Christian Americans or American Christians?
Research has shown that women who gain a few pounds live longer than their husbands who point it out. It’s easy to give in to cultural points of contention. According to 2 Timothy 3, men in the last days will be lovers of self, haughty, high minded, boastful, covetous, despisers of those who are good, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof. In 2 Timothy 2:22-26 Paul said by revelation, “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
Christianity is a rescue effort for desperate men. What’s the average Christian man like who attends church? Is he about his Father’s business? Is he ashamed to be called “man of God?”
Three hundred thousand men of God living for God in their homes will change this nation more than one man in the White House. The question is: are we Christians who happen to be Americans or are we Americans who happen to be Christians? The purpose of our calling as men of God is that we keep our priorities in line. We don’t have a political problem today, we have a spiritual problem. Regardless of the problem, the answer is Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life. He is the Word of God made manifest.
What’s our big challenge? What’s keeping men of God from their call to brotherhood? The popular culture is opposed to Christian brotherhood. The world’s man-code is centered on self and says that the objective is to become a self made man. However, Jesus said, unless a man forsakes his family and himself and takes up his cross daily to follow me, he cannot be my disciple.
Jesus said, I’m not here to give you a plan. You are the plan. The works that I have done you shall do also, and greater works shall you do because I go unto my Father. The greater work is that we can lead others to salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. When Jesus was here on earth, salvation was not yet available because he had not yet paid the price for our redemption and God’s Holy Spirit was not yet available. In the book of Acts, the multitudes marveled that the men who spoke at the day of Pentecost spoke with power and authority even though they were lowly Galileans. Then they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
The typical Christian man has misplaced priorities and rarely looks inside to see how he can correct this imbalance. He’s struggling with guilt, shame, fear, and loneliness. He identifies himself with his work but cannot find the purpose for his life. He may have a father-wound. He never heard his dad say, “I love you son.” He cannot relate with a loving Heavenly Father because his own dad never modeled what it means to be a godly father.
He struggles with the lust of the flesh and he has problems with his relationship with his wife. He says that he doesn’t need marriage counseling. He complains that his wife doesn’t accept him for who he is. He resents that she spends most of her time trying to change him. He refuses to attend marriage retreats or couples’ classes. He thinks that she is the problem. He never prays with her or for her. He’s been to mens’ retreats and church conferences but cannot understand the meaning of grace. He knows that he doesn’t pray enough, give enough, serve enough, or love enough. He thinks that others have their acts together but knows that he does not. He even questions his own salvation. He spends most of his time in sin management instead of living in Gods grace, mercy, and love.
Pete recalls that a man came up to him after church and said we need to talk. He said, “I got up this morning and found a note from my wife that said, “If you want to save this marriage then go see Pete.” Pete thought to himself, “I know that Jesus can raise the dead, but I’m not so sure about resurrecting this marriage.” He asked the man, “Are you willing to do whatever you need to do to save this marriage?” The man’s answer was, “probably not.”
The typical Christian man is fearful of sharing his faith because he’s not sure how… and he’s not even convinced of his own salvation. He’s afraid of praying in public and sharing in a bible study discussion. Even deacons and elders in the some churches feel inadequate, ignorant, lonely, fearful and isolated.
The typical Christian guy will refuse to come to a Christian men’s group. He doesn’t have time to cultivate true friendships so he keeps his relationships casual. He finds his identity in his job. His motto is “I am what I do.” He’s bought into the culture’s definition of manhood. He prides himself on his bank account, his accomplishments, his possessions and his worldly successes. He doesn’t know how to work out his own salvation in his family and in the marketplace.
The question to ask ourselves as Christian men is, “If every man were like me, would we win the spiritual battle?” We live in a culture that thinks that prayer doesn’t belong in schools and public places; that we should keep our “religion” to ourselves. Some churches won’t allow us to quote scripture in marriage classes where it says, “wive’s submit yourselves to your own husbands in the Lord.”
As in the days of Noah, there’s a flood coming. When Noah warned the people of the impending flood, the people laughed, mocked, and went about their business as usual. Noah was faithful for one hundred years to warn them that the flood would take away their families, their homes, their businesses, and their own lives. Then when the flood finally came, they didn’t know what hit them.
The question is, “how are we as Christian men different from the culture around us?” When we Christians fellowship together and isolate ourselves from the world, how can we change the world? Do we have a form of godliness while we deny the power thereof? As the Apostle Paul said, our challenge is to “work your our own salvation with fear and trembling…with respect and reverence. For it is God who works in you to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
We meet with likeminded men so that we can “choke in the dust” of men of God who are in pursuit of their Lord Jesus Christ. As we walk in the light as he is in the light we shall have fellowship with Christ our brother, with our Heavenly Father, and with one with another in the household of faith. We link with likeminded men so that we can give it away. He called us to deliver the message of salvation, but more importantly he called us to be the message, for we are God’s love letters, his living epistles known and read of all men. Then we can “stand fast immovable always abounding in the work of the Lord inasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
And as we follow in the footsteps of our Lord, may we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael