|
Ninjaearth -> RE: Where are the Single Christian men? (5/8/2008 5:30:10 PM)
|
As someone has said, this has been an awesome forum. Going through, I have a number of responses (not all of them) but enough to say a few things. I'll do that first and then I'll answer the question based on my experience, but analyzed through the grid of Scripture.
First of all, I noticed a distinction between "Christian" and "saved" men/women. Biblically speaking, there are not two separate things, but one. The one who is biblically a Christian is an individual who has been saved by God through by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone being born again and living a repented lifestyle characterized by godliness. I know the term "Christian" seems general for many people, but the definition is what matters. A more simplier way to say it is this: you'll know a tree by it's fruit. A saved man/woman will display the fruits that accompany their lifestyle (their lifestyle being everything from the casual attitute of conversation to their "closed" door life) and flows from their heart. It's the character that the mouth speaks about all the time as sourced from the heart. In other words, what comes out a person's mouth determines their heart, but what they do determines who they serve. With that said, I'll contribute to the forum discussion question directly.
In my personal experience, I have been taught many things concerning the role of men. While what I know personally is irrelevant, what Scripture says about the roles of men is highly important. If we, men, are suppose to be leaders then what does that leader look like? The best example would be in Ephesians 5, when Paul talks about a man is to love his wife as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Another example is in Titus where Paul talks about the man treating the younger woman as sisters and the older woman like mothers. Granted, this doesn't really give any direct "how-tos" to a society that has "dating" as an option versus a culture and society that just had arranged marriages. In fact, the best way to do this is to refer to Galations 5 where it talks about the fruit of the Spirit. If a man fills himself with these things, by living constantly portraying the fruit of the Spirit, this will make us strong and live orderly for God. As a result, we have a huge task of being leaders in our churches and other organizations because we are setting up the model of living and loving and serving Christ so that our future wives (one per man) and children will be able to follow suit. Furthermore, a man has to ensure that his total life is under the authority of Scripture (as much as possible) and that He is constantly serving and obeying the voice of the Lord. Most important, he must be content to serve God by beign fully committed to his calling and face the reality that if God desires not to give the man his heart's desire while he is still on this earth, even if it is a wife (simply due because the nature of the ministry and the evils of our society as well as other possible factors). With that said, the man must first answer and pursue his calling with all of his heart so that he may be found a faithful leader in the end. Thus, with this, I'm ready to answer the question (I do apologize but I'm not short by any means when it comes to answering posts).
Where are all the single Christian men? The answer is simple: they are the ones that are sacrificing their lives to pursue their callings passionately eager to serve God in the capacity that God has called them to be. As such, they may be the ones that you never dreamed of (the nerd in the back, the so unattractive looking one in the corner, the one who seems to be weak but is extremely strong in the Word of God.) They are not always the one that shouts a hallowed hallelujah or a loud Amen, and may always be the piano player or even the popular guy that everyone likes. In fact, it may the one who doesn't say much, but you see him (ladies) every Sunday, at most (if not all) the prayer and Bible study meetings, teaching Sunday school, praying for the lost and evangelizing the community. In essence, he's probably the regular guy who is so much in love with God that he desires to share this amazing connection and relationship with a woman (you). The problem: many are looking for those are powerful and influential and the ones with money or, as many of the guys put it, the woman are not being honest in their faith and it's not the guy that they are interested in: families, babies, acceptance, love, and etc. is what they desire. A man of God wants only a woman who desires to share in the blessings and coverings and glories of his relationship with God as they, too, bring with them the pleasures of God in being a woman. With that, the Christian men are looking for the "suitable" partner that Adam had with him in the garden and throughout the course of time that only God can give. We are looking for the woman who will help us, assist us, suit us, in our callings. This doesn't mean power, but this means suffering, persecution, radicalism, and even a willingless to change anything at any moment (location, career, churches, etc) for the sake of living for Christ. The Christian men are those that are changing the world quietly in order to make a loud impact for Christ. It's not that we don't exist, but rather we are here searching for our Eve, Sarah, Rebekah, Mary, Priscilla, Ruth, and the like. Where to find us, at Bible college, seminary, churches that teach biblical truth, communities that are broken, working jobs that don't pay much or just enough, slaving with our hands trying to establish our lives as well as the ones taking the time to risk our lives in witnessing to those who are lost and....spend time and energy on our faces before God laying down our sinful habits and selfish desires to do things our way and not God's way. We are struggling from the lust of this world, trying to shield our eyes from the poisons of the adultresses, the treats of the harlots, and the slander from the seducetresses. At the same time, we are trying to recover from the abuse of our mothers, the harshness of our sisters, and the coldness of heart from our exes. We are not perfect, but are striving to be like Christ. So, where are we? We are serving God in the most unlikely capacities that range from the average pew worshipper to the pastorate, from students to professors, and from men of dreams to men of valor. We are just around the corner, looking at you and wanting to pursue you. Maybe we're scared, maybe we're afraid....that's only because we are shy and we need help. A little hint is fine, but trust God that if you are for us then it's to you we will go. As I close, the final place to find the single Christian men would be in the closet: because we're praying and asking God the same question you are too: where are all the single Christian ladies? If you can't find us, that's probably because we're looking for you too!
|
|
|
|