On this memorial day of the year 2012 I remember men who didn’t know what fate they’d meet and as I watch a short vignette of the horror and yet at times, pride they undoubtedly felt I’m overwhelmed with emotion. The moment compels me to ask, what is a man, really? Would I know one when I saw him, how does he live and most of all frightening, am I one?
I am most of all thankful that I have at this moment experienced even in the smallest sense of what it means to be a man. I’m thankful that I have at least learned that it is assuredly not what I thought it was. Words like tough, strong, unerring, brave, accomplished, polished come to mind, but I have learned these are substitutions, counterfeits that are easily faked. There can only be a single definition that universally applies and it’s a Godly definition.
Since it would be unduly burdensome to describe what a man is not, let me describe what a man is.
A man is first and foremost a man. He’s not a woman; he is not less than a man. He has innately a duty to perform that is basic; he must be the man. His role is defined firstly and utmost by his creator God and his highest duty is to seek out his creator God and worship Him, through the acquisition of knowledge; specifically knowledge of God. This essential duty is not a prerequisite to being a man, but rather a Christian man has understanding of the source of his manhood and this is the most advanced awareness a man can possibly have. Worldly men also have the ability to mimic Christian men and take on the qualities that are most definitively from God alone; but this is not to be confused. Men are men because God creates them to be. Christian men are men with a high knowledge of the reason they are men.
What is a man?
A man has a duty that he upholds not because of fear, or doubt or insecurity, but that God himself has commanded obedience to. When a man performs a duty for any reason other than the truthful one, he shames himself and denies God; he is not man.
In marriage, God has commanded him to lead, be strong and most of all to love his wife like Christ has loved the church.
In brotherly relationships he’s been given a duty to use his strength with special prudence, for if by God’s patience and mercy his brothers might be granted repentance.
In worldly relationships he’s to learn to do good, seek justice, protect the orphan and provide for the widow.
In war he’s to be strong, be courageous, to not fear ANYTHING and in the most of all self-descriptive meanings; be a MAN. He is a unique and distinguished creation, called upon to name all the animals, be the progenitor of the first woman and to teach all other men about his creator; YHWH.
A man is strong; but his strength is perfected in weakness. His weakness is no shame for only one can rightfully shame him and that is God alone.
A man is gracious, but he learns mercy through pain and suffering. Suffering is no failing; it is to be endured with joy and thankfulness, for through it, faith (which is a special gift from almighty God), is perfected.
A man is a warrior, and he learns what’s must be fought for; He knows that will never be pride and vanity. For will a man suffer loss to neglect to fight for things that can only deprive him of his Godly character?
A man is not weak.
He loves unashamedly and without fear.
He remembers know past wrongs; they are erased from his mind.
He’s not afraid to be laughed at or ridiculed for showing weakness and emotion. He’s most of all strong to be willing to suffer these things; they are surely the character of God.
He is not a whelp, no, he is courageous.
He doesn’t care what you think, unless you think Godly things.
When you’re not looking, he’ll do what’s required even if hurts.
He knows the difference between the designs of the prince of the power of the air and Jesus Christ. He is not fooled by falsity; he is not ensnared by the world but trains himself for the calling of His master, like a soldier.
When he knows what is expected of him by God, he does it with joy.
He knows that he will be hated but he endures this with peace.
He has only Godly fear
He’s not ashamed of his power.
He’s not fearful of the world.
He entrusts himself to the one who can save him.
He learns obedience from the things from which he suffers.
His creator is the God of all that is. He has been knit in the womb of his mother for a singular and most identifiable cause. To be...a man and worshiper of God.
When this man gets married; it’s a covenant until the death.
When a man fights in a war; he’s fearless and will give everything, even his life. No matter how unrighteous the cause, the sacrifice is always true, for his calling is from God.
When a man is asked and even when he’s not, he will lay down his life for his friends. This man has no equal and Christ has demonstrated this love, that we should be called the sons of God.
