What has happened to the men?
Firstly when a society has issues — I first blame the local spiritual leadership. God has set leadership in place to equip the Body of Christ to know Him and follow His Voice. If the spiritual leadership is corrupt or compromised then the people will be overtaken by selfishness and all manner of evil. Those in authority will become dictators preying on the people. Without strong spiritual leadership — the society and communities become corrupt, and filled with sin of all nature. What has happened to the men?
The spiritual leadership model structures on earth have always had issues. Jesus set a revolutionary example of authority, and direct connection to the Father. No longer was there a need for a ‘middle man’ between the individual and God. With the Presence of the Holy Spirit available to all now who want it and ask Jesus for the baptism of the Spirit, the need for an intermediary between God and Mankind is no longer necessary. That SHOULD have drastically changed the model of spiritual leadership and its structure. But alas the model went back to the same structure as it was before Jesus. With the spiritual leadership essentially usurping the role of the Holy Spirit with the people and directing the people what “God wants” instead of teaching them how to have a vital and intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. Instead it’s reverted back to the ‘rules and regulations’ just like it was under the Pharisees at the time of Jesus. Spiritual leaders reverted back to being overseers and intermediaries for the Voice of God. What has happened to the men?
If you want strong healthy righteous men — you must have the same in spiritual leadership. Spiritual leadership should be the one that models a vital intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. I think of the example of David. I think of most of the apostles and deacons and a few other first century Christians. These were men of courage and a severe commitment to God. They did not fear death or persecution, but stood directly in the face of evil to stop it. They were men with values that espoused an awesome fear of God and were FILLED with the Holy Spirit. These men KNEW the authority of God and would not usurp it for their own devices. Where are those kind of men today?
Where are the values currently that men are supposed to uphold? All this evil society says now is that men are toxic. And women are supposed to be like men. Everything is upside down in values now. Sex means nothing. Family is ALWAYS targeted to be taken apart. Honor means nothing. Sodomy is now something to be celebrated. What has happened to the men?
So I thought I’d list a few values but certainly not at all comprehensive, that should be in the character of a man, but seem very sparse in the men today. Men use to have their own personal ‘code’ that they lived by, but where is that practice today?
Values:
Love, Respect, Integrity, Loyalty, Obedience, Preparation, Brotherhood, Faithfulness, Self Control, Diligence, Hope, Valor, Resolute, Courage, Kindness, Goodness, Honesty, Truth, Fidelity, Chivalry, Valor, Charity, Modesty, Resist evil, Service, Humility, Gratefulness, Repentance, Honor, Fairness, Gentleness, Perseverance, Strength, Righteousness
A Code for Men:
To fear God.
To serve God in valor and faith.
To protect the weak and defenseless.
To give aid to widows and orphans.
To refrain from the wanton giving of offense (to purposely be offensive).
To live by honor for God’s glory.
To despise monetary reward for acts of charity and chivalry.
To fight for the welfare of all.
To obey those placed in authority, until the orders go against the authority of God.
To guard the honor of fellow Citizens
To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit.
To keep faith.
To speak the truth at all times.
To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun.
To respect the honor of women.
To never refuse a challenge from an equal.
To never turn your back upon a foe.
Let’s bring back the example of real men. The example that God wants from us. There is no better model than Jesus. Let’s return to the time of Fathers and Dads that were greatly involved with their children even when the children become adults themselves and have families of their own. I honestly think women are looking for men like this.
Honor your mother and father. This is the design God put into place. Now I’m not sure anyone could really define ‘honor’ or even ‘mother’ or ‘father’ — as they aren’t the right pronouns. The enemy of our souls has redefined the words to his definitions or just destroyed the word all together.
“Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
And he will turn
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” Malachi 4:5b-6
I think that the children won’t turn their hearts to their fathers until the fathers turn their hearts to the children. Dad’s lets be about speaking Truth to our children. Let’s not allow the influence of the current culture silence our voices. Let’s adopt our own life code and live it out. Let’s be about pouring our lives out for our families.
Father HELP US! Raise up REAL Godly men, fathers, and dads. Help us to know what you created masculinity to be in men and in society today!