What heads are supposed to do

When we talk about headship we tend to fixate on questions like “Who’s in charge around here?” and “How does God want me to lead the ones I’m in charge of?”

But headship is more than simply being in charge. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians uses the word ‘head’ four times, yet the word ‘lead’ does not appear even once. Leading, of course, is one aspect of headship. When there’s a decision to be made, a path to be taken, or a rule to be made and enforced, leadership is needed, and heads ought to provide this leadership. But biblical headship is much more than leadership. Headship implies not merely a position, or even a role, but an organic relationship of harmony and unity.

We’re talking about heads, here. You know, that part of your body that sits on the top of your neck? It’s up there for a reason. You probably don’t think of your head as being ‘in charge’ of your body because there’s so much more to it than that. Being on top of your body, your head is positioned to do what heads are supposed to do:

Heads provide unity for the whole body under them

You know someone’s head is right when you can see their body functioning properly. If I were paralyzed, you might assume I had suffered some kind of head injury. Conversely, when a talented athlete shows their stuff on the field, we know their ability springs from somewhere deeper than just muscles. Their mind works in a way that enables them to be coordinated, strategic, and fully unified in what they are doing.

A healthy head brings unity to the whole body so that, as Paul says, “each part is working properly” in order for growth and health and productivity (Eph 4:15-16). Biblical headship results likewise in spiritual and relational unity that enables believers to work together as a unit towards the purpose for which God has united them.

Heads intimately know and wisely tend to needs in their bodies

Paul describes this in detail in his passage about headship in marriage:

He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it. (Eph 5:28-29)

When you have a wound on your body, you know about it. You can feel it. It bothers you and forces you into action. All the pain, hunger, fatigue, sickness and urges of the body are sent to the head, where decisions are made.

The head knows its body intimately and responds to its needs with wisdom. Sometimes needs are placed in priority—a sore arm might need to lift a toothbrush to the mouth in spite of its pain—but the head knows best, and makes these painful decisions for the sake of the long-term health of the whole body.

Heads recognize that, without their bodies, they would be fruitless

Your head comes up with all the great ideas that your body ends up making a reality. “We should go to the beach,” your head tells your body. And soon the hands, legs, arms, and eyes are working together to pack a picnic. But your head’s grand plans would be literally nothing if your body was dysfunctional, broken, or sick. And that functionality, unity, and health is the task of your head.

Heads of bodies of people—fathers, husbands, pastors, governors, kings—would do well to remember that, without the bodies they rule over, their headship and initiation would be pointless. Headship, therefore, is humbling. It is an interdependent stewardship in which the head has need of the body, just as the body has need of the head (1 Cor 12:21). Wise heads of any family or church will nurture, cultivate, and empower those under them, because, being wise, they will recognize the futility of their own position and lofty ideals if there is no means by which to make the ideal real. 

In the world, the goal is always to be the leader and not the one being led. Leadership, in the world, means more power, higher rank, and greater respect. You’re safe on top, the world will tell you. So get there. Do whatever it takes.

But under biblical headship, body members don’t scramble for the top; they’re more than happy to stay where they are suited for the good work they were created to do—work that springs from the wisdom of the head.

And this is why every human head must also strive to continue as a functioning body part under the headship of Christ, the only truly wise one. He is the only head who can bring full unity to the body, who loves his body perfectly and knows her intimately, and whose headship results in fruitful work that lasts forever. 

In short, everyone needs a head.