act like a man

Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 1 Cor. 16:13

Maybe you can chalk it up to the after effects of 40 years of social revolution. But the traditional role of the American male has been under assault since the hippy movement. Somewhere along the line, it seems that he became the fall guy for every ill of society. And while I don’t defend plenty of examples of wrong behavior or attitudes of men throughout history, I think societies emasculation of the traditional American male has had a negative backlash on our culture.

Today there is a great need in society for men to take hold of their God given responsibilities and start living up to the standard of our forefathers. And also there is a tremendous need in the church today for men to stand up and start acting like men. Paul in writing to the Corinthians said “act like men”, or I like the old English version, “quit you like men.”

Whether or not we want to accept it in our politically correct churches today, God gave the responsibility of church leadership to men. 1Timothy 2:12 says, “But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.” (Don’t get mad at me, God said it.)

And in the family God also gave responsibility for the leadership role to the man. Ephesians 5:22 says, “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.”

I believe that if men were to take responsibility for the roles that God has placed in them, then not only would society be a whole lot better off today, but the church would as well. Paul obviously felt the same way. “Start acting like men”, is what he was saying through the Holy Spirit.

By the way, in spite of what some politically correct pastors have been saying lately, God is a HE, not a she. Jesus was and is a man, and “And He [Jesus] is the radiance of His [God's] glory and the exact representation of His [God's] nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power." Heb. 1:3

There is a tremendous need today for men to take the spiritual leadership role in their marriage, in the raising of their families, and in the church. “Be on the alert” means be watchful of the devil’s schemes to undermine God’s word, authority and plan. “Stand fast (firm) in the faith” means don’t be moved by every wind and wave of doctrine or whim of the culture – grab hold of the truth and stand firm! And finally, “Be strong.” Exercise your leadership and grow in the role that God has given you. Be mature. Don’t be weak in the flesh. Grow up and act like a man.

And no, that doesn’t give a man the right to lord it over everyone, but to serve them as Christ served the church, laying down His glory, His rights, His privilege to serve us.