There is a narrative that is drilled into our heads every day by pop culture and the media. The broad summary of the narrative is this: All men are pretty much alike and they all behave in the same way. I suspect that I’m not alone in my belief that the world’s idea of what a real man is couldn’t be more flawed. As a Christian man, I want to expose the world’s notion of manhood for its lie. I also want to encourage brothers in Christ everywhere to live out authentic manhood in the end times. 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Men live in dark days, and the onslaught of evil is growing by the day. I began to notice this defaming of the role of men starting in the 1970s and it really took hold in the 1980s. Now in the last decade or so, there has been an all-out frontal assault on men with shows like Married With Children, Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, and The King of Queens to name just a few. Think about the type of men portrayed in these shows. They are usually very immature, self-absorbed, and foolish. The men on these shows are reduced to having the same intellect as a sideshow clown.
Reality shows are the big thing now. The Hills, The Bachelor, The Real Housewives of wherever, Jersey Shore, and Keeping up with the Kardashians are just a sampling of shows that highlight what a mess this world is in. Most of the ‘males’ on these shows are simply boys who know how to shave in my opinion. Commercials have some of the most sexually charged, provocative, and debasing content available to all. I’m not a sports fanatic, but I will watch a big game like the Super Bowl or World Series with my sons or daughters. One minute you are seeing the replay of a great touchdown and before you know it, there’s a woman with very few clothes in what is supposed to be a commercial about cars. Wardrobe malfunctions, sexual innuendo, and materialism are the rule, not the exception on television in our day. I used to turn my head, but now it’s just better to turn the TV off. Job 31:1
You cannot will, fight, manipulate, or conjure up goodness in and of yourself. It’s only Christ in me, that is good. Left to my own good and trying, I will fail miserably. I must die to myself daily and crucify the flesh if I’m to live for Jesus. I can never be good enough on my own. Galatians 2:20-21
If we surrender our pretend goodness and let Christ work in and through us, He will help us in so many ways. We will be able to love our wives like He loves the church. We will speak truth into our children’s hearts. We will be better equipped as friends, teachers, pastors, and co-laborers to build one another up. We will be sober-minded and grounded when the world around us seems to be falling headlong into an abyss of immorality.
I want every Christian man who is reading this to understand that we are at war. We don’t have the time or luxury to stroll leisurely toward heaven as we live out our lives daily. Jesus is coming soon and our enemy knows his time is limited. Heads up brothers, Satan wants to devour you, destroy your family, wreck your marriage, and obliterate your children. Let’s get back to the basics of praying for our wives and children daily. We need to take our wife by the hand and pray for her because there is a war raging against her soul as well. We need to live a holy set apart life unto God because people are watching and we have an opportunity to be living proof of the life-changing work of Jesus to other men. John 10:10
You and I have a responsibility to stand against the narrative this world tries to ram down our throats. Laughing at coarse jokes is what worldly men do. Staring at the pretty lady who walks by with your friends and pressures you by saying, “it’s ok to look, but not to touch” is what worldly men do. We need to speak life into conversations that are going nowhere fast.
Be the same man behind closed doors that you are in public. We can’t afford to play religious games or have an apathetic Christian walk. We need to follow hard after Jesus with our whole hearts. Living this life for the glory of God alone and not ourselves is the diametric opposite of how the world lives.
Friends, we need to emulate ‘real men’, not the boys in men’s clothing of today’s pop culture. We need more men like Joseph, Job, David, Jeremiah, Daniel, Stephen, Peter, James, Paul, Timothy, and of course Jesus. These are real men who lived boldly for the Father’s glory. Hebrews 12:1-2
As these days grow darker prior to Jesus’ return, I don’t expect the spiritual battle to abate. On the contrary, I expect the full onslaught of Satan to come against Christian men and the church. Make no mistake, if you take a stand and live for Jesus, you will be attacked. Let’s pray for one another, encourage others to finish well, and live as an example of authentic manhood in these end times.
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All for Him,
Howard
