Sharpen Each Other to Be Men of God

Sharpen Each Other to Be Men of God

Let’s be real.  We have distorted views of what it means to be a man today through the media influences, society, and psychologists and sociologists.  The way gender is being taught in schools from elementary school to college is in an increasingly anti-male way, it's becoming about neutralization of maleness, of masculinity.  When something is only for men there are often immediate attacks to make the event, program, or organization open to women as well.  Philosophies abound and are thrown around that include how important it is to have the woman’s perspective when talking with boys and young men.  Court cases get entered, and groups are forced by negative media attacks to be made open to both genders.  Men receive messages in the restrooms on college campuses that they hold the power to stop rape in their hands.  We have several different awareness campaigns year round for women’s health issues.  But men’s health issues are relegated to one month.  We have a women’s history month, yet men are told that every day is “hisstory” month.  Programs encouraging women to bring daughters to work, or girls for engineering abound.  Colleges have Women’s Centers but few have Men’s Centers; citing that men do not have issues.  We’re leaving men behind (often young men) to fend for themselves and many are finding their way into serious trouble.  We can do better.  We must do better.

Being a male is a matter of birth. Gentlemen, just because you can make a baby doesn't make you a man. There's way more to manhood than that.  But being A MAN is all about choices and identity development.  The problem is that the places to explore choices openly in a masculine perspective and lens are becoming fewer and fewer.  Many programs once for boys alone have been made co-ed.  Statements about the importance to have positive adult male role models have been made neutral to just positive adult role models.

The media would have us believe that every man has a perfect ripped six pack abs, perfect hairless skin, and have the romantic words come from his mouth that would make women swoon.  When we constantly receive messages of the "perfect" man we can become stressed out trying to be something that God may have not intended us to be.  Now this does not mean avoid growing and stretching yourself.  What it means is that God desires to create a new variety of manhood that's wrapped in your personality. Be who you are...BE a man of God.

Take note ladies, some men may not be ripped and cut, or have perfect skin, or be real romantic, but if the words of God flow from his heart to his mouth and into his life and he has faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior then he is a PRINCE.  A man whose heart constantly seeks Jesus will treat ladies with love, respect, and reverence.  Men who seek Jesus Christ know that He is first, and then spouse, family, and career.  This man understands how precious you are.  This man understands the unique purpose we each have.  Is it always perfect?  Well no.  There is only One who is perfect.  But as long as we are on the journey we may not be where we want to be, but we can praise God that we are not where we used to be.

So in turning to God’s word in Scripture two verses speak to the importance of men being in fellowship with one another.  In accountability relationships.  Mentoring relationships.  Or father and son relationships.

Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17 (NASB))

If one falls, he shall be supported by the other. Woe to one who is alone. For when he falls, he has no one to lift him up. (Ecclesiastes 4:10 (CPDV))

God sometimes pushes us to our limits because He has greater faith in us than we have in ourselves.  “God brings men into deep waters, not to drown them, but to cleanse them” (John Aughey).  Men are more likely not to attend church or be involved in the life of their church.  I can remember sitting in church on Sunday mornings being able to count the number of men on my hands; sometimes only one hand.  Women’s ministries were thriving and always looking for more volunteers to do the work.  Most Bible study groups consisted of women.  On the other hand men’s ministries were only a figment of the imagination.  To the question, “Where is the men’s ministry?” was often the answer, “It would be nice if we could get a couple of guys together, but...”  Or “The guys get together when we have a heavy job that needs to be done.”  Men, and especially young men, need more than that.  We don’t just need to be the heavy labor crew.  We need strong Christian men in our church communities to mentor young men who are struggling to find their identity.  These men wander never coming to learn who they are in Christ.  We need to work on each other smoothing out the rough edges so that we can be more and more Christlike. 

One of the most important questions to ask your son, “What kind of man do you want to be?”  When we ask our son’s these questions we need to have spaces to explore the possible answers.  We need these spaces to be filled with the Holy Spirit and offer a Christian and masculine perspective.  The questions and answers need to be able to be explored without the hovering mothering.  Young men (all men) need to have opportunities to explore their faith in safe growth environments.  Although I know that I still make mistakes and I need new grace and mercy every day I engage young men in discussions of how they can shape their lives.  With some it is an outright discussion related to faith and Christ; while with others the discussion is less focused there.  But in any case we need to be the best role models we can for the next generation of men.  Take time to support and sharpen one another so that each man can be a man of God.

Love Take Me Over - Stephen Curtis Chapman

Burn for You - Toby Mac