Part 1 – Introduction

In 1 Corinthians 16:13 Paul challenges Christian men at Corinth to “quit you like men.” Strong’s Concordance explains this phrase as, “to act manly.” Paul is charging the leaders of the Corinthian Church to behave, not like women, nor like children, but like men. The Bible makes a clear distinction between the two genders and God’s blessings on us as a people will depend on how we, particularly men, honor those roles as He designed them.

In 21st Century America the line between what is male and what is female is being wiped away as the truths about what makes a woman virtuous and what makes a man noble are being rooted out. God created men and women to walk in a state of beautiful complementarity to each other, a plan that was meant to create a perfect symmetry in human society. The breakdown of this ideal can be traced back to a corruption that occurred in the male understanding of God’s purpose for men and their responsibilities toward those in their care.

Read Isaiah 3:1-12. This passage of Scripture discusses a time in Israel’s history when God in His judgment removed the leadership of men. Suddenly, Prosperity was replaced with poverty of spirit (v.1), as the leadership of men was replaced with that of children (v. 2-4). Women and children led them astray (v.12). Sadly, our culture today is faced with the same lack of noble, wise and valiant men to lead our government, culture, churches and families. Instead, the bulk of the men of our time have gone to one extreme or the other. A large portion of the male population of America is either ineffectively effeminate, or dangerously militant in their thinking and function.

The answer is for us as men to step up and take the role God has called us to. We need to be willing to lead as Christ led, not as dictators, but as directors, following Christ as examples of the biblical ideal. This is not to minimize the role of women to pray for, encourage and counsel the men in their lives. Ladies, it cannot be done without you. But the plan of God is for Godly men to be Godly leaders in their homes, in their churches and in our fallen world.

The kind of leaders that God is looking for are surrendered leaders, strong leaders and servant leaders. A manly leader has surrendered to God in salvation. Not only is he born again, but he is yielded daily to God in a selfless, humble process of sanctification. A surrendered leader can be a strong leader because he has died to himself, and he has the power of God on his life. Such a man is not too proud to be a servant leader, one who acts on a personal policy that puts the needs of his wife, children, church and Community ahead of his own.

In the coming weeks I will expand on these truths, as God is teaching them to me.

Part 2 – The Surrendered Leader is now available here.