Acting Like Men
The Fight for Fatherhood • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
We recently discussed the idea of patriarchy and the idea that it is of tremendous value and part of our created order.
But patriarchy like any form of leadership can be terribly corrupted. That doesn’t mean the concept is wicked, it means that men are wicked.
They are wicked whatever the form of leadership.
Our choice is not between evil patriarchy and some leadership better suited to humanity.
Whatever the form of governance, bad men will make that system bad.
But when you depart from God’s pattern, good men cannot make that departure good.
At least with patriarchy, good men will make good leaders.
So, we turn our attention to what makes for good men. That is what we are in such need of.
Cultural Markers
Cultural Markers
We are talking about communication (Judges 12:5-6).
These aren’t arbitrary distinctions in the sense that somebody just made them up one day.
They develop over time in a time and place for a variety of reasons.
And they are real distinctions.
We can communicate masculinity and femininity in many ways (Deut. 22:5).
These are not arbitrary just because they change from one culture to another.
Yes, the Scottish wear kilts. Try telling one of those burly men in a kilt that he is wearing a skirt and see what happens?
But that doesn’t mean you get to throw away the cultural distinctions here as if they don’t exist.
Efforts have been made to actively mock and suppress these markers (Matt. 27:29).
But even when they mock the markers, they are admitting they exist and for what reason they exist.
They in fact use them to communicate those very things in perverse ways.
Of course, the outward communication should come from inward reality (Matt. 23:25-26).
There are men who wear the trappings of godly masculinity but are inwardly snowflakes, or brutes, or usually some terrible combination of both.
Of course, the reality comes through and the facade is always shown to be just that. And ungodly men end up wearing the false picture like an ill fitting suit. They are boys, trying to puff their chests out and standing on their tip toes to fill shoes they have not done the work to be fitted for.
But I also want to say this, I realize the inside is where we need to focus. But we are so turned upside down as a society that we don’t even have a solid picture of what the outside should be! So we have to focus on both the heart and what the heart produces.
For Good and for Ill
For Good and for Ill
Masculinity is not inherently virtuous (Ezek. 3:7-9).
It can be used to protect and to harm (Ruth 2:9).
Instead of scolding young men for using their strength or for their aggression, we need to scold them for where they aim it.
We need to teach them that there are indeed wolves out there who need to be overcome. So don’t be a wolf, be the one who stands up to wolves.
Masculinity can be hard for the sake of others or hard towards others (Lev. 10:6; Matt. 12:7).
Culture has defined masculinity in terms of only the negative.
Starting Points
Starting Points
God is the Father and so He shows us what Biblical masculinity is (Eph. 3:14).
Men ought to gladly assume sacrificial responsibility for all that is theirs (Hos. 3:1-3; Phil. 2:5-8).
Biblical masculinity has an internal foundation (2 Cor. 12:7-10).
External masculinity must be tied to the internal (2 Tim. 2:4-6).
You don’t have to be a soldier, an athlete, or a farmer.
But you need something of what every good version of those has.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Among the issues remaining to be addressed are ways in which our culture has made it hard for men to be good men.
In addition, the ways churches have piled on and made it more difficult still.
But for our conclusion this morning, as always, we look to the Father for this and every example.
Come, and submit to the Father and so learn how to be what He created you to be man or woman…a child of His.