Does the WELS teaching agree with him, or at least what I think he was communicating?

Our doctrinal statements on the issue refer to the topic only briefly.

In the World

Christians also accept the biblical role relationship principle for their life and work in the world (1 Co 11:3; Eph 5:6-17). Christians seek to do God's will consistently in every area of their lives. We will therefore strive to apply this role relationship principle to our life and work in the world.

Scripture leaves a great deal to our conscientious Christian judgment as we live the role relationship principle in the world. In Christian love we will refrain from unduly binding the consciences of the brothers and sisters in our fellowship. Rather, we will encourage each other as we seek to apply this principle to our lives in the world.

Because the unregenerate world is not motivated by the Gospel or guided by God's will (1 Co 2:14), we as Christians will not try to force God's will upon the world (1 Co 5:12). We will seek to influence and change the world by our Gospel witness in word and deed (Mk 16:15; Mt 5:16).

We reject the opinion that male headship and female submission apply only to marriage or only to marriage and the church (1 Co 11:3; 1 Ti 2:12).

We reject the opinion that the principle of role relationships taught in the New Testament was culturally conditioned and is not applicable today.

We reject the opinion that the principle of role relationships applies only to some people, only for some periods of history, or only to certain.htmlects of Christian life.

The Bible study Man and Woman in God's World offers the follwing points for discussion.

How should Christians apply the scriptural principles to daily life in their society? This is probably the most difficult question in our study because Scripture discusses the principles only as they apply to Christians. It does not apply the principles to all the people living in a society. This is because in society we are dealing with many people who do not understand or accept the biblical principles. For this reason, we cannot produce a detailed list of rules for applying the principles to daily life in society, but will have to confine ourselves to a number of observations which are intended to guide Christian men and women as they seek to apply the principles in their daily lives.

SOME GENERAL PRINCIPLES

1. Already at the time of creation God established the twin principles that man is responsible for leadership and woman for helping and supporting him. Therefore, these principles remain part of his good will for all people. Although Scripture makes no specific applications of the principle to all people in society, Scripture nowhere limits the application of the principle to marriage and the church. A society which knew and respected God's will would practice the principles in all areas of life, as Israel did.

2. Since the difference of male and female roles was established at creation, even unbelievers retain some natural knowledge of the God-given difference between male and female roles. As a result, these role distinctions will be reflected in the customs of societies throughout the world. However, since sin has blurred mankind's moral insight, male headship will often be practiced in selfish and harmful ways which do not correspond to God's intention, and women will often resent male headship.

3. Christians are not to force Christian moral standards on non-Christians, but on the basis of the natural knowledge of the law Christian citizens may seek to influence society to practice these principles to as great a degree as possible. This effort includes speaking against the neglect of their proper roles both by men and by women.

4. In a society which suppresses the knowledge of the god-given roles of men and women as ours does, Christians will nevertheless seek to practice these roles as fully as possible also in society, so that they may be a light and salt to society.

5. Important as it is, the principle of male and female roles is not the only principle which governs the life of Christians. When making decisions, we must also consider other principles, such as the need to provide for one's family, the responsibility to be a good steward of the family's property, and the responsibility to oppose evil. At times, when two different principles seem to be in conflict, it may be difficult for a Christian to know which to apply. A Christian will, however, apply one of the two principles and will show his or her acceptance of the other principle in every way possible. For example, a wife whose husband does not want their children to learn God's Word will not follow his lead in this matter, but will continue to show her acceptance of his leadership in other matters.

6. Since Scripture gives us relatively little guidance in applying these principles in society, we should be slow to pass judgment on the decisions of others concerning gray areas. (A "gray area" is a situation which is not clearly wrong, but which could become sinful depending on the attitude with which it is carried out.)

SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS

1. If the role relationship are not limited to husband and wife, does this mean that every woman is subject to every man?

The short answer is that we do not accept this statement as an adequate statement of the principles. Christian men and women should seek to observe the godgiven principles of headship and submission whenever they interact with other women and men. They will do this in ways which are appropriate to the specific relationship between them.

For example, a Christian man does not have the same degree of responsibility to protect and provide for all other women which he has for his wife. But Christian men have, nevertheless, always felt a special responsibility to help and protect widows, as Scripture itself says. Under normal circumstances, a man feels a special duty to come to the aid of a woman threatened by another man. A male Christian employer should feel a special responsibility to protect women employees from harassment or abuse by male co-workers.

A Christian wife is not subject to any other man in the same degree which she is to her own husband. However, she should try to express her approval and acceptance of the roles established by God when circumstance place her in situations which seem to conflict with the roles established by God. A Christian woman who must rebuke a man or warn him against sin can do it with the tact of an Abigail. A Christian woman whose responsibility for her family's property requires her to give direction to male employees can do it with a gentle and quiet spirit. A Christian woman who must be the sole support of her children because of the neglect or desertion of her husband recognizes that this is not the way it should be and would be happy to have a husband who provided support and godly leadership to the family. A wife should not seek the same degree of emotional support from another man which she should receive from her husband. A wife who is suffering from the neglect of her husband can more appropriately seek emotional support from her father, her father-in-law, or brother than from another man with whom there is a danger of romantic entanglement.

These are just a few examples of ways in which the practice of headship and submission will vary depending on the type of relationship which exists between a man and woman in a given case.

How should Christians apply the scriptural principles concerning male and female roles to daily life in their society? This is probably the most difficult question in connection with this topic because Scripture discusses the principles only as they apply to Christians. It does not make specific applications of the principles to all the people living in a society. This is because in society we are dealing with many people who do not understand or accept the biblical principles. For this reason, we cannot produce a detailed list of rules for applying the principles to daily life in society, but have to confine ourselves to a number of observations which are intended to guide Christian men and women as they seek to apply the principles in their daily lives.

SOME GENERAL PRINCIPLES

1. Already at the time of creation God established the twin principles that man is responsible for leadership and woman for helping and supporting him. Therefore, these principles remain part of his good will for all people. Although Scripture makes no specific applications of the principle to all people in society, Scripture nowhere limits the application of the principle to marriage and the church. A society which knew and respected God's will would practice the principles in all areas of life, as Israel did.

2. Since the difference of male and female roles was established at creation, even unbelievers retain some natural knowledge of the God-given difference between male and female roles. As a result, these role distinctions will be reflected in the customs of societies throughout the world. However, since sin has blurred mankind's moral insight, male headship will often be practiced in selfish and harmful ways which do not correspond to God's intention, and women will often resent male headship.

3. Christians are not to force Christian moral standards on non-Christians, but on the basis of the natural knowledge of the law Christian citizens may seek to influence society to practice these principles to as great a degree as possible. This effort includes speaking against the neglect of their proper roles both by men and by women.

4. In a society which suppresses the knowledge of the god-given roles of men and women as ours does, Christians will nevertheless seek to practice these roles as fully as possible also in society, so that they may be a light and salt to society.

5. Important as it is, the principle of male and female roles is not the only principle which governs the life of Christians. When making decisions, we must also consider other principles, such as the need to provide for one's family, the responsibility to be a good steward of the family's property, and the responsibility to oppose evil. At times, when two different principles seem to be in conflict, it may be difficult for a Christian to know which to apply. A Christian will, however, apply one of the two principles and will show his or her acceptance of the other principle in every way possible. For example, a wife whose husband does not want their children to learn God's Word will not follow his lead in this matter, but will continue to show her acceptance of his leadership in other matters.

6. Since Scripture gives us relatively little guidance in applying these principles in society, we should be slow to pass judgment on the decisions of others concerning gray areas. (A "gray area" is a situation which is not clearly wrong, but which could become sinful depending on the attitude with which it is carried out.)
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1. If the role relationship are not limited to husband and wife, does this mean that every woman is subject to every man?

The short answer is that we reject this statement as an adequate statement of the principle. Christian men and women should seek to observe the Godgiven principles of headship and submission whenever they interact with other women and men. They will do this in ways which are appropriate to the specific relationship between them.

For example, a Christian man does not have the same degree of responsibility to protect and provide for all other women which he has for his wife. But Christian men have, nevertheless, always felt a special responsibility to help and protect widows, as Scripture itself says. Under normal circumstances, a man feels a special duty to come to the aid of a woman threatened by another man. A male Christian employer should feel a special responsibility to protect women employees from harassment or abuse by male co-workers.

A Christian wife is not subject to any other man in the same way
or the same degree which she is to her own husband. However, she should try to express her approval and acceptance of the roles established by God when circumstance place her in situations which seem to conflict with the roles established by God. A Christian woman who must rebuke a man or warn him against sin can do it with the tact of an Abigail. A Christian woman whose responsibility for her family's property requires her to give direction to male employees can do it with a gentle and quiet spirit. A Christian woman who must be the sole support of her children because of the neglect or desertion of her husband recognizes that this is not the way it should be and would be happy to have a husband who provided support and godly leadership to the family. A wife should not seek the same degree of emotional support from another man which she should receive from her husband. A wife who is suffering from the neglect of her husband can more appropriately seek emotional support from her father, her father-in-law, or brother than from another man with whom there is a danger of romantic entanglement.

These are just a few examples of ways in which the practice of headship and submission will vary depending on the type of relationship which exists between a man and woman in a given case.