Council Grove Christian Church

3/18/26
Servants of God,
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you.”
-Matthew 6:33
 
“The progressive view that children are equally likely to flourish in any family arrangement is undercut by decades of research showing that children raised in stable, married, two-parent homes do better across nearly every measure. When that fact is overlooked or dismissed, boys seek guidance elsewhere.”
-Rob Henderson
One of our daughters sent us a picture of her oldest son (then 3 or 4) striking a pose. He stood  proudly at the end of their driveway. Wearing shorts, no shoes and bare chested he was thrusting a large stick as if he was warning some make-believe dragon to come no closer. You have seen this sort of thing many times. Before little boys are cowed by social pressure they act like small warriors. In their hearts they know they were created to provide and protect. Manhood, properly developed, never loses the reality that strength is a gift to be properly deployed according to the will of God.
On the flip side, my phone contains numerous pictures of small granddaughters, hugging baby dolls, standing on chairs to wash dishes and lovingly holding small kittens. Before little girls are catechized by the culture to be pseudo-males, they act like small women—capable, thoughtful and caring for the needs around them. Womanhood, properly developed, never loses the power of femininity that God intended to use to bless the world.
Before you jump to the conclusion that I am simply pushing outdated stereotypes, let me assure you that stereotypes, properly understood, are never outdated and rarely far from reality. Of course, a fallen world yields disorder but as Christians we are called to bring the order of righteousness into a world where disorder has run amuck.
It will not surprise those who know me that I am a big fan of having lots of children. I know not everyone can have children. I know that God, not human beings, grants conception. I believe that humans created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26,27) have an obligation to live to glorify God. That can be a tall task in a world broken and spiritually ruined by the fall in the garden. Christians have been commanded to bring godly change to our broken world. What if we started by looking to God for guidance?
What does God say about manhood and womanhood? First of all, it is clear from scripture that God created only two models of humans—males and females. Men are supposed to be characterized by initiative. Women are supposed to be characterized by responding to needs. Women complement and complete men in marriage. This is why Christian marriage is so important. If anything much is going to get done, it will largely be generated by the complementary obedience of men and women. One generation must proclaim the truth about God to another (Matt. 28:19-20; Psalm 145:4; 2 Tim.2:2). Have babies and teach them.
Where do boys learn to be men and girls learn to be women? Well, the best places are home and the church. In our broken world, the enemy of our souls labors hard to denigrate and marginalize both family and church. Government school is a poor substitute for being taught and trained in godly thought and behavior. The internet is a poor source of information on how to be a man or a woman. God alone is a reliable source of information. Read the Bible!
Recently, a number of (mostly young and unmarried male) internet influencers have been pontificating about the necessity of recovering genuine manhood. Unfortunately, many of these characters are generally full of themselves and often grew up fatherless. There are few things more odious than a guy who boldly gives advice to others about things he has never experienced himself. Never take a shave from a barber who has little pieces of toilet paper stuck all over his own face. Get the facts. God’s word is truth (John 17:17).
Would you rather live in a world where every man’s hand is against another or in one where humans, trusting in Jesus, live governed by magistrates (responsible officers) who wield the sword to foster righteousness? Our fallen world is a place filled with puzzling ambiguities. We live in an “already, but not yet” world.
I want the peace that passes understanding to reign in my own heart and in that of others. I also know that we need policemen and Soldiers. I have spent my adult life trying to convince my little corner of the world that Jesus Christ is Lord and King. I was also involved (tangentially) in an effort to kill a lot of people and break their stuff. I have tried to hold those two realities in holy tension. It has not been easy at times. I have some serious regrets.
The best place for children to learn how to live as Christ-honoring humans is at home under the guidance of a mother and father. The church is a congregation of individuals and families. Some of the best Christian training I received as a child came from a childless couple in the little church I grew up in. Mert and Jenny Ward will ever hold a special place in my heart for their discipleship training that blessed me, my siblings and many other children.
God the Father knows best. The spirit of the warrior and of the complementary adjunct can return—one family at a time and one congregation at a time. Let us all do our small part.
 Blessings,
Pastor John
Coram Deo