What Killed Manhhood?

Why is it such a struggle for a guy to be a gentleman? Or a boy to grow into authentic manhood? Men the struggle is real. Here is Eric Mason to explain what killed manhood from his book Manhood Restored,  

There was much more wrapped up in that piece of fruit in the garden than just a bad decision. With sin, there always is. We talk ourselves into thinking that sin is just a bad choice; it’s not. It’s much deeper than that for us, just as it was for Adam. When Adam chose willful rebellion against the law of God, he was choosing to forfeit his birthright by rejecting his calling to represent, be responsible, and enjoy his relationship with God, his wife, and the rest of creation. This single act placed in motion the initial and progressive fall of creation and its order, one whose effects still ravage every facet of the world today. We could speak at length on all things that were lost—peace, harmony, joy, order—these were put aside for temporary pleasure. 

Did Adam know the full implications of his choice? Probably not. But sin is like that. It blinds us to the consequences of our actions. We get so nearsighted when we see something we want to experience that everything else fades away. Adam chose to set aside his representation of God, responsibility for God, and relationship with God, and these things were lost because of the price of his sin. Although men and women are equal, their function in the fall was different. As the man, Adam is held responsible for it ( Rom. 5: 12). Sin entered through Adam and spread to men and women alike. When Adam sinned, all of God’s intentions for man fell with man. Peace and enjoyment of God and His creation was lost. The spread of God’s reign across the earth was lost. Dominion over the world was lost. The development of the undeveloped earth for the Lord was lost. Gone. 

Adam made this choice in the most perfect of environments. It would only get worse from there. As more people were born, after the fall in Genesis 3, they would be born without Adam’s responsibility, representation, and relationship, at least in the sense that God meant in the beginning. The definition of being an image bearer of God would be marred at the core of man’s being for millennia. Man would struggle and replace what was meant to be reflected as a sign of his relationship with Yahweh with himself and creation. Without a relationship with God to navigate and give value to responsibility and relationship, humankind would spiral out of control. 

Consequently, manhood was lost along with the rest of God’s original design for creation. Instead of responsibility, representation, and relationship, things like chauvinism, violence, passivity, insecurity, and addiction would characterize generation after generation of men in a continually increasing way. (Bold and italics are mine)


The Early Bird Gets The Link

I was out for a week or so in California then sick with the flu, but I am back and feeling better. Here are some good reads

 The Great Parental Freak Out

Some great parental advice “I seldom feel like a really good parent. I love my wife and love my kids deeply, but being a husband has always seemed pretty straightforward (thanks to my wife, no doubt), while I’ve always felt much more inadequate as a parent. There are dozens of things I wish I did better. Not many, however, are worth fretting and fussing.

Here are four things parents should stop freaking out about.”
9 Things a Grown Man Can Learn From the Hardy Boys

Excellent read and practical principles.

9 Things You Need to Know about Backpage.com and Sex Trafficking

“Today another reality is hidden in plain view: human trafficking. While sound numbers of who, how many, and where are difficult to find, the carnage of this evil is leaking out of the shadows and into the headlines. Victims are filling safehouse beds. Many more are on waiting lists. Those caring for victims have been listening to stories for years and have started to spot trends.”

Six Ways God’s at Work in You — At Work

How does God use our workplaces as a training ground? “In reality, the workforce is not only how God works through you; it is a place where God works inside of you, conforming you to the image of Christ. He may feel distant, but he’s not. He is using the difficulties and pressures in your job right now to focus you in at least six areas.”

The Emptiness of Hallmark Card Race Theology

Insightful article. “Martin Luther King Jr.’s comments about a colorblind society have been corrupted by many to mean that individuals should not see color, which was not his point at all. His point was that as a society, the bar of justice and cultural opportunity ought to be colorblind, not individuals. In fact, the Bible makes much of how the glory of God is demonstrated in the multiethnic diversity of his followers.”

Book Review: The Dude’s Guide To Manhood by Darrin Patrick

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“I want to challenge you, to call you out so that you live a life of meaning and purpose and glory” and Darrin Patrick delivers on this challenge by taking you on a journey with a road map to discover what Authentic Biblical Manhood is and how to live it out. He provides both a foundation for manhood and a springboard for continued growth into manhood.

The Dude’s Guide to Manhood weaves Darrin’s personal stories with Biblical truth and left me with a clear vision of manhood when I finished reading the book. From beginning to end Darrin holds your attention and his writing style is easy to understand but will also leave you thinking on the principles he is communicating. Having grown up without a constant father in my life, this book would have been very useful to me.

I highly recommend this book, it is not only great for personal growth but also as a small group study. I know my sons and I will be reading it.

I recieved this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”