What complementarianism is and isn't

It seems to me to be an appropriate time for some further explanation about complementarianism -- what it is and what it isn't. The adults and youth watched, and discussed, a few weeks ago a panel discussion on the subject. The video was from this year's Together for the Gospel conference. Last Sunday, I preached on I Peter 3:1-7, where God gives some commands through the apostle Peter regarding wives and husbands.

Mary Kassian -- a wife, mother of adult sons, author and teacher of women's studies at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. -- posted yesterday at The Gospel Coalition blog what she titled "Complementarianism for Dummies." You may read it here. A video interview titled "Boundaries Are for Your Freedom" also is included in the post.

Her post is a helpful start in understanding complementarianism, although it should not be considered in any way an attempt to deal with all the issues involved with this subject. A couple of her comments in the post worth quoting are:

Essentially, a complementarian is a person who believes that God created male and female to reflect complementary truths about Jesus. . . .

Who we are as male and female is ultimately not about us. It's about testifying to the story of Jesus. We do not get to dictate what manhood and womanhood are all about. Our Creator does. That's the basis of complementarianism.

Also, if you did not read the post by Don Carson on this topic I linked to Aug. 21, you made do so here. He explains why The Gospel Coalition's leaders use complementarianism instead of patriarchy to describe the biblical view.