M.O.G: Man of God
What does that look like in our
culture today? According to the media, movies and countless magazine covers, a man
today is suppose to be unapologetically hard charging, money hungry, a wooer of the
ladies, spends like its going out of fashion and suppose to partake in
addictive behaviors. Whether that is booze, drugs, or numerous types of sexual behaviors. In a culture
where the lazy are glorified as just having fun, in a culture where sleeping
with multiple partners because the slogan is "hate the game, not the player,"and in a culture where drinking and
partying is fashionable. Where are you suppose to fit in if you don’t do these
type of things or behaviors? Why is it if you do the right thing, work hard, have a consistent
relationship, become financially independent and tithe, that you are looked at
as uptight or just plain WEIRD? Why is that? Life has many different obstacle
and tests that were orchestrated for you and your path, but why is a "Man of God" looked down upon?
In our media today, the godly man is
ridiculed for his faith without even getting a so called “chance.” Look at Tim
Tebow in our media today, he is a football player that is unapologetic about his
faith in Christ. He draws unwarranted criticism for a rookie second year player, mind
you he is just starting his career in the NFL but he gets mocked or shunned by
those in the media for being a "Man of God." Our media wants the Tim Tebow’s of
the world to keep that type of “praying before a game” off the field and in the
churches that are scattered across our great country, but why? Is it in the NFL rules that a player can not demonstrate his faith on the field, is it in the football
“code of conduct” that he not be able to kneel on the field before God. Is it just not
right to be the guy that prays at the end of game with his own team and players from opposing team in a pray circle for their thanks to God? More importantly, is he
hurting anyone emotionally or physically by doing these things? Of course not,
then why all the controversy?
I believe that the media likes to mock
players with this kind of behavior because they believe that people should
leave that kind of behavior for the churches and synagogues. In the book of
Matthew 5:13 it says, “You are the salt of the earth,” and because of that a
Christian individual is suppose to not separate from God things like career,
relationships and activities. But to be the “salt” in all those areas and by doing
that their will not be a clear line between the two areas, and more like a intertwining of all aspects of life.
Let me explain it this way, picture a man that checks the coat of his salvation at the door before going to his place of work. The man spreads hurtful
gossip around the office, takes frequent 15 minute breaks to the bathroom to
play the next level on angry birds, then grabs paper, pencils and pens for his
office at home because he thinks to himself, "they can afford it anyway, right?" From there the man
heads home and grabs that coat of salvation on his way out to head home to his
lovely family that he perceives to know him as a Godly individual. Is the man
truly saved or is he just being a liar to himself and to his family? Ultimately,
you can not be one individual in one place and a totally different at the other
because it will confuse you and eventually you will slip up and will be caught.
So what does a “Man of God” look like
and how can it be attained? It is really quite simple, an individual must
be consistent in all areas of life, an individual must do the right thing even
when no one is looking, an individual must seek the lord with an open heart and
from there it will start the ball rolling on being a person your heavenly
father would be proud of. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a
great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin
that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out
for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” Hebrews
12:1-2. You have a “race” engineered for you, and you can let it take you closer
to God or the complete opposite. I understand that with a fixed gaze on our
lord that strength is possible to attain because it can not be done alone,
especially in our culture today.
Be the "salt of the world" in every aspect of your life, and till later live with faith, hope and love because you are magnificent and God is with you always!
