Wednesday, October 15, 2008

“Man-up”


I’m not sure where I first came across this expression. Roughly, it means to step up, to take responsibility and to display fortitude, courage, steadfastness, etc. despite the odds or how tough the situation may be…all those ‘manly’ characteristics that generally make women swoon. Think old movie stars like John Wayne, Gregory Peck, and Charlton Heston – the ‘manly men’. Now, those guys knew how to man-up!

These days, for men to ‘man-up’ in our culture is practically a foreign concept: consider the men who won’t commit, men who try to ‘score’ with as many women as possible, men who shirk responsibility for the children that result from these liaisons, religious men who treat their wives as chattels or who demand submission despite how poorly they treat their spouses, men who willingly allow women to take over the man’s responsibilities, men who either won’t work or who skip from job to job, men who’d rather play video games than face life’s challenges.

Where did this all start, and why is it so rampant?

Here’s food for thought:

Scene: the Garden of Eden
Characters: Adam, Eve, the Serpent

For thousands of years, women have taken the blame for the downfall of the human race because Eve succumbed to temptation in the garden, but I ask you this: where was ADAM when Even was being tempted - far away in some distant vineyard? No – he was right there!

Could it possibly be that when God said they could eat of any tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that suddenly that very tree became mighty attractive to them? Consider Romans 7:7 that states:

I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, " YOU SHALL NOT COVET."

I am reminded of my Kindergarten kids – every year I wrestle with this dilemma: should I point out the red fire alarm box on the wall in my classroom? If I do, will it become irresistible to them to the point that somebody just has to touch it, or do I just ignore it and hope they will too?

So here’s my speculation:
I’m guessing that Adam was drawn to this tree like a bee to honey! I’m guessing that he secretly confided this attraction to Eve, but he wouldn’t man-up enough to actually act on his sinful inclination himself. How long were those two in the garden before the serpent arrived? Eons? Who knows? It doesn’t matter. It needn’t have been long at all – just long enough to inflame a desire so acute as to drive Adam wild! So, could it be that he conveniently allowed Eve to take the fall for something he himself longed to do? If so, he got a big pay-off. Not only did he get to blame the woman for the fall, but he also got to get a bite of the desired forbidden fruit. Remember, he was right there when Eve was being tempted and he did nothing! He didn’t step in to stop her, nor advise her to resist the enemy, nor chase the serpent away himself. After all, he had the authority. You’ve got to wonder why he didn’t exert it.

What was the result? For the next two thousand plus years, women have been treated as second-class citizens at best and less than dung at worst. A familiar Jewish adage goes something like this: “Thank you, God, that you didn’t make me a Gentile, a dog or a woman”. For centuries, women have been used and abused – by men.

Why is it that women typically have had to man-up far more often then the men in their lives? Why do so many men forsake their marriage vows, refuse to pay child support or hold down a job? Why is it that even Christian men shirk their responsibilities and allow their wives to take on the lion’s share and more of the workload when it comes to the workforce, child-rearing, meal preparation, laundry, etc. etc., all the while playing the ‘submit to me’ card?

On the other hand, I ask you: how many Christian men LOVE THEIR WIVES AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH??? I hazard to guess: not many.

If my speculation is true – that Adam didn’t man-up to Satan and allowed Eve to take the fall (literally) – it would explain why men, from that day in the garden on, have wimped out. It would also explain why women will never attain equality with men in this corrupt, Satan-inspired world system.

Where are the manly men? Where are the warriors? Where are the men who, like Jesus, are willing to persevere with courage and fortitude, no matter the cost?

Jesus broke the curse! The world is waiting for manly men, those who realize who they are in Christ and who have learned from the master Himself what it means to man-up.

Mgo

9 comments:

Ruth said...

Hi Rich

That was a great post.
As a woman, I would like to be the first to thank you for posting this : )

Women have been to blame for the fall
it seems. There has been many twists on it, but they have all said the same thing: it was the woman's fault. This is probably still going on and it's not easy to crawl out from underneath his pile of crap!

It sure is alot to think and pray about.

Ruth

Rich said...

Ruth,

Always so good to see you, thanks for sharing your heart on this matter, it does matter!

My prrecious wife wrote this, it was a colaboration of two hearts musing on, what if this were the Truth!?

Please hear this though, and for any who will read the comments here, this was not or is NOT a critical pointing a finger or pronouncing judgment on either the man or the woman.
Our hope is that those who will read this will go before the Father of their spirit totally naked and inquire of Him as to the truth, because if its anything less than the TRUTH, there will be NO freedom from the lies imbedded within our soul!!!

Let's "Man-Up"!

foretastes said...

Hi Bro and Sista Mgo. :-)

Thanks for your words in these latest entries, here and over at the other blog. The "man-up" thing, as well as so much else that you've been sharing as of late, has resonated with me greatly. Papa has been graciously showing me things, like my own stubborn pride, and getting my attention. Not a fun thing for sure... afterall, I figured that I was above all that!!

But now instead of feeling self condemnation for my short-comings I sense instead Him lovingly saying, "Hey, Dave, I've got so much more for you to see, experience, and 'grow into.' Come, let Me show You!"

Taste and see that He is indeed very, very good!

Love you guys very much!

Dave

foretastes said...

Hi Bro and Sista Mgo. :-)

Thanks for your words in these latest entries, here and over at the other blog. The "man-up" thing, as well as so much else that you've been sharing as of late, has resonated with me greatly. Papa has been graciously showing me things, like my own stubborn pride, and getting my attention. Not a fun thing for sure... afterall, I figured that I was above all that!!

But now instead of feeling self condemnation for my short-comings I sense instead Him lovingly saying, "Hey, Dave, I've got so much more for you to see, experience, and 'grow into.' Come, let Me show You!"

Taste and see that He is indeed very, very good!

Love you guys very much!

Dave

Anonymous said...

Rich,
This post was excellent! You're blogs have been so wonderful. This one in particular. Indeed, the "blame" cannot go upon Eve, nor Adam. They both chose to listen to the lie of the Serpent.
This post was very refreshing. Thank you for it.

Blessings,
~Amy :)
http://amyiswalkinginthespirit.blogspot.com

Rich said...

Thanks Amy, my wife and I have been pondering on this for some time now. When Jesus said with a loud voice from the cross: “It is finished,” the curse that has kept both men and women trapped in this lie, now have a way of escape, and that is only found in experiencing the Truth of His love for us!

Rich said...

Dave,

Seeing another sibling (you my dear friend and brother) "getting it" being deeply rooted and established in His love, thrills me to no end!

Indeed there is so much more of His heart he longs to make known unto us, his beloved.
Much love to you Bro.

Free Spirit said...

Wow! Very deep.
It's amazing how actually that very "manly man" image is the precise thing that keeps many men from ever entering into His presence. It doesn't feel very manly I suppose to stand there "naked," as you say, before the King. But, if they only knew that that's the manliest place in existence; it's the best-kept secret weapon to true manliness.
Great post!

Rich said...

free spirit,

Papa has and is taking a man who never knew who or who's he was and gracing him to 'man up' it is an adventure that when I look into th mirror, I ask, who is that guy?

Hopefully as soon as I hear back from my daughter and get her okay, I intend to post some further dialogue re: this post entry between my wife and her, they both had such wonderful and fuller insights, can't wait.

Blessings to you!