colossians 1:18; 2:10; 2:19.) We err when we assume that the C. Sign of Submission order of authority also indicates an order of superiority or importance. However, it is vital that we recognize it only communicates the line of authority, not superiority. The man and the woman are equals who work in partnership under Jesus Christ, with the man bearing the primary responsibility of providing leadership to the woman. B. Family Order B. Family Order “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing” (Ephesians 5:22-24). The scriptural order of authority for the family is (1) husband, (2) wife, and C. Sign of Submission (3) children. This also reflects Christ’s relationship to the church. Although the man should be the head of the woman, it does not mean that he is a boss barking out orders, an abusive tyrant, a master over a servant, or a king demanding obeisance. The man’s level of headship makes him responsible for those over whom he provides leadership. He should be a leader, protector, and provider. His leadership should reflect selfless love and concern for his family’s wellC. Sign of Submission being. A husband should love his wife with the same sacrificial love that Jesus Christ has for His church, loving her as he would his own body. (See Ephesians 5:25-33.) The woman’s submission to the man shows her consent to his leadership and love. She is not merely receptive in the relationship, but she should respond in mutual love, fellowship, communion, and unity. She should reverence her husband and C. Submission restSign in the of security provided through submission to God’s divine order. On the other hand, to resist this divine order will cause her to follow a path of rebellion similar to that demonstrated in the Scriptures by the infamous Jezebel. C. Sign of Submission C.InSign of Submission addition to revealing the divine order of authority, the apostle Paul also communicated a universal symbol, or sign of one’s submission to authority. Paul first revealed the appropriate state of covering or uncovering of the head for both the man and the woman. He stated that for a man to minister, prophesy, or pray with his head “covered” is to reject the headship given by God’s divine order. This would show disrespect, or C. Signtoofboth Submission dishonor the Son of God and to the very Spirit of God. Further, the opposite is true for the woman. Made for the man from his rib, the woman is bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh, and she is the glory of the man. For a woman to pray or minister with her head “uncovered” is to disrespect, or dishonor the man, and ultimately, the Son of God and the heavenly Father. (See I Corinthians 11:4-5.) Paul went on to reveal how one covers or uncovers his or her head. He C. Sign of Submission stated that hair is the God-given covering for the head. Therefore, men are to cut their hair short and women are to let their hair grow long. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering” (I Corinthians 11:14-15). The phrase “have long hair” in this verse comes from the Greek words C. Sign of Submission koma and kome, which mean respectively, “to let one’s hair grow long” and “uncut hair.” Consequently, according to Paul the man is to cut his hair short, and the woman is not to cut her hair. This passage of Scripture from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians often is overlooked or ignored by our modern society. The culture ignores spiritual values and follows the fads and styles of Hollywood celebrities and ungodly idols of the stage. However, this text reveals that hair and C. ofofSubmission the Sign covering the head are a symbol of submission to authority and the divine order of headship. Long hair on a man or short, cut hair on a woman indicates either ignorance of God’s plan or a demonstrated spirit of rebellion. The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge C. Sign of Submission states, “Women never cut their hair, and long hair was their greatest ornament. . . . Jeremiah 7:29 is enlightening: ‘Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the Lord hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.’ . . . What is the height of shame, the epitome of disgrace to which the Lord directs the rejected and forsaken nation? Symbolically, to cut off her hair! This C. Sign of very Submission should speak strongly to us of the drastic nature of such action.” Paul further noted that a woman should recall the lesson afforded to her by the rebellion of angels and that she should have long hair, her symbol of submission, and avoid following in their error of insubordination. “For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels” (I Corinthians 11:10). Remembering that pride, selfexultation, and rebellion against God C. Sign of Submission were the sins that caused Lucifer and other angels to be cast out of Heaven, a woman should not cut her hair in rebellion against submission to God’s order. The word “power” in this verse of Scripture is synonymous with the idea of “authority,” which also indicates the authority and power associated with a woman living in submission to authority and is demonstrated by her uncut hair. A godly, submissive woman with long hair will enjoy the presence of the C. Sign of Submission Spirit of God and the power of God in her life. The length of a person’s hair also provides a distinction between the sexes. A woman’s long hair contributes to her feminine appearance, her modesty, and her submissive spirit, and it is her “glory.” A man’s short hair helps him to appear masculine and demonstrates his authority through submission to Jesus Christ. Internalizing The Message C.Gays Sign Submission andof lesbians aggressively promote the homosexual lifestyle in society today. The media, television, movies, and our modern culture bombard us daily with messages of sexual perversion and the confusion of gender identity. However, God has a church still standing on the inspired truth of the Word of God even in the midst of a world of sin and ungodliness. The voice of the prophet still thunders across pulpits proclaiming holiness and separation from the world. In the beginning, God created us C. Sign of Submission male and female. He wants us to maintain that sexual distinction and fulfill our distinctive roles in society. We are born either male or female; we are not born homosexual. Satan and our sinful culture are in rebellion against God’s divine order and they promote the confusion of gender identity. Our appearance should reflect our gender and we should not dress in any way that would confuse or violate our sexual identity. C. Sign of Submission The differences between man and woman are beneficial to society and the human race. These differences are the basis of marriage, family, and society at large.