You don't have to wear a cape!

It has been implanted in our brains by our television screens, our books, our fairytale DVDs, our parents, our friends, and our culture. The idea can be so detrimental to our lives because it affects different parts of our lives in many ways.

Strong, Masculine, Hero, ‘Knight in Shining Armor’, Powerful, Protector, Prince Charming.

What comes to your mind as you hear those words/phrases?

More often than not, in many Cultures, these are the words used to describe a man.
In our society, men are supposed to be all of these things plus more. And if they fall outside of these requirements they are often looked down upon and looked at as weak.

How many times have you witnessed a guy being called a sissy because he didn’t catch the baseball, or he wanted to take the Home economics class instead of Auto-tech, or he was smaller than his peers, or because he didn’t know how to fix his car? These are the lies that our society has fed us.

The Bible has a different view of the characteristics a man should aspire to have.

From the Bible we can gather that God wants a man to:

1. Live by God’s example. In Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”.
2. Be a team with his partner. Genesis 2:24 we read, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh".
3. Loving. 1 Peter 3:7 “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect…”
4. God-fearing. Deuteronomy 6:1-9 “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength”

The Bible does not describe the ideal man to be someone who doesn’t cry (after-all, Jesus wept), is good at sports, knows what, when, and how to talk to a woman. Every man is different. Men were not meant to be Prince Charming or the Knight in Shining Armor.

We have to change our view of how we perceive a “Real man”. Until we do that, we will always search or aspire for something that doesn’t exist. If you’re a woman, you will not be able to recognize who God has sent for you because you’re too busy looking for a Prince riding on his white horse, or in today's times, a 2012 BMW. Instead of looking down upon the man who doesn’t wear the latest fashion or drive the newest car, give him a second look. He might have all the important stuff on your list (and we’ll get to that list later).

For males, with so many opinions on who you’re supposed to be, what you’re supposed to be like and how you’re supposed to be it, I encourage you to let go of society’s lies and be who you are and embrace the truths of the Bible. This fairytale idea can be so damaging because you are placed in this tug of war between society’s rules that are constantly changing. God created you unique, don’t try and fit into another person’s idea of perfection.

LU

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