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The Modern Man

For most of the history of the world muscle power was needed to make things work. The physical characteristics of men were suited to this world. As technology transitioned society through steam and gasoline to electrical power, the strength of men became less needed. Even his labor in factories was seen as less critical with the use of women’s labor in WWII. With the advance of feminism, men seemed to have no specific value anymore to employers or even to their own families.

Men today are expected to get some form of employment, keep the lawn mowed, repair the house, insure his children go to school, and at the end of his life, retire quietly. Many men retire to the basement and using beer as a soporific and immerse themselves in solitude TV unaware of the need their family has for their leadership and instruction.

Most do not see in modern life the same strategy Satan used with Eve. Once the man is out of the way, women can be easily deceived. In a collectivized society, Satan approaches complete control. It may not be possible to alter the momentum Satan has built to bring the world captive to his plans. However, individual Christian men can make strides to lead their families such that the influence of Satan is less. This can be difficult, especially if one’s wife is in opposition.

Perhaps the biggest problem men face is a lack of reliable information. Most have fathers that are also limited in understanding what has happened and why much less what can be done about it. Media only propagates that which accomplishes Satan’s objectives. One might think that churches would be the last hope to get information that is both true and useful, However, sadly, most churches are organizational systems that substitute a half hour lecture once a week for a mentor type relationship that extended families used to have and through which useful information could come.

One’s own pride can also help to isolate the modern man. No one likes to be told what to do. One can also tend to avoid those who seem knowledgeable because it might make them feel less important. A Christian man might avoid talking with his pastor because he feels inadequate as the pastor has had seminary training. He might not feel so intimidated if he understood that often seminary training is a disadvantage.

The hookup culture often ushers young men into de-facto marriages that they may not have selected if they had given a little more thought to who it was they would spend the rest of their lives with. However, in spite of all the disadvantages that a modern Christian man can find himself facing, he still has the opportunity to grow in truth and understanding.

The key to trying to approximate the life God would have us live is to first find out how different what we are doing is from what God had intended. This usually comes in small incremental steps and we may not make as much progress as we would like. However, with each step comes a closer walk with the Lord and the ability to access wisdom.

Finding an older wiser Christian who clearly shows the light and love of Jesus in their lives can be an opportunity to ask if they could help you know Jesus as well as they do. To lead in the home one firsts needs to know what is going on and why, what the dangers are, and how to minimize or avoid them.

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