how are Christian men supposed to act?

[Jmann]

My opinion, whether you like it or not. this thread is about men. Why has it even gone to a discussion about women??? I noticed that, on how the women should act thread never got off the subject. Seems like the garden all over again.  "GOD, THE WOMAN YOU GAVE ME, MADE ME DO IT". All the talk and blaming really got nowhere but created a lot of controversy. 

[MorningGlory]

.

Makes me wonder why woman are called 'the weaker sex'.

.

The bible doesn't say that the woman is called the "weaker sex"

But the bible says the woman is the "weaker vessel"

What happened in the garden between the serpent and the woman was not sexual in nature her sexuality didn't become weakened. Instead it was the seduction done within the trickery of her mind that became weakened. The answers to the reasons why are found in God's word concerning this.

A "VESSEL" has nothing to do with sexual desire or gratification.

 

No, i don't mean the Bible calls women the weaker sex; I was talking about society in general.  Maybe because physically women are not as strong.  But men are weak in other areas where women are not, for the most part.  Some women don't have any self-control or mental fortitude either though.

[MorningGlory]

My opinion, whether you like it or not. this thread is about men. Why has it even gone to a discussion about women??? I noticed that, on how the women should act thread never got off the subject. Seems like the garden all over again.  "GOD, THE WOMAN YOU GAVE ME, MADE ME DO IT". All the talk and blaming really got nowhere but created a lot of controversy. 

 

Mmmm.....yep!

[MorningGlory]

I dunno...   I just get up, do my job, come home, mind my own business and I never cause women any trouble.  So far, no women have ever been offended or mistreated by that.   To me, people make things, especially relationships, more complicated than they have to.   I don't touch women beyond a handshake and I limit my conversations with them and to this day, no one has ever been traumatized or felt threatened.  I don't even look at them if I am not talking to them.   Even a casual smile can lead to misinterpretation and so I just look straight ahead, and as I said earlier, I mind my own business.    So far, I have never been accused of mistreating the opposite sex using those methods.   I think they appreciate it, actually.

 

But what about if you meet a really pretty, intelligent woman and you like her?  How do you get to know her better?

[MorningGlory]

 

Reading these responses. I notice two things seem to keep manifesting in the opinions of the posters here:

 

Firstly, there is a consensus that there are not that many Godly men out there to find to marry.

 

Secondly, there is a consensus that there are not that many Godly women out there to find to marry.

 

I do not totally disagree with this opinion, in that it seems there are a *comparative* few Christians left in the united states who are following after Christ. However, a comparative few in a country with 310 million people still leaves a lot of people out there.

 

Since this has gone in a direction towards being mainly about relationships between men and women and how men view women, and since the idea behind the OP here is requesting a conversation about how Christian men should act, I'll stick to that. Firstly, I think that while there are a comparative few Christian women out there looking to marry, I think there are a lot of Christian women out there looking to marry. I think the same is true for men. What I am getting at is that maybe it is so hard to find a mate because of how we approach finding a mate.

 

From Paul:

 

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 

Eph 5:26  that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 

Eph 5:27  that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 

Eph 5:28  So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

 

This is the picture paul paints of how a husband should treat a wife. Now, I realize that this thread has gone in a direction away from relationships between husbands and wives and that the OP seemed to want to discuss how men should act in a broad sense, but I think these verses are relevant regardless, I'll explain why shortly.

 

From Peter:

 

1Pe 3:7  Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

 

This verse is obviously a contentious one, it calls women the "weaker vessel." I have no wish to address that or start a controversy by using this verse. I'm simply using this as an illustration of how Peter said a husband should treat a wife. As importantly, though, Peter, just below this verse, says:

 

1Pe 3:8  Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 

1Pe 3:9  not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 

 

So, at it's core, when the question is asked, "how are Christian men supposed to act," in a broad and general sense, I think that 1 Peter 3:8-9 is a very good place to start! (Also, what do you know? This also seems to be a good place to start as far as how Christian women should act - imagine that!). I for one wish I'd followed these verses more closely throughout my life - even now. Who wouldn't benefit from being reminded how important these qualities in a Christian (man or woman)?

 

To address the more specific question of how men should treat women in particular, even single men with single women, I think the above verses from Paul on marriage and the verse immediately preceding these two from Peter is also a good place to start. When I say this I don't mean that every man should go about treating every woman he meets as if she is his wife. What i *do* mean to say is that if you show that you are *capable* of these qualities when interacting with and/or pursuing Godly women, then you are going to be a lot more likely to find yourself a Godly woman, in my opinion. Is this going to be attractive to the world? No.

 

My contention is that if men who are seeking after Christ want to find women seeking after Christ (and vice versa) then it's probably best to do a lot more socialization with Godly women (and men, if you are a woman). Is this always easy? No. Is this important? Absolutely. It is primarily important because we are called to fellowship (Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, (25)  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.). In the current times in which we find ourselves this is incredibly important.

 

My simple answer to this is that squabbling over low cut tops and the inability of men to control themselves is bankrupt. It ends nowhere. This is the culture we find ourselves in and it is not going away. The best place to seek answers on this is the word, and there are a lot more answers in the word on this topic than I have posted here. Don't despair over society's degradation, rejoice that our God is an awesome God.

 

 

Excellent reasoning, Steve.  Other men should read what you wrote carefully. 

[MorningGlory]

Oh believe me bopeep and MorningGlory I'm not perfect, I do fall (more than I should) and that's another quality a man needs, to humble himself to say "I'm sorry".

 

Oldzimm

 

Indeed.  That goes for women as well, O.Z. 

[missmuffet]

 

Reading these responses. I notice two things seem to keep manifesting in the opinions of the posters here:

 

Firstly, there is a consensus that there are not that many Godly men out there to find to marry.

 

Secondly, there is a consensus that there are not that many Godly women out there to find to marry.

 

I do not totally disagree with this opinion, in that it seems there are a *comparative* few Christians left in the united states who are following after Christ. However, a comparative few in a country with 310 million people still leaves a lot of people out there.

 

Since this has gone in a direction towards being mainly about relationships between men and women and how men view women, and since the idea behind the OP here is requesting a conversation about how Christian men should act, I'll stick to that. Firstly, I think that while there are a comparative few Christian women out there looking to marry, I think there are a lot of Christian women out there looking to marry. I think the same is true for men. What I am getting at is that maybe it is so hard to find a mate because of how we approach finding a mate.

 

From Paul:

 

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 

Eph 5:26  that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 

Eph 5:27  that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 

Eph 5:28  So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

 

This is the picture paul paints of how a husband should treat a wife. Now, I realize that this thread has gone in a direction away from relationships between husbands and wives and that the OP seemed to want to discuss how men should act in a broad sense, but I think these verses are relevant regardless, I'll explain why shortly.

 

From Peter:

 

1Pe 3:7  Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

 

This verse is obviously a contentious one, it calls women the "weaker vessel." I have no wish to address that or start a controversy by using this verse. I'm simply using this as an illustration of how Peter said a husband should treat a wife. As importantly, though, Peter, just below this verse, says:

 

1Pe 3:8  Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 

1Pe 3:9  not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 

 

So, at it's core, when the question is asked, "how are Christian men supposed to act," in a broad and general sense, I think that 1 Peter 3:8-9 is a very good place to start! (Also, what do you know? This also seems to be a good place to start as far as how Christian women should act - imagine that!). I for one wish I'd followed these verses more closely throughout my life - even now. Who wouldn't benefit from being reminded how important these qualities in a Christian (man or woman)?

 

To address the more specific question of how men should treat women in particular, even single men with single women, I think the above verses from Paul on marriage and the verse immediately preceding these two from Peter is also a good place to start. When I say this I don't mean that every man should go about treating every woman he meets as if she is his wife. What i *do* mean to say is that if you show that you are *capable* of these qualities when interacting with and/or pursuing Godly women, then you are going to be a lot more likely to find yourself a Godly woman, in my opinion. Is this going to be attractive to the world? No.

 

My contention is that if men who are seeking after Christ want to find women seeking after Christ (and vice versa) then it's probably best to do a lot more socialization with Godly women (and men, if you are a woman). Is this always easy? No. Is this important? Absolutely. It is primarily important because we are called to fellowship (Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, (25)  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.). In the current times in which we find ourselves this is incredibly important.

 

My simple answer to this is that squabbling over low cut tops and the inability of men to control themselves is bankrupt. It ends nowhere. This is the culture we find ourselves in and it is not going away. The best place to seek answers on this is the word, and there are a lot more answers in the word on this topic than I have posted here. Don't despair over society's degradation, rejoice that our God is an awesome God.

 

Yes Steve it is this world we find ourselves in the end times.

 

2 Timothy 3:1-4 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

[oldzimm]

My opinion, whether you like it or not. this thread is about men. Why has it even gone to a discussion about women??? I noticed that, on how the women should act thread never got off the subject. Seems like the garden all over again.  "GOD, THE WOMAN YOU GAVE ME, MADE ME DO IT". All the talk and blaming really got nowhere but created a lot of controversy. 

Since this is a thread about how men should act, I'm glad you mentioned about the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Everybody knows that Eve was deceived by the serpent, but there is something of importance that seems to be over looked a lot. Adam was with Eve when she took the forbidden fruit. God has made man the head of the family, not to be superior over the woman but to be the one to answer to God on the family affairs. That's why after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, when God walked through the garden he didn't ask for Eve, God said Adam where are you. So since Adam was with Eve when she ate of the fruit, Adam didn't have the courage to tell Eve not to eat the forbidden fruit, he failed his responsibility as being a man/husband. How many of us men today fail our responsibilities that God has given us, being a good husband, being good fathers or ensuring God's word is being taught and his will is being done in our homes? (I'm not pointing fingers, I guilty at times myself)

 

Genesis 3:6English Standard Version (ESV)

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[a]she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 

 

Oldzimm  

[missmuffet]

 

My opinion, whether you like it or not. this thread is about men. Why has it even gone to a discussion about women??? I noticed that, on how the women should act thread never got off the subject. Seems like the garden all over again.  "GOD, THE WOMAN YOU GAVE ME, MADE ME DO IT". All the talk and blaming really got nowhere but created a lot of controversy. 

Since this is a thread about how men should act, I'm glad you mentioned about the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Everybody knows that Eve was deceived by the serpent, but there is something of importance that seems to be over looked a lot. Adam was with Eve when she took the forbidden fruit. God has made man the head of the family, not to be superior over the woman but to be the one to answer to God on the family affairs. That's why after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, when God walked through the garden he didn't ask for Eve, God said Adam where are you. So since Adam was with Eve when she ate of the fruit, Adam didn't have the courage to tell Eve not to eat the forbidden fruit, he failed his responsibility as being a man/husband. How many of us men today fail our responsibilities that God has given us, being a good husband, being good fathers or ensuring God's word is being taught and his will is being done in our homes? (I'm not pointing fingers, I guilty at times myself)

 

Genesis 3:6English Standard Version (ESV)

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[a]she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

 

Oldzimm  

 

Exactly he could have said "NO".

[Openly Curious]

.

Makes me wonder why woman are called 'the weaker sex'.

.

The bible doesn't say that the woman is called the "weaker sex"

But the bible says the woman is the "weaker vessel"

What happened in the garden between the serpent and the woman was not sexual in nature her sexuality didn't become weakened. Instead it was the seduction done within the trickery of her mind that became weakened. The answers to the reasons why are found in God's word concerning this.

A "VESSEL" has nothing to do with sexual desire or gratification.

No, i don't mean the Bible calls women the weaker sex; I was talking about society in general.  Maybe because physically women are not as strong.  But men are weak in other areas where women are not, for the most part.  Some women don't have any self-control or mental fortitude either though.

.

Thanks bopeep for the clarification.

Jesus said the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.