At least that’s what I read in a recent article. Whether that’s true or not, something heavy has been weighing on my heart and mind recently about feminism and chauvinism and just plain Biblical personhood. Indulge me while I think out loud?
Probably in middle school, I remember seeing for the first time T-shirts for young girls that boasted “Boys Are Stupid”. I thought then -- as I do now -- Does anyone but me see the ridiculous irony of those shirts? It’s a classic example of “Doing to others what you didn’t want them doing to you.”
Excuse me for pointing out the obvious… but boys are NOT stupid because they’re boys. Some people just do stupid things (girls included.) If guys ever started going around with shirts proclaiming “Girls are melodramatic”, I imagine the result would be disastrous. I even had a professor point out in class how most of the all-male colleges had been sued by women and forced to go co-ed, while the all-women colleges were allowed to continue operation. Ladies, I don’t understand…
Why is it okay for girls to look at shirtless pictures of guys, passing around their phones “ooohing” and “ahhhing”, while it’s shameful if guys have skanky pictures? I’d say both are wrong, both are lust. No matter if it’s done in the name of feminism or equality or whatever. Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Striving for a pure heart (this includes mind/eyes/emotions/etc) is a standard for both men and women.
You see, in our arguments over women’s rights and freedom of expression, we’ve forgotten something simple and beautiful. God made men and women different on purpose. We all reflect character traits of God, who is neither man nor woman, but Spirit.
Women weren't created to prove they can do everything a man can do; women were created to do everything a man can't do.
We were meant to compliment each other as people. Not in a cut-throat competition, but in team work. Teams are the bringing together of uniqueness, of skills, of gifts… we wouldn’t accomplish much as a team if we were all the same. So why waste so much time trying to be exactly like each other? Comparison will trap us every time.
Your gifts and talents aren’t dependent upon your gender--
they are dependent upon how God has fashioned you.
One gender running down the other doesn’t result in anything good. We see this when some men choose to abuse their wives and children, and we see this when some women choose to demean the men in their lives. In stabbing each other in the back, we aren’t making progress: we’re in decline.
Take just a moment to think about what happens when men and women support, encourage, and edify each other. The body of Christ functions as it should.
One time in college I was skyping a couple of friends, both guys. I had on a dress I had worn to church, but I wanted to change into sweats. I turned the Skype camera away and said “I’ll be right back.” Shrugging into my sweatshirt, I glanced down at the computer and saw hands covering up all of the camera views.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“We could still see you… we just saw your shoulder though,” was the response.
I apologized profusely for my mistake, and then we went on with our conversation. I later repeated the story to my friend, who looked at me in utter shock.
“They did that?” she asked, “I don’t know a single guy from high school who would do that.”
I was suddenly heart-sick. I knew half a dozen or more guys who would show the utmost respect to girls--I trusted them completely. Those friends of mine had chosen the high road, chosen Christ’s standards, and I was proud of them. I wanted to brag on them and tell the world, “See! Boys aren’t stupid -- they’re kind and considerate!”
Now that’s not their human nature--it’s no one’s human nature to do what is right. They had allowed Christ in them to make their decisions. Those decisions were ones of integrity.
One reason I think they acted with integrity? Because someone challenged them to. The psychological idea of self-fulfilling prophecy is real. We get the results we expect. These men had people challenging them, expecting great things from them. And they rose to the standard confidently.
“People can say what they want about teenagers & boys these days. Say what they want about this next generation, say that kids can’t change, that we’re all going to pot here in a hand basket. But I just want to whisper:
There’s a whole generation of young men who are becoming good men.
There are young men who are of great worth, not because they do good yet, but because they are made in the image of a Good and great God — and that alone makes them great young men.
There are good young men who simply need someone to tell them that they are that —- who need someone to tell them a dozen times a day, “You’re good at working hard and loving large. You were made for this.”
There are good young men out there who need to be unearthed from low expectations, and made over by relentless grace, and strengthened with daily doses of iron:the nails of service and the Cross of Christ.
There are good young men who need someone to show them they are trustworthy by entrusting them with worthy work, who take the time to inspect their work so they know what to expect, who give them confidence to to do hard things by giving them hard things to do.”
http://www.aholyexperience.com/2015/05/how-to-raise-this-generation-of-boys-into-good-young-men-10-keys-to-raising-goodyoungmen/
From the outside looking in, as a girl, I think it’d be tough to be a guy. Seriously. That’s why I pray for my brothers, each of the men in my life. I pray for them a Scripture and a quote. The Scripture is 1 Kings 19:18, “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” I pray that they we will all be able to resist idols (“Baals”) in their lives, giving their lives completely to Christ in holy surrender. I pray this in conjunction with a quote from Josiah Gilbert Holland... GOD, give us men! A time like this demands Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands; Men whom the lust of office does not kill; Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy; Men who possess opinions and a will; Men who have honor; men who will not lie; Know what? I see God answering these prayers. I see men rising up, confident in their identity in Christ, not demeaning women but respecting them and respecting each other. I see men who challenge each other, pick each other up, and never give up. To every man out there who needs a little encouragement: You are NOT ALONE. Coolest thing ever? Paul quotes the 1 Kings verse in Romans 11 ~ followed by a beautiful promise. 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me” 4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.” To every man and woman out there: there is a remnant chosen by grace. You are chosen. Be bold. Funny thing about equal rights. Many people think it will give them their sense of worth, their security, their identity. And I’m all for my right to vote and own property. But remember, just as with anything in life, equality won’t give you ultimate peace or satisfaction or security. Your paycheck won’t, your car won’t, your marital status won’t, your equality won’t. Ladies--sisters--hear my heart cry for you: only in Christ will you be content and satisfied. Being better than any other man (or woman) will eventually leave you empty inside. So skip the “Boys Are Stupid” T-Shirt. Be a girl who inspires your brothers and friends to chase after Christ. The conclusion of my thinking out loud is gratitude… gratitude to my Dad, my brothers, my guy friends, and the men all around the world who have had the gentle confidence to stand up and say, “I am a man of God, and I will lead and encourage and edify others in the way that Christ has called me to do.” So guys: Thanks. We appreciate you. | "Praise the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle." Psalm 144:1. 65% of those who attend our crusade services are MEN. We love that. God is raising up UNASHAMED men to lead the fight. Men, KEEP BEING BOLD AS LIONS! Women, KEEP BEING LIGHTS! The fight is on. Jesus Forever. #TellTheWorld Tag someone who would wear this - Link in comments to get the shirt. Do you have any of the TellTheWorld apparel? Comment with a picture! (Clayton Jennings) |