Magnificent Maleness—Chiseled by the Hand of God

You can trust the chisel!

“The religion of Christ never degrades the receiver; it never makes him coarse or rough, discourteous or self-important, passionate or hardhearted. On the contrary, it refines the taste, sanctifies the judgment, and purifies and ennobles the thoughts, bringing them into captivity to Christ”.Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8

Origins of the Problem

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…,’ Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable (margin reading, ‘literally corresponding to’) for him’”. Genesis 1:27; 2:18

Inductive Study

The wording “man” refers to the human race; “the man” refers only to the person Adam.

Biblically speaking, women are as much as a part of the “man” race as are men.

In Galatians 3:28, the Father tells us that in Him there is neither “male nor female”.

Women are not children of a lesser God.

“Woman” is to be an equal partner, not a secondary servant to “the man”.

Discussion: What are the basic differences and likenesses between men and women?

A Holy Paradox “To the woman He said, ‘I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, In pain you shall bring forth children; Yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.’” Genesis 3:16

INDUCTIVE STUDY

Men’s “rulership” over women is descriptive not prescriptive.

To deduct from this passage that men have “rulership” over women makes no more sense than suggesting that passage demands that women receive nothing to assist them in the pains of childbirth.

God’s is calling us to free humanity from the curse of sin.

That fact that women should somehow still “desire” men is a holy testimony to women.

Discussion: What are some healthy and unhealthy attitudes that exist between the sexes in reference to power, control and equality.

The Travail of Childbirth “And it came about as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni (son of my sorrow); but his father called him Benjamin (son of the right hand).” Genesis 35:18

INDUCTIVE STUDY

Through the centuries the number one cause of death for women has been complications from childbirth. It is still so in many parts of the world.

This Biblical passage illustrates how differently men and women have tended to view childbirth.

Real men will do all they can to support their wives, daughters and sisters in pregnancy, delivery, and in the raising of children.

Fathers and mothers need to share the tears, dreams, successes and challenges of their children.

Discussion: What should be the role of men in the early years of children and what are the lifelong effects of such interaction or lack of it?

Tears, Wars and Reunions “Thus says the Lord, ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; She refuses to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.’ Thus says the Lord, ‘Restrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; For your work shall be rewarded,’ declares the Lord. ‘And they shall return from the land of the enemy.’” Jeremiah: 31:15-17

INDUCTIVE STUDY

Herod the Great fulfilled this passage at the time of the birth of Jesus.

It has been largely men who have created history’s wars.

It has been mothers who have cried most of the tears.

In the resurrection, “Little children are borne by holy angels to their mother’s arms.” (GC 645)

Men, it is time for us to remove violence from the land.

Discussion: What is the proper role for Christian men in the interplay of war and peace?

Lust Not! “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?” Job 31:1

INDUCTIVE STUDY

This holy calling is not an option for men preparing for the kingdom.

Women deserve to be valued as people, not as a sex object.

Pornography, lust, unholy attention, inappropriate flirtations, etc. must not be part of whom we as men are all about.

By living our holy calling we will raise young women’s expectations about themselves.

This is not a call to celibacy; it is a call to holiness.

This calling also includes all inappropriate sexist or demeaning humor.

Discussion: How can we as men keep our minds clean and set a worthy example for young girls and boys?

Equality in Standards “And the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the midst, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do you say?’” John 8:3-5

INDUCTIVE STUDY

It is an ironic paradox that men tend to excuse their own inappropriate behavior and then condemn women for the same.

Over-controlling men often use their own interpretation of scripture as one of their favorite power/control mechanisms.

Real men treat women with the respect that Jesus demonstrated.

Love should not have to be earned by inappropriate acting out.

Discussion: How should Christian men respond to the problem of child abuse in our society?

The Right to Innocence (Jesus is at Simon the Pharisee’s house. Mary comes in and anoints his feet. Simon is incensed and says to himself,) “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner”. Luke 7:36-50

INDUCTIVE STUDY

The truth is that Simon molested Mary when she was as a child and started her down this path. He was supposed to be the protector of the young orphans, Mary, Martha and Lazarus.

One third of all girls are sexually molested by the time they are eighteen years of age. Almost always the perpetrator is a relative.

Real men create safe boundaries for their daughters, sisters, and granddaughters. Respect for their womanhood needs to begin at their birth.

Girls without a supportive male figure in their life are seven times more likely to have an out of wedlock pregnancy.

Virtually all lesbians were molested by men during childhood.

Discussion: What is it that daughters and young women most needs from fathers and older men?

Women Typically Carry the Heaviest Workload in the Church “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice,…”. 2 Timothy 1:5

INDUCTIVE STUDY

Seventy percent of the membership of the world church of Seventh-day Adventists is female. It is just under that in North America.

Women carry on the bulk of the work of teaching the youth about God. Youth need to hear more about God from their fathers and other men in the church.

The church may need to review its record in reference to equality in positions of governance and leadership in the church.

Discussion: What do you believe is the proper balance and working relationship between men and women in the work and administration of the Church?

The Widows of the Church are to be Respected “I have made the widow’s heart sing for joy”. Job 29:13 (second part)

INDUCTIVE STUDY

A church that ignores the needs of the widows (and orphans) is failing to fulfill its calling.

Appropriate boundaries and safeguards must be set and respected.

A young man’s character can be shaped for the good when a father takes his sons on a goodwill mission in assisting the widows in the church.

The older generation has much wisdom and life experience that needs to be passed to the next generation.

Discussion: What might your church do to better care for the needs of elderly widows and women?

Our Aged Mothers Deserve Our Love and Respect “…do not despise you mother when she is old”. Proverbs 23:22

INDUCTIVE STUDY

A real man never forgets the woman that bore him and rocked his cradle.

Love for an aged mother needs to be genuine and not obligatory.

A society that fails to care for its aged is not a healthy society.

The best predictor as to how a young man will treat his future wife will be seen in how he treats his mother.

Discussion: Describe a healthy relationship between a son and his mother through the various stages of life.

Equality in the Workplace “Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” Proverbs 31:31

INDUCTIVE STUDY

Paying women less for equal work is simply robbery.

Real men are not intimidated by women in the work place, even if their supervisor should be female.

Real men respect working women and help create comfortable working atmospheres.

Real men provide equal opportunity for women in education.

Women who work outside of the home do NOT raise more maladjusted, delinquent children.

Social studies document that absentee fathers are the primary cause of juvenile delinquency.

Discussion: What are your feelings about women in the workplace?

Women Want Their Love to be Valued “Put me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is a strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, The very flame of the Lord. Many waters cannot quench love, nor will rivers overflow it; If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, it would be utterly despised.” Song of Solomon 8:6-7

INDUCTIVE STUDY

Women want to know that the men they love, husbands, sons, fathers, brothers-in-law, etc., will love them back with a sincere, honest, trustable love.

Women want to be loved, respected and appreciated as a real person. They desire to not be lightly regarded or to have their feelings trampled upon.

A woman may appreciate her house, but the true care of her heart will be her immediate and/or her extended family and friends.

A God-given quality of womanhood is their capacity to love. Discussion: As a man, how do you model “love” to your family? How can you open lines of communication for family to tell you of their “love” needs?

God’s chisel makes awesome men! “Oh that my brethren would be men according to God’s estimate of men, and take their places in the great web of humanity, realizing that they are part of God’s great whole in creation, in redemption! Only be men….” (Italics supplied by the author.) Testimonies to Ministers, p. 455

Magnificent manhood! “Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.” “Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach.” Titus 2:2, 6-8

MAGNIFICENT MALENESS—Chiseled by the HAND OF GOD

Presented by Scott A. LeMert Assistant to the President Oregon Conference of Seventh-day Adventists scott.lemert@oc.npuc.org All Biblical quotations were taken from the New American Standard Bible

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For a pictorial review of the 2004 Northwest Men's Conference, or for presentation notes from the 2005 Northwest Men's Conference, click here.