Man Up

The next 'Guerreiros' Program will be this afternoon, and God has been speaking to me a lot about this week's theme. I will be discussing Biblical manhood and what it means to be a man. In this age, I feel like there are few men assuming the roles that God has for them. And especially here in the community, the idea of what a man is seems to be very skewed. The world around us teaches many falsehoods of manhood - whether it is to be overly domineering, abusive, obsessed with sports, zealously climbing the business ladder, or complacently surrendering the inborn drive and responsibility to lead.

R.C. Sproul Jr. called out men saying " I'm not sure whether our men in the church wear skirts because we worship a god in a skirt, or whether we worship a skirt-wearing god because the men in the church are so weak." (http://www.cbmw.org/Resources/Articles/Off-with-the-Skirt-on-with-the-Pants)

In all areas of life, God has called men to step up. Whether in the Church or the family, God has given roles for men to take on. According to the article 'Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood' manhood is described as follows: (http://cdn.desiringgod.org/pdf/books_bbmw/bbmw.pdf)

At the heart of mature masculinity is a sense of benevolent responsibility to
lead, provide for, and protect women in ways appropriate to
a man's differing relationships.

To Lead. Protect. Provide.

All of these have spiritual value, for the perfect example of all of them is found in the life of Jesus. For the body of Christ is to submit to him, yet even with his authority and responsibility to lead, Jesus led by humility. Seeking the best interest of the Church, he protected her from death through His sacrifice, and provided all that she needs, 'so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27)'

As Pastor Mark Driscoll said, masculinity is not looking at femininity and doing everything the opposite. It is not choosing to avoid any signs of weakness, or choosing to rule without mercy.

Thomas Bjerkholt wrote, "It is this we find in perfect balance in Jesus. He is the Lion of Judah. He is the Lamb. He grasps the whip and clears out the temple court. He cries at the grave of Lazarus. He had the courage to reprimand the Pharisees and the scribes. He dared to show weakness when the trial was at its hardest—in Gethsemane. We see that love and strength, tenderness and firmness, mercy and truth are in perfect balance in him. Therefore Jesus is in a special way the true model for all men." (http://www.cbmw.org/Resources/Articles/The-Mature-Man)

May we as men be empowered to live as God intends!

'Dem Bones

The first 'Guerreiros' (Warriors) Program went down this past Saturday. And it really felt like it went down- downhill. It was pretty hectic, 23 boys showed up for it, which initially seemed like a real blessing and cool opportunity. But difficulties were pretty rampant throughout the program.

I have been reflecting on that afternoon a lot lately, and too often I get down on things like this where my big visions of how things will be turn out quite differently.

While praying today, God directed me to Ezekiel 37 and He really spoke to me.

It starts: 'The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley, it was full of bones.'

"Drew, I brought you here, I have been guiding this whole process of bringing you here."
And it has been to the middle of a valley, full of bones. Bones of alcoholism, drugs, violence, abuse, complacent belief in God. Praise God that there are indeed signs of vibrant life in believers here, but one cannot ignore the mountain of bones towering out of the valley.

'And there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold they were very dry.'

I believe that I am more gifted in discipling believers than evangelizing, but it seems like it is a place of a multitude of very dry bones. And I feel inadequate with this task.

'Son of man, can these bones live?'

That was the kicker. "Drew, do you believe I can transform this place? These people?"

'O LORD God, You know. '

'Then He said to me, 'Prophesy over these bones and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the LORD God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live... you shall know that I am the LORD.'

When we are discouraged, we must remember who it is that stands behind us and is sending us to spread the word of His gospel.

'So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army (Guerrerios).'

Will God cause breath to enter the bones and raise up this great army of Guerreiros in this community? O LORD God, You know. And that is enough for me to continue.

Guerreiros

The next three Saturdays I will be leading a group for boys in the community here on the theme of warriors. Too often I believe that the church has feminized the gospel and emasculated the radical and powerful words of Jesus and the truth that God is a mighty warrior.

From the beginning of God's involvement with mankind, He has had warriors carrying the banner of His name. Men who have forsaken the ways of the world and have set their eyes on their eternal homeland. 'Heroes' of the faith who "through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight." (Hebrews 11:33,34)

What a difference it would make if young men in this community activated passive, complacent belief for active, heroic faith. If God would have warriors in and from this community raised up for His glory.

Please pray:
God would be bringing the boys He desires to this program
Wisdom with teaching
Open hearts and true, living faith to take root