Little boys learn from what they see and what they don’t see.
And I’m afraid they’re not seeing some things they need to, that is—fathers being saviors [1].
It is indeed true that governments have been instituted among men and derive their just powers from the consent of those being governed. This is actually a Biblical concept [2]. The Lord created men to judge by His Own standards, and His first [not last] line of defense against any form of evil was intended to be demonstrated through that government created by and consisting of men.
If a man fails to appropriate that role, he fails in that role. If he fails in that role, his family, his congregation and his culture will suffer as a consequence.
And the effects are cumulative [3].
So the true savior will always fight because he loves his God, not necessarily because of his love for anything else. He will confront evil from every dimension available to launch the attack—physically, intellectually and spiritually.
But even he can be caught off guard. The Great Deceiver preys upon his weaknesses. In his pursuit to build and preserve his domain of righteousness, the savior can easily lose sight of his Achilles heel. That’s why the man who claims to belong to Jesus Christ cannot afford to fight alone [4].
The good news is that the call to defend the innocent and vulnerable has always resonated with men. Just as young boys are constantly looking for real masculine behavior to imitate, so also are clear thinking men drawn to the call of battle.
Wholesome, prosperous people are the champions of courage and sacrifice—especially of men. But, unfortunately, most men allow themselves to be defeated spiritually before they succumb physically.
O’ man of God, He’s calling you to live and act in the likeness of His Son, the Christ, for the sake of posterity.
Will you teach them how?