Happy Father's Day!!

Which is why you didn't get a card in June...



Today is Father's Day in New Zealand, and our (Surfside Church) theme for the event is "Fight Like a Man!" In our feel good, politically correct culture, we have a very confused and watered-down picture of what manhood should really look like. It has profoundly affected even the modern church, where it seems the highest aspiration for our men is to be a docile, tidy sort of nice guy.

But where did we get this idea? From Jesus? Without a doubt, He is the Good Shepherd, who carries the lost lamb home draped carefully over His shoulders. But He is also one who did not shy away from confrontation, who minced no words when it came to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, and dumped over the tables of the cheats and liars in the temple in righteous indignation. His hands would have been large and rough from His carpenter's trade, and He was probably grubby a lot of the time. He was at once both fully God and fully man.

The Good Shepherd who welcomed little children with open arms is a gentle savior, but being gentle is not the same as being weak. To be devoid of power is weakness. To have power and yet choose to restrain it - this is the gentleness of a man.

The Bible tells us that men are made in God's image - in other words, to resemble him. In C.S. Lewis' novel, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, we see a thinly veiled allegory of Jesus in the mighty lion, Aslan. When asked about Aslan's character, Mr. Beaver replies with surprise that "Of course he isn't safe! But he's good." God's nature is invested in the heart of every man - they are not meant to be tame lions.


So what does fighting like a man look like in the face of today's distorted, diluted manhood? Joshua chapter 1, verses 1-9 give some evidence:

1)Take responsibility - Moses had died, and it was now up to Joshua to take his place in leadership, i.e. professional and family responsibility.

verse 1-2: After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.

2) Step out - God wanted Joshua to lead the people in taking possesion of the land, but he was only going to give as much as Joshua put forth the effort to claim!

verse 3-4: Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory.

3) Find/embrace the vision - Joshua needed to know where he was going before he could set out; he would accomplish nothing in his life without a purpose or end goal to strive for. He was also going to face opposition in carrying out his God-given mission, as anything worthwhile will never be easy, especially if it is ordained.

verse 5-6: No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.

4) Stay Focused - Joshua would face many distractions along the way, both through obstacles and temptations. He needed to trust that the path God laid out for him was best, and not pursue other ways to attain his goals out of doubt or desire. What might seem wise or innocent enough at first could quickly take him in directions that damage or destroy his calling.

verse 7: Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

5) Stay in the Word - God had spelled out for Joshua all he wanted of him in heart, mind, and actions. In knowing and following God's word, he would achieve more than he could ever dream or accomplish on his own.

verse 8: This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

And finally
6) Know that God is with you - Joshua set out with an army that was not bigger, stronger, or more skilled than those he was up against. But he had only to obey and trust that the battle was not his alone, and God went with him and gave him the victory as He'd promised.

verse 9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Huzzah!