Partnering

Women and Men Partnering In Mission - Part 2
by Jane Berry,  National Women's Ministry Director

Recently, while studying Genesis 1:26-28, I was encouraged by the simplicity of this brief passage as it declares man and woman's creation, beauty, and blessing to the earth. God placed Adam and Eve jointly over his creation to bless it as well as to benefit from it. Listen to man and woman's original call, commission, and command to partner in God's enterprise:

And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens and over the cattle, and over all the earth; and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them, and God blessed them . . . and said to them, be fruitful . . . multiply . . . replenish . . . subdue . . . and have dominion over every living thing.

From the beginning, God in his wisdom ordained man and woman to share every aspect of their work on earth. He equipped them with all they needed to make it happen. He gave man and woman a huge portion of his divine image-that is to have dominion over the earth. In the simplest sense, the word "dominion" means "to rule." Men have God-ordained opportunities to rule . . . and women do, too. They rule together.

The other attributes of his image-wisdom, love, truth, holiness, and justice-were given to make Adam and Eve's partnership a blessing and not a chore. This blessing extends to their sons and daughters, especially through Christ in this generation. It really doesn't have to be so hard. Second Peter 1:3 reminds us, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."

We can't deny sin's effects in corrupting God's plan. This is especially true as it relates to barriers in ministry partnerships. Yet despite the fall, Genesis 1:26-28 still speaks of God's heart for the collaborative work of men and women.