Achieving manhood is unquantifiable

Western concepts of identity are foundational to our self-image and self-management. Any attempt to manage or control other’s behavior or manipulate other’s identity becomes laborious and counter-productive. While communicating markers of manhood is necessary, it is impossible to measure manhood (or womanhood) by one’s achievements. The first indicator of this is the simple fact that we are not defined by what we do, spiritually speaking. The second indicator is related to this fact. Though many have suggested that manhood must be earned or achieved, the concept of earning or achieving manhood is not quantifiable.

Those who answer the question of timely coming-of-age, speak of achievement and accomplishment. But when asked to quantify this achievement, the precise amount becomes unclear. For example, one might suggest that manhood is arrived at through earning a sufficient amount of income. When asked to define “sufficient”, a number cannot be placed. Proponents become hesitant on their conclusions and rightfully question their premise.

This exact moment of coming-of-age then moves to other accomplishments such as acquiring a driver’s license or legally drinking beer. This premise immediately falls apart as questions of national boundaries and jurisdiction come into the question. Does a boy become a man as he crosses a geographical boundary and is defined by the local authorities? If manhood is achieved, then no legal authority can rightfully arrest and imprison a person who has not claimed or achieved manhood. If a 35-year-old male has not proclaimed manhood, he cannot be justly tried in court as a man. His standard is being judged by another’s false standard. He is being judged by failing the responsibly of manhood before he is “ready”.

Perhaps there is some tribe in Africa that requires a boy kill a lion to become a man, or a culture in the west that requires one to hold down 700 ml of alcohol. Is this measurement definitive or subjective? What if a man in the group accomplishes 400% more. Was the group emasculated? Did the man achieve manhood 4 times?

This problem of quantitativeness points us to ask the right questions. Perhaps we are not using a philosophically or biblically sound concept when identifying manhood or womanhood. These questions are foundational, and when carefully examined, can provide much stability to a society that has lost it’s identity.

WRATH: Why grace is amazing

There is a central message that is missing from today’s sermons. Without it, other doctrines of love and mercy lose their meaning. Without concepts of hell and judgement, the central message of Salvation cannot be conveyed. Without a doctrine of God’s wrath, God’s grace is not amazing, but commonplace.

It makes sense that there are relatively few new converts in the North American church today. There is no urgency to grasp Christ where there is no damnation to avoid. There is no seeking of salvation when there is nothing to be saved from. Why would anyone need Christ if they are fine they way they are? There are other gods far less judgemental and more like ourselves.

The common evangelistic approach of softening the doctrine of hell to make people like God more isn’t working. It seems some pastors are thinking: “If the Christian God won’t be nicer to people, He won’t make many friends.” God doesn’t need friends. God doesn’t need anyone. God never read the book “How to Win Friends and Influence People”.

God’s glory is not diminished by sending billions of souls to eternal destruction. In fact, His glory is magnified because everyone in heaven and hell will recognise Christ’s authority and perfect judgement.

Philippians 2
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

God’s glory will be revealed to all creation when everything outside of Christ is consumed by fire. John the baptist had just finished quoting Isaiah. “All flesh shall see the salvation of God”.

15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16  John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

When we more fully understand what hell is and represents, we might begin to understand the length and breadth of grace. The value of it might increase. It might become cherished by us at mealtimes and in prayer. It might cause us to think twice about doing things that are vile when we have such a limited opportunity to communicate Salvation to others.

Without wrath, we cannot understand Divine grace. We can only understand our human version of grace, by which everyone is offered as much pardon as they need to maintain our societal moral bar. God’s grace is not like ours. God’s moral bar is perfection, thus His grace offered can only be woefully understated as “amazing”.

“Youth church” is atrophic

In an effort to be relevant to modern youth culture, and to draw in new youth into the Church, some have suggested a demographic-specific meeting is necessary. There has been a common Church-wide movement towards segregation of age groups tailored to their specific “needs”. While it may be necessary to divide groups from time to time for fellowship or instruction, the concept of a “youth church” does not have the ability to grow spiritually. The reason why so-called “youth church” cannot sustain itself is because any disconnection from the other members of Christ’s body will result in spiritual atrophy.

Paul describes the Church as a body of interdependent parts that work together for growth. Without eyes, the body cannot receive important data to avoid hazards in the road. Without feet, the body cannot sustain enough momentum to reach the next generation of believers. The overall health of the Church is dependent on the connection between the parts. 1 Corinthians 12:21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” If youth church could exist, it is important to ask oneself, “Where are the eyes?” If “seniors church” could exist, we should ask ourselves, “where is the strength of the hands?”

Child dedications, coming-of-age ceremonies, and funerals are all necessary opportunities to teach by experience. To witness these events imparts understanding into the true nature of God and the spiritual world. To miss these events does not cause spiritual maturity to occur, but spiritual atrophy. Feedback messages from the parts of the body are not connecting in the central nervous system, and essential bodily information and nutrients are not making it to the outer extremities. Wisdom is not imparted by the young, and vigor is not a quality of the old.

There are other practical reasons why segregation by age is counter-productive. The members of that group will stop at the maturity of the average member. For example, in youth group, they will only act as spiritual is it is “cool” to do so. The average level of maturity becomes the norm, and behavioral expectations are based on what is “acceptable for that age“. “After all, they are only teenagers”.

In order to grow spiritually, it is necessary to receive guidance from the old, and for the old to have the opportunity to impart wisdom, as well as be challenged in their tradition. Without the interaction of the old, the young, and the children, it is impossible to grow spiritually and to be connected empathetically. This connection is core to Christian family and spiritual progeny.

xxx α 1/m

The modern Church is facing similar problems to the Church of the 1st century. We can visit the book of Revelation or any of the letters of Paul to conclude that historical issues have a way of repeating themselves in new forms. We find in Acts 21 that abstaining from sexual immorality was deemed noteworthy, and Paul went into considerable detail in 1 Corinthians chapter 7 with instructions to people of every marital status. Within this text, among others, Paul made a clear inference, which seems to be overlooked today. Both currently and historically, the level of sexual immorality in the Church is inversely proportionate to the number of healthy marriages therein.

This connection is illustrated by many verses in 1 Corinthians chapter 7, becoming overtly apparent in verse 2. “Because of the sexual immorality of our day, each man should have his own wife”. The entire chapter outlines the relationship between marriage and sexual incontinence, stating that the marriage question is not unrelated to issues of self-control. Paul explains that celibacy is a spiritual gift, and only those who can accept it should accept it. For the vast majority of believers, this call or gift is not given, and the overarching principle of interdependence applies to all. Both those called to celibacy and marriage are called to community, the former making necessary sacrifices required for the sanctification of the Church.

Paul’s statement “It is better to marry than burn with passion” also illustrates the marriage-immorality link. Marriage is “better” than burning, thus making overwhelming sexual desire without healthy extinguishment an obstacle for personal holiness. Paul’s view was clearly that marriage is a gift also, and operating outside one’s gift was a recipe for disaster. Paul’s words resonate again in the modern Church, where marriage is a mode of convenience, rather than a tool of personal sanctification.

This marriage-immorality link is overlooked in the modern church. This is evidenced by the number of so-called “abstinence” programs compared to the number of marriage preparation programs. The focus seems to be avoiding all sexual activity, including marriage, rather than using 1 Corinthians 7 to discern gifting, and instructing and assisting people appropriately. Marriage is God’s provision for sexuality, and failing to embrace God’s provision will always result in immorality. Furthermore, looking elsewhere than God for provision of any kind, is a serious sin in the bible, resulting in the wrath of God and punishment, as contempt is shown for God’s goodness.

(Jeremiah 5:7) “Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I supplied all their needs, yet they committed adultery and thronged to the houses of prostitutes.

If the modern church begins a campaign to embrace marriage, we will see victory on the sexual immorality front. Until 1 Corinthians chapter 7 is obeyed, the Church will continue to see the divorce rate increase as well as the level of sexual immorality. The good news is that we have the bible to guide us as it has done for thousands of years, and returning to God is not impossible, although we may first need to be brought to our knees. Once we embrace God’s provision for sexuality, God’s glory will be shown, and the world will say “God is really among them”.

Longer marriages equals younger marriages

A culture of self-gratification lacks consistency in its values and practice. A culture of self-gratification has only the carnal man as a reference point, projecting a multitude of opinions, beliefs, and directives. The western Church also displays these symptoms, advocating one value in one moment, and a contradictory one the next. On issues of marriage, the western Church is in a state of schizophrenia in theory and practice. Many Christians consider golden and platinum wedding anniversaries worthy of celebration, while at the same time discouraging youths from marrying.

If longer marriages are something to be desired and celebrated, the concept of youth marriage cannot be rejected, mathematically speaking. In other words, if the Church desires more platinum wedding anniversaries, it is mathematically impossible to achieve this without youths marrying. The question that needs to be asked is: what is the vision for marriages in the modern church? It is a vision of workable living arrangements or life-long bonds?

If our vision is short-sighted, we cannot imagine longer marriages and fewer divorces. We cannot access the faith we need to imagine the next generation celebrating their golden and platinum wedding anniversaries. Without clear vision, we will focus on our lack, the temporal, the immediate, and the self. These are the tenants of the culture of self-gratification. Our mortality is as far as we can see.

We do not need a vision birthed in the carnal man. We need a vision of high-design from God. Until we can acquire this, our vision will continue to be the product of incompatible and irreconcilable desires, that fail to achieve our non-existent goals. If we can break our alliance with the self, reject the world, and ruthlessly and relentlessly come under the authority of the scriptures, we can access the future found in God, the Salvation of our marriages and the marriages of our children.

The Neurology of Lipstick

*This article is not intended to be a judgement on all cosmetics at all times. It is intended to make the reader aware of how makeup affects the male instinctual brain.*

Females have been beautifying since the beginning of time with all sorts of methods. From fragrances to colors, the goal is to become more appealing to the male counterpart. The goal of makeup and cosmetics is to convince the viewer that what they are seeing is real and naturally occurring. Modern makeup takes this concept of illusion to a high level of realism. The illusion is a physiological one, indicating a high heart-rate (blush and lipstick), enlargement of the eyes (eyeliner), copulative readiness and fertility (fragrance).

For the cognitive male brain, it can pick up additional clues such as demeanor and other environmental clues. This will communicate enough to the male that the female is actually not ready to mate, although she looks as if she is. Mature men of course are familiar with this cultural norm of makeup and think nothing of it, but will always catch themselves going for another look. This is where the instinctual brain begins. Subconsciously, the male will likely gravitate to a sexually aroused female, rather than one who is not.

For the youth who is not accustomed yet to his new, hormone infused hypothalamus, makeup may create a confusion. The youth hears the words from her mouth, but her body says otherwise. Further confusion from substance abuse, and an environment for rape is created.

If youth were educated properly regarding the instinctual brain in biology class, they could make more informed decisions regarding what they wear and where they spend their time. If they are not educated about their own biology and the biology of the opposite sex, we can all expect total and complete chaos, similar to what we are experiencing now.

Self-sufficiency vs the sufficiency of Christ’s work

Due to the vast amount of popular psychology in the Church, values of self-empowerment, self-determination, self-sufficiency, and will-power have replaced the central message of Christ and the Cross. These two messages are polar opposites, contradictions, and in direct and complete contrast. The carnal inclination to self-sufficiency and self-preservation is one of the greatest obstacles to experiencing the Salvation of God.

 

The Eastern Orthodox cross includes a third bar, diagonal, below the horizontal one. This diagonal bar alludes to the two criminals, between which Christ was crucified. This little bar represents a central message of Salvation, explaining how the disposition of the two thieves play out eternally. By examining their words, it is possible to judge conclusively that self-preservation is contradictory to God’s plan of Salvation, and in fact opposes it.

 

In Luke 24, many were calling out to Christ, tempting Him to “save (preserve) yourself, if you are the Christ”. Even to the last hour before Christ’s work was complete, those being crucified with Him said the same. “Save yourself, and us!” If Christ had found sufficiency for Salvation within Himself alone and called upon a legion of Angels without the authority of the Father, Salvation could not have been accomplished. Thus Christ choose the path of Salvation, and in doing so, declined sufficiency in His own authority. Even the authority He had was given Him. John 10:18: “For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”

 

The Christ did not allow the temptation of his flesh to overcome his sense of sufficiency in the Godhead’s power. Because of this, He was raised by God, making Him the firstborn among the dead, that we might too be alive in Christ. It is through the perfect obedience of the second Adam and Salvation was secured.

 

In Luke’s gospel, one of the thieves rebuked the other saying, “Don’t you fear God since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Because the second thief recognized he could not be saved by his own merit (he had none) he was able to witness and experience the Salvation of God. “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

 

The contrite spirit of the second thief allowed Him to experience the Christ. This was a rejection of self-preservation and self-sufficiency and a confession of his true nature and capacity. His nature was fallen and his capacity was for evil. From an eternal perspective, the best of man’s intentions, abilities, and goodness has no merit for accomplishing anything. It is only by allowing our carnal nature to be crucified and accepting Christ’s authority, that we can manage the smallest of tasks.