Life Giving

“Manhood is life giving.  Masculinity is best expressed when it is here for others.”
-Robert Lewis

What I have been convicted by lately is the extreme lack of males in leadership, especially spiritual leadership.  Men, please look around and tell me that these things are not true of our “masculinity”:

·      we don’t want to stir emotions

·      we don’t want to ruffle any feathers

·      we avoid conflict at all costs, the things we want are about our own personal success and well-being

·      we are perfectly okay in partially committed relationships

·      we do not understand the fragility of the female heart (we never fully will, but I’m talking about the complete disregard for the caring of a female heart)

·      we certainly don’t want to be held responsible for any of the fore mentioned issues… 

Okay, all of these may not apply to you, but I know there has to be at least one that does.    

Let me first say that I am not innocent of any of the charges, but I do desire change.  At our Men’s bible study last week we read an article the referenced Robert Lewis’ book, The Quest for Authentic Manhood.  One of the points he made about being Godly men is that we are purposed to give life, not take it. 

Now even if you aren’t taking life, it does not automatically mean you are living a life that is focused on the eternal either.  It is very easy to focus on finite goals, things that are just temporary and insignificant.  But in order to give life our hearts need to be awakened to things of eternal value.

I know it is easy to talk about, but let’s get going men.  As we pursue God, the things that make our heart hurt are the same things that hurt our Father’s heart. 

Guess what?  These issues of heartache are also issues of life, and giving life.  Meaning, these things of conviction hold significant meaning for the lives of others, especially when we act on them.  And that is exactly what we are called to do, act. 

What does that mean? It means that failure to act will not bring life to others… and we’ll continue to live as passive boys who don’t want to bother anyone because it is “not our place”.  Men, it is our place!

Convictions will be different for all of us, as God has a different plan for you than he does for me. As for myself, my heart hurts that our society is filled with boys who do not want to become men, or have very few men to teach them how… and I want to encourage a life that challenges them to discover what true masculinity is (while I pursue manhood for myself as well). 

I realize this posting has not given any real answers as to how to give life, the truth is I am still learning that myself.  But for starters, let’s stop focusing for one second on what our goals and dreams are, or how we are going to get the hottest girl, biggest house, and the fastest car, and let’s start focusing on the convictions placed on our hearts by God.  Come on boys, it’s time to be men… it’s time to give life. 

“So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 

I Corinthians 15:45