Building A Better Man

Men have been under the gun since…well, the very beginning. So what are our options? The only true option is to move forward toward building a better man. But throughout time, men have amassed personal pain along with their earthly accomplishments.

A big part of manhood is silently enduring the hurt as a wayward medal of valor. It’s left us wounded, more fragile than we’d ever acknowledge, in an unwelcome transition of gender roles, and unsure where to seek the healing light of restoration.

Clear As Mud

I had manhood all figured out.

Conquer—Claim—Repeat. It was my method, but more so, it was my madness. Driven by a desire to push and occupy every empty space in my life, an addiction for consumption became more powerful than my desire to pursue Christ.

Consumption of earthly accolades became vital in helping me medicate the wounds of manhood and the self-inflicted injuries carried in silence as a price for being man.

Toxic Alpha

It’s easy to get wrapped up in a defeatist demeanor. Our culture’s latest liberal tag of toxic masculinity has guys laying low on the high-fives and grooming their lumberjack beards daily. God didn’t design us to conform to something we’re not.

We were made in His image, and that image is perfect by design. God’s intention, creation, and calling for man wasn’t meant to be compromised, watered-down, or neutered so androgyny is the new manly standard.

Hold on, cavemen. This isn’t a call for us to reunite just yet. But it is a look at who we are called to be, and what we have become. When did this social shift occur, where were the Godly men before us, and why is it important for us to pursue God’s desire for our lives?

Top Dogs

Men have no superior predator on earth, so we self-destruct at our own expense. God gave us dominion over the everything. Why do we work so hard to change it, fix it, conquer it, or destroy it?

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Genesis 1:26

When I think of the prototype male, it’s mind-blowing to consider Adam was only one step removed from God’s likeness. Even the angels mistook Adam for the Father. In my mind, Adam would look like the Rock. But despite the closeness of their relationship, Adam fell victim to the same thing we fall to every day. Sin.

Good Question

The question I’ve asked myself often, especially in the midst of my sin and pain, is, “If Adam couldn’t hold it together, how can I?”

You see, Adam was close, but no matter how his image reflected the likeness of the Creator, he was still just Adam. We can’t rest in the reflection. We have to press into His presence.

While we should strive to be God-like, we will never actually be God. Although, many men set themselves on a pedestal so that at the center of their own universe, they become god (very little letter “g”.) That’s called idolatry, and doesn’t go over well with God. Lucifer tried, and it didn’t work out too well for him and a third of his buddies.

Sin has separated us from God. It’s because of sin that pain evolves, and it’s because of pain that our desire to soothe the hurting becomes our pursuit. And yes, even our downfall.

Hope

But there is hope. Men were not called to be failures or flukes. We are ordained to serve as the head of our household and mirror the very image of God. There is a better path than lugging around the pain, shame, and failures of our past.

God promises a better way, and there’s actually more to this life than sports scores and hunting.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

Manly Mission

Our mission must be to help mentor men who have fallen out of “church.” I’m talking about the church as the body of Christ, and also the institutionalized worship. But, mostly the body of believers; that’s where the true church lies, and real change occurs.

Many religions no longer feed the masculine soul of a man. Why? Because the shift toward single moms and grandparents raising their progeny has tilted the church’s focus toward our wonderful sisters.

It wasn’t their choice—it was our absence.

Bigger Picture

We must create change within the faith-based community for establishing processes to hold men accountable in a respectful way that shows them what honor and sacrifice look like in tangible examples. I love motivational posters, but what do they look like in real-life other than a majestic image with cool font on glossy paper?

Men are suffering at the grips of drugs, pornography, alcohol, sex, and violent abuse. Silent suffering is not only destroying each generation of men, but also our national fabric.

Better Picture

Men can reclaim their position as anointed by God. But, we must first return to God through the Jesus. There is no light without the Son. When we drop the dude ‘tude and come to Christ, we will be restored in ways that Adam never knew.

 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6

We are the meant for so much more. We can proclaim the victory in Christ if only we’ll allow Him to fight the battle. This is a promise straight from God. Claim this promise!

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 1:6

Much Love / Respect,

Scott Silverii