Essence and roles, a costly misunderstanding

On my flight back from Philadelphia on last Friday night, I met a truly wonderful and interesting person.  JT (for privacy sake) is an employee of The World Bank, and currently engaged in a project in West Africa.  She is of European decent but currently lives in the USA.  She was on her way to visit her parents which I pray went very well.

We had a lot of time to talk on a flight over 5 hours long.  We spoke on topics such African post war “Truth & Reconciliation Councils”, “Catholicism and Christianity”, marriage, and much more. One of those intriguing “much mores” was the apparent rise in rape cases in post war conflicts (Africa, Europe, World War II, etc.) of the world that her organization has noticed.  She mentioned that the pursuit of men to reclaim paternal “dominance” in these societies frequently leads to confusion, and subsequently a treacherous cycle of rape by these men.  I have a feeling she is right because such is a similar problem in my country Liberia.

However the search for male dominance in these societies at all cost is incredibly sad.  Is this a similar search you have noticed with males in your circle although it may not translate as treacherously as it does (rampant rape) in other parts of the continent and world?

―You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus

(Gal. 3:26-28)

Sadly, there is a costly misunderstanding of the need to dominate by men the world over, and a counter misunderstanding by women in forceful and unnecessary search for equality with men.  The verse above is explicit for what is in essence equality for all under God.  However, we (male and/or female) each have significant and complimentary roles to play for the incredible balance and health of society.  Men seeking dominance need not go the route of aggression.  Rather, the execution of our protective and sacrificial (die to self) role as men in the proper understanding of essence and roles within the family or society should instead lead to amazing and productive relationships between the sexes.  Do you understand and practice essence and roles in your home?

Here are some post-war situations I speak of to bring you some awareness:

http://actionaidusa.org/news/related/womens_rights/liberia_rape_gender_violence_the_norm/

http://www.un.org/preventgenocide/rwanda/backgrounder.shtml