« Man Down… | Main | Another Easter. Same Suit. »
Bear Eating a Trout in the Rugged Wilderness kind of Beauty
By Child of New Light | March 12, 2008
Branching on some earlier topics, its been mentioned by many professionals and ministers that the mans place in society has been under attack. In the last 20 years or so men have been demeaned and disrespected in society. It is evident in shows like Everyone Loves Raymond and other sitcoms, along with your average television and radio commercial. The man is always portrayed as stupid while the woman is portrayed as a know it all whom the man is just totally incapable of living without for fear of dying of his own stupidity. If you're a man you've probably seen this. Maybe not been able to verbalize it. But chances are you've seen it and felt a little off.
Then of course there is the OTHER extreme. Where man is the macho testosterone pig who is trying to get into every girl's pants, cheat on his wife at the first chance, drive a fast sports car, do daring stunts, pick fights, and altogether beat the living crud out of anyone who gets in his way.
I've personally had to deal especially with the latter example. Often times the parents of girls I knew would give me this weird look or just treat me like I was some monster trying to take away their daughter's virginity. Since I was a male I must be sex hungry. Since I was male I must have no manners. Since I'm male I must not have any self control. Since I'm male… you get the picture.
Well, honestly, I'm fed up with both of these extremes (maybe extreme isn't the right word because they can both coexist and are not opposites but im tired and I think you get the idea).
For the longest time I felt ashamed to be called a man. In fact I often fought with my first girlfriend over that title. I was indeed 19 years old but whenever she called me a "man" I'd just about flip. I could be "boy" or "guy" but never "a man". "I am no man!"
And I don't think I still am! (hold on, gotta an explanation coming up)
Growing up in a Christian household with parents who were very strict and sincere on raising a "gentleman" along with being an exceptionally obedient child (not so much teenager…but better than average) I grew up being very different from most boys my age and in teen years the difference gap only widened. Especially in the latter teen years I knew I was not the same beast I saw in my college classes and these guys from high school.
Every other word was a swear word and had to do with sex. I'd listen to these guys talk about women as pieces of meat and it seemed every waking thought was about sex (and usually something disgusting about it). I didn't want to be associated with these people. This was societies definition of a man and I wanted nothing to do with it.
Over these last few years God has brought me into an understanding that I am not a man… I am His man. I am a man of God. And that being a MAN of God is a NOBLE and respectable creation.
I am a man. God created me. He created me to be a protector, a provider, and a spiritual leader of my family. He created me to love my kids. Love my wife. He created me to be pure. Compassionate. Meek. Gentle. Strong. Bold.
This is the picture of God's man. And all of you guys out there whether you're teenagers or young adults like me or farther ahead in life. I want to really encourage you to be proud of who you are in Christ.
We really need to let go of society and its standards and definitions and begin picking up the ones God has for us.
Maybe this is just something in me. God is showing me how beautiful I am as a man.
- PAUSE -
- INSERT SLIDE -
Imagine a big grizzly scooping out of a raging river a giant salmon with thick green forests in the background.
- INSERT ANOTHER SLIDE -
Imagine the rugged Alaskan wilderness. A giant mountain range looms in the distance.
- PLAY -
That kind of beautiful. Not the tutu fruity girly beautiful (no offense ladies…we love it…but we just aren't THAT beautiful)
I am a beautiful, handsome creation in Christ. And so are you.
Women were made by God to fulfill in many respects different rules that us guys could never imagine of being able to fulfill. On the flipside, men were made to fulfill roles and purposes that woman just never can.
You are a man of God. You are a man. You are made in the image of God. You are a proud and noble creation. Forget the sinful man and his desires. That man has died in Christ. Our focus here is in the man God originally made Adam to be and the even better man God has made alive in Christ. You are a leader for your family. A friend and partner for your wife. You are strong in many respects (do not compare to others…there will always be someone stronger than you). You were made in the image of God. You are called to walk as Jesus did…the perfect example of a godly man.
So with this rambling spiel I just want to encourage you to take a moment and think about how awesome it is to be a man. How different you are from the world's man. And to continue to push yourself to be a gentleman of God like He has called us all to be.
Topics: Society, Spiritual, The Church |
