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Post by Soulfyre on Dec 22, 2004 4:31:01 GMT -5
Perhaps of all mysteries of Creation, the qualities that God appends to gender distinction can be the most confounding. I believe the author of "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" has a gift of understatement. Yet it is past time that we should recognize the damage that the presumption of "equality" has done to us as human beings. While it may be argued that we have equal rights under the law, we are not equal--least of all, before God, who recognizes each person's uniqueness, and created our inequalities as something to be celebrated! In this area, I hope that we men can discuss together what God expects of a godly man. Currently, fairbank and I will moderate this area. Feel free to share your questions, your concerns, your experiences, and your knowledge. Let us build one another up in the Lord, so that we all may become mature men of God. God bless and keep you, Matthew (soulfyre)  |
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Post by fairbank on Dec 31, 2004 20:32:20 GMT -5
Men,
I hope this topic is not too broad, but who are your role models of masculine godliness (in the Bible, in church history, etc) and why? Specifically what are their attributes you would like to emulate? How does their example inspire you, and what does it inspire you to do or change? Have at it!
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Post by Soulfyre on Jan 11, 2005 6:48:14 GMT -5
Let me be the first to answer, since I am dealing with a background that, while it is not unique, is nevertheless somewhat "skewing" in how I approach this. While I believe the Bible is replete in examples of Biblical "manhood" and "womanhood", as does church history, both ancient and modern, because I also struggled with what is now euphemistically called "sexual orientation" issues, there was an aspect to manhood that I desired to see modeled that is not addressed in detail (well, except perhaps by the Song of Solomon). God provided this for me, however, when I attended seminary at Gordon-Conwell. It was there I was fortunate to meet a man who modeled these characteristics for me in a manner which was life-changing and attitude-changing for me. Interestingly, the topic did not really arise as a matter of discussion, for it seems to me we rarely discussed my "orientation" issues. Nor did I really seek that advice from him in particular. Rather, it was the context that his life provided, in which I saw his teaching as a natural extension of his life. He did not need to teach me how to be attracted to a woman--I observed it consistently in his unpretentious attraction to his wife. He did not need to teach me how to love and respect a woman--I observed this in how he loved and respected his wife. And I didn't need him to teach me the uniqueness of the dynamic relationship between a man an woman committed to one another in marriage--I saw this lived out in their relationship. He was a hero of the faith to me, a Christian man in the best sense of the word, who I wished to follow because of his desire to follow Paul, and Peter, and, most importantly, Jesus Christ. Now who this is should be no mystery to you, my brother. I have long considered you my pastor and my friend. I have looked to you and your wife (and your family) as a picture of what Biblical manhood and womanhood, as expressed particularly in marriage, can and should be. Now I realize that manhood and womanhood entail more than their peculiar created relationship with one another, but because of the issues of my life, this relationship, and understanding its dynamics, was crucial to my Christian life. And I thank God, and you and your wife (and your family), for the great blessing you have all been to my life. God bless and keep you and yours always, Matthew (soulfyre) P.S. I do hope some others avail themselves of this board to post questions and concerns that you can address. I believe that given the nature of our culture, even those who are not faced with my particular issues are in desperate need of understanding Biblical manhood. P.P.S. BTW, I know you didn't ask your question in anticipation of my answer, but you did ask the question, and I could only answer it honestly.  |
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Post by rgrove on Jan 11, 2005 19:21:05 GMT -5
Men, I hope this topic is not too broad, but who are your role models of masculine godliness (in the Bible, in church history, etc) and why? Specifically what are their attributes you would like to emulate? How does their example inspire you, and what does it inspire you to do or change? Have at it! Unfortunately I have struggled to be able to answer the question in the past. It always seems to be asked. Growing up I didn't have a Christian example. We went to our Catholic church almost every weekend, but that's where church stayed pretty much in our particular family. My Dad's view is that it helps with morals and whatnot, but he stopped going the moment my brother and I were gone... My years in college and the Army didn't bring me into close contact with anyone I could emulate or look up to that I can recall. I became a Christian in college, but it happened quite isolated from people (and that has a lot to do with my current firm committment to sola scriptura). It was mostly just me and the Bible. I was also on the golf team and surrounded by athletes. I only got out alive and better off than I went in from that environment by the pure grace of God... After the Army (where I didn't grow at all, but rather backslid pretty badly in the faith) we became members at a local Baptist church and they immediately put us into a group with people of our own age. This didn't really provide me with any great influences either. Mostly just people who were on spirital cruise control like I was at the time, but socialized via church. This changed over a few years there as I got to know a couple of the older men in the congregation through other involvements in different church activities. During that time the Bible study group began to grow spiritually quite a bit as well. One particular man was the church greeter. God created him to be a greeter, I'm convinced of it. He was probably the first man I really looked up to in a godly, Christian sense. He came over and helped me work on our water heater one time shortly after we bought our first house. I'd have never figured out how to fix it without him. That's just the kind of guy he is. He'll do anything for you. I hadn't met many people quite like him up to then. I also began to read around that time and came to have a deep respect for so many people in church history that I can't really name them and do justice to the varied influences. Not just one period will do. This is where I truly came into contact with a more Biblical understanding of living a life of holiness in Christ as well as seeing "The Sinfulness of Sin" to steel a Puritan book title. I love reading on lives of the reformers, the Puritans of the 17th century, 18th century leaders in England and America, 19th century leaders, particularly in the Baptist tradition that began embarking on what would be considered the modern missionary field. Obviously other traditions are there, but these are the ones I'm most familiar with. In the last few years I've had greater and greater appreciation for the writings of early Christians of the Nicene era as well. But in particular hearing about their lives and witness in spite of the overwhelmingly pagan environment they lived in at the time has been an inspiration. Christian biographies of our predecessors in the faith is something no Christian should ignore. The number of godly men God has given to provide current men an example for godly living and proper witness to the world are quite simply overwhelming to contemplate. |
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Post by fairbank on Feb 2, 2005 0:50:03 GMT -5
Praise God for those he has placed in your path, Ron. For me, I have gained inspiration from:
George Whitefield: whose preaching (along with Jonathan Edwards and Frelinghuysen) was instrumental in America's Great Awakening (1725-1760). Whether preaching in America or overseas, the "divine dramatist" as he was called led thousands to Christ. He was literally America's first celebrity, and had a gift for preaching and evangelism, and a heart for the lost.
John Wise: An American puritan who said that "There must be no taxation without representation" long before Patrick Henry thought of saying so. He ministered faithfully to his church in Essex MA for many years and had the reputation for being a loving pastor, a gifted theologian, and a man's man. On one occasion a rough seaman from Newbury came by John's house and challenged him to a wrestling match. The much older (and smaller) John Wise came out into the yard to grapple with the man, who soon found himself on John's shoulders, subsequently being "dumped" over the fence. He made two additional attempts with the same result and then concluded the battle with the statement "And now Reverend Wise, if you would be so kind, just hand me my horse and I will be on my way."
Charles Spurgeon: Known as the Prince of Preachers. He pastored a mega church before there was any such concept, and was able to draw huge crowds armed only with the truth and the Spirit's gift of preaching (honestly...no gym, bowling alley, or purpose driven church blue print). Converted thousands over the span of his sadly brief life (1834-1892), and to this day is the most prolifically published preacher (alliteration accidental...whoops, did it again) of all time. See Spurgeon.org and enjoy. He was a puritan, reformed Baptist, who was truly a fisher of men, not just a keeper of the aquarium.
The late Dr. William Nigel Kerr, my seminary church history professor who enabled me walk in the footsteps of the New England puritans (literally visiting their churches and gravesites), and who modeled their lifestyle so capably for me and my classmates.
The late Gwen Walters, my preaching professor. A Welshman diminutive in stature, but large in heart. He taught me that it was not a sin to preach a boring sermon, but in certainly was a shame. He also taught me to love the puritans, and to love worship. I would sometimes leave his class in tears because of the beauty of the worship we had together. He taught me not only the craft of preaching, but the place of preaching.
Matthew Brown, aka Soulfyre: The most courageous, loving Christian friend I have. He will make an even larger splash in Christendom if he ever gets around to writing the books he has locked in his head. His intellect is staggering, his writing style engaging and lively, and his heart for the things of Christ, unquestioned. Hope he lets me write the preface or introduction.
Finally, the late Reverend Bill Billingsley. The first man I called "pastor," and the most powerful, gifted preacher I have ever heard. God "graced" him with such wisdom and love as a pastor, and power when preaching, that the congregation would forget the channel and hear only Christ in his words. Remember when Jonah preached to the Ninevites? The Bible says in Jonah 3:5 that when Jonah spoke, "The Ninevites believed God." Notice, NOT "The Ninevites believed Jonah," but they believed God. That was the power of Bill Billingsley's preaching.
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Post by rgrove on Feb 2, 2005 13:10:13 GMT -5
My money is in hand ready to spend! ;D
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Post by fairbank on Feb 3, 2005 19:06:24 GMT -5
In that case, I hope Soulfyre lets me write the intoduction AND receive a percentage of the sales...Do I need an agent?
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Post by Kenny on Feb 10, 2005 22:50:33 GMT -5
Men, I hope this topic is not too broad, but who are your role models of masculine godliness (in the Bible, in church history, etc) and why? Specifically what are their attributes you would like to emulate? How does their example inspire you, and what does it inspire you to do or change? Have at it! One of my role models would be my uncle. He is a deacon in our church now and he is just really nice to be around. He's very Godly in his actions, I have never seen him get out of control, get mad, or be "immature" in anyway. He is a great leader and a great role model for our church and he is a great man all around. I tend to like him... lol |
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Post by fairbank on Feb 11, 2005 23:54:42 GMT -5
Kenny, I praise God that you have such a role model close at hand. I pray that God will continue to use him mightily to influence you, and that you will one day influence others in the same way.
Eric
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Post by Soulfyre on Feb 12, 2005 4:11:27 GMT -5
Eric, we deal with much "gender" confusion in our culture. I tend to agree with Laura Bush who sees boys in general as an at-risk population, since there is very little societal support for developing an appropriate understanding of "maleness", or for helping them to mature. Her "Passport to Manhood" emphasis is a breath of fresh air. But what should the church be doing to foster this? And what have you to share with us about "scriptural manhood"? God bless and keep you and your family in His tender care, In Christ, Matthew (soulfyre) |
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