Manhood Part 4: A Narrow Road

This will be the conclusion of my last 3 post on "manhood". In my previous post, humility and service were laid down as the bedrock of true manhood. Humility and service are the standards for guiding men into a biblical expression of manhood. Philipians 2:12 says, "work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." The context of this passage is not directly dealing with manhood, but with obedience. We have to work out the ways of God (included is our manhood) presented to us in his word. We strive to enter into the kindom of God by finding out what God expects of us and then doing it. It is our responsibility to conform our ideas of true manliness to God's word and not on the whims of social pressure.

Jesus has given us the perfect example for true manhood, but he has not given us a detailed, troubleshooting manual for every situation that challenges our understanding of ourselves as men. God has given us minds to work through difficult problems, and prayer to access wisdom when solutions are shortcomming. As christians, we are to sanctify our male natures to the obedience of Christ. We are at war with our male natures, our "masculine" ways. Christ redeems us from sin and death, and this redemption includes our manhood.

The Jews of the first century could not comprehend a suffering messiah;they could not comprehend a "Nazareen" as their king;they could not imagine their God speaking with ill-reputes, lepers, tax collectors, or samaritans. Christ humility was a stumbling block to their understanding and acceptance of him. It is no different today. Biblical manhood is completely mis-understood and mis-represented by the worlds societies and cultures, and this has created confusion and compromise in the church and within Christian families. Christ presentation of his Father was rejected and he was crucified, and so it may be with us as well. We are here to serve and not to be served, and in a world where power and success are the barometers of manliness, it should come as no surprise that the biblical, narrow road of manhood, is a road less traveled. TOTT