Strategy games have never been my desire on game night. I remember the first time my husband taught me how to play RISK. Being a strong melancholy woman, I was devastated when after 2 hours of playing I had only a handful of soldiers to show for my efforts. In contrast, my husband had amassed a huge army—wiping me off the board in his campaign to conquer every continent. I think I’ll be content with playing Scrabble; I’ll let my hubby and others contend for world domination.
Satan and his forces work hard to emasculate the warrior heart of every man—promoting the lies that men must be like women or by taking men prisoner through pornography. Unsure of what real strength looks like, many men subconsciously succumb to the false idea that playing the conquering hero on a video game is the greatest measurement of manhood.
They couldn’t be further from the truth.
Although a woman appreciates it when a guy understands what she needs, a man’s highest calling isn’t found in learning to make a woman happy. The greatest goal for a man is to give his life willingly and unreservedly for God’s glory (Psalm 86:12; Romans 6:13).
While Jesus is compassionate, merciful, and gentle, we must also remember that He is the epitome of a warrior (Isaiah 42:13). God didn’t create men to be in bondage to their sexual appetites or their passivity. Neither did He create them to be women. In every seemingly ordinary moment, the battle between light and darkness rages. Men were made to fight for what is right. For the body of Christ to function as God intended, the church must:
• Realize that God places a unique calling on men.
• Challenge men to lead strongly as they live selflessly.
• Teach men that true strength is found in godly surrender.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 5:17-30
More:
Read Revelation 19:11- 16 to see the connection between Christ as our spotless sacrifice and as our conquering King.
Next:
What fallout do we see in families as the result of a wrong understanding of what manhood means? In what ways can the church instill in men an understanding of the strategic calling God has placed on their lives?
daisymarygoldr on June 29, 2011 at 1:19 am
Very well said, Regina! I love the warrior metaphor. It perfectly describes God’s ordained role for man. Although I was not allowed me to read romance novels, I stand guilty of reading some behind my father’s back. The knight in shining armor that would come and take us away on his white horse is every young girl’s dream. Looks like that fragment of our imagination is not altogether a fantasy but is rooted in reality. In Revelations we see Jesus, the mighty warrior who rides in on a white horse and leads the way to victory.
It is not fair to give credit to Satan for everything. Under the influence of the feminine movement, it is we who have emasculated our men to become passive and powerless wimps. The Bible presents God as a warrior who fights for us. And man is made in God’s image. As you have rightly pointed out, his goal is to reflect God’s glory (I Corinthians 11:7). A real, masculine, virile, manly man—is a godly man. Despite their weakness for women, the strength of their manhood is to be strong in the Lord.
And I can’t speak for all women, but as for me, I am happiest if the man loves God and loves His Word. Nothing else satisfies me more than to see the man walk in godly fear and lead his household to serve the Lord. And this is what I always tell my husband. If a man loves God, then He will obey His commands and fight with all his might against sexual temptations. He will not fail to fulfill his God-given duty—to provide for, protect and preserve the souls of those who have been committed to his care.
Yes, the church needs to teach men of their high calling. However, the training begins at home—right from the cradle. One of my favorite heroes next to Jesus is David the warrior king. Even though David was not all perfect, he is a perfect example of a parent who was a man after God’s heart and also charged his son to “be a man”. (1Kings 2:2). At a time when there is confusion in profusion regarding gender roles, we—the church should pray and prepare men to act like men.
regina franklin on July 5, 2011 at 7:20 pm
Dear daisymarygoldr–thanks for the great feedback. Yes–we have lost much through the feminist movement while at the same time I must recognize the gains that some of these women made (right to vote, right to equal pay). What a great day it will be when the church presents a united and powerful picture of the uniqueness of men and women while at the same time demonstrating their strengths and advocacy of each other.
lindagma on June 29, 2011 at 5:48 am
The best way to encourage men to act like a man is to act like women.
regina franklin on July 5, 2011 at 7:35 pm
While I agree in principle, I think it stirs the question of what it means to act like women. How much of what we define as womanhood in our society has been shaped by the Word and how much of it by culture?
winn collier on June 29, 2011 at 9:15 am
I like RISK and Scrabble, what does that say? There are so many ways to fight well, and I hope we use them all.
regina franklin on July 5, 2011 at 7:23 pm
You like to conquer with words as well?? Good point, though! While there are some attributes that make us each distinctly male or female, we can’t categorize people too narrowly or we miss the incredible fact that we were all made in the image of a complex and multi-faceted Creator.
eppistle on June 29, 2011 at 10:09 am
My favorite passage on biblical manhood is I Corinthians 16:13b,14: “Be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.” The word for “men” literally means “males,” not “humans.” Certainly women should have these characteristics, but particularly men. We should be courageous, but loving. Strong, but gentle. More concerned for the needs of those whom we lead than we are about our own desires. Not abusive but not passive.
regina franklin on July 5, 2011 at 7:27 pm
I think the story of Boaz fits your description well. He’s one of my favorite Biblical models of manhood. He was known as a man of integrity (Ruth 3:12), he recognized what defines true womanhood (Ruth 3:10-11, Proverbs 31:10-11), and he committed himself to the task at hand until things were in order (Ruth 3:18).
firstbehonest on June 29, 2011 at 12:21 pm
The issue for many men is that our culture demands that we prove ourselves against competitors. We are made to feel that “if you are not #1, then you are a loser”. Men compete to prove their worth. God on the other hand says we have great worth without proving anything. He proved our worth to all by giving us salvation through the sacrifice on the cross. So I think the key point is that we men need to direct our efforts, not to exalt our status among men, but to join God as part of His team to fight evil. The emphasis shifts from “me and I” to “we and us” as we team with God, remembering that “He who is in us is greater than he who is ruling this world”. It is not up to men to pick the battles, it is in obedience to God that we fight the influences of satan in our culture. We stand up and speak out when others “don’t want to cause a problem” or disturb the status-quo. We take the lead in doing good and in promoting righteousness. This is the courage that changes the world, not the highest score on an internet game site.
regina franklin on July 5, 2011 at 7:28 pm
Very well said!
Jeff Olson on June 29, 2011 at 2:02 pm
Regina, great devotional…so that’s why I like to play RISK 🙂
Men don’t have check their courage, strength and warrior hearts at the door to be godly…in fact, we’re acting godless and playing right in the hands of the adversary if we do.
regina franklin on July 5, 2011 at 7:31 pm
Glad to help :)!
As you have aptly identified, godliness empowers with strength, and it does not weaken but rather purifies the passions of a man’s heart.