In The Grand Design: Male and Female He Made Them, Owen Strachan and Gavin Peacock attempt to lay out a biblical understanding of male and female relationships. The authors strive to promote a vision for the sexes where men are dignified gentlemen and women are ladies to be honored and respected. Opposing egalitarianism, feminism, gay, lesbian, queer, and transgenderism, Strachan and Peacock offer complementarianism as an alternative. But that is not all they offer, unfortunately.
In “What Is Biblical Complementarity?” (chapter 1), Strachan and Peacock give an extended exposition of Genesis 1–3 relative to male and female relationships. They argue that man and woman were made for each other; they complement each other: “This is the essence of complementarity: one suited to us, who fits with us, but is not precisely the same as us” (29).
In “What Is Biblical Man-hood?” (chapter 2), Strachan and Peacock explain the following verse: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Cor. 16:13–14). There, Strachan and Peacock defend a biblical man as a protector, provider, and servant-leader.
In “What Is Biblical Womanhood?” (chapter 3), Strachan and Peacock argue that the relationship between Adam and Eve prior to the fall is a model for the husband and wife relationship: “There was no rivalry, no chafing or challenging for position or power, but a complementary relationship, which mirrors the very relationship of authority and submission. Love and harmony, in the Trinity” (75).
Citing books such as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Relationships, Roles and Relevance (by Bruce Ware) and One God in Three Persons: Unity of Essence, Distinction of Persons, Implications for Life (Bruce Ware and John Starke), Strachan and Peacock make the following theological claim: “The Father as Father has authority; the Son as Son obeys His Father” (75). The application of this claim is then stated: “Just as there is equality of value but difference in authority and roles in the Trinity, so it is with husband and wife” (75). The authors use this line of provocative reasoning to ground a major point in their understanding of biblical womanhood: “A wife is to be a helper, not a hindrance, to her husband. This means her primary task is to help him accomplish his plans for the family” (75). As a good leader, the man is supposed to form “his vision,” and the woman at most is to help him to discover that vision through providing wise counsel.
In “Complementarity in the Family, Church and Culture” (chapter 4), Strachan and Peacock develop their vision of male leadership and female submission in the family, church, and culture. In “What Does the Church Have to Say About Our Sexualized Age?” (chapter 5), they take a strong stance against the current sexual identity crisis, addressing homosexuality and transgender practice.
In “Is Complementarianism a ‘Take It or Leave It’ Doctrine?” (chapter 6), the authors make a case that complementarianism is a crucial doctrine, showing that “humanity is brimming with purpose” (146); it “helps us understand our sinful instincts” (148); it “provides us with a script for our lives” (150); and it reveals that the differences between men and women are “for our good and God’s glory” (154).
There is much to admire about Strachan and Peacock’s attempt: they deal with an important, challenging issue; they are concise; and they care to give a grand vision of human relations based on a grand vision of God. On even the most charitable read, however, the book doesn’t seriously engage opposing views (which seems to be more than a function of the size of the book). More troubling, they make a number of innovative and controversial theological claims about submission and authority within the Holy Trinity, and then draw analogies for husband-wife relationships. There is much debate in evangelical circles today about the authors’ articulation of a view called “eternal subordinationism” (also held by Bruce Ware). Reformation-minded Christians will want to beware of the novelty of this position. For this reason, at least, I cannot recommend The Grand Design.
Silverio Gonzalez is a husband, father, aspiring luchador, and member of Christ PCA in Temecula, California. He holds a BA in philosophy from the University of California Santa Barbara and an MDiv from Westminster Seminary California.
