how are Christian men supposed to act?

[Openly Curious]

Alright, it's true, I'm in a mood. But, it does seem to me we have had a lot of threads about how women ought to dress and behave in various contexts, and not so much about what men ought to be doing specifically. Why is this? It seems to me the primary responsibility for behaving honorably is on each of us, rather than blaming others for how they are dressing and such, and that is the place to start such discussions.

 

Mat 5:28,9

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.

 

How are believing men supposed to treat women?

I haven't yet read through the thread from start to finish thus far so I'm playing catch up here.

I think believing men should treat believing women as something of value and of great price a helpmeet in this life of toil of the sweat of the brow should be something of value not underminded. A virtuous woman's price is far above rubies.

I notice men love their own eyes as I don't see any believing men going around who have plucked out their eyes for the sake of a pure heart toward God. It also should be just as they love their own bodies or eyes they should love the believing wife and have true pure fellowship with the single women without viewing her as an object instead of a person of value that she is in the sight of God.

 

1Ti 5:1,2

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters,

...."in all purity".

Yet show I you a more excellent way being the way of love this is found in 1 Corinthians 13 which that chapter explains the love of God.

As believers the love of God has shed abroad in out hearts. But perhaps men and women have forgotten what that love feels like as some have strayed from it. God's love seeks not it's own.

 

My point isn't that women (and men) shouldn't think about others when dressing or presenting themselves. My point is that unless men are caring to treat women properly, and that includes how they are treated in thoughts, it won't matter how they dress. Guaranteed most men could be tempted by a woman perfectly modestly dressed, minding her own business, if he allows himself to be.

And, even if a woman is being flirtatious and seductive, it is still on the man in question to avoid temptation and avoid sin, first and foremost. The woman has to answer for own sins, and the man for his. It is no good to pass around the blame, either way.

Blaming another for your own personal sins want get that sin stain out or off you. David said cleanse me oh Lord and I shall be cleansed and renew a right Spirit within me then I shall teach transgressors thy ways... Both the men and women could benefit from what David knew of his own soul if they are tired of the blame game and hiding their sins. Blaming and playing tag want restore us in the areas we need restoration in. 

 

I am concerned that an overemphasis on concerns about dress and propriety by women, "WITHOUT A PROPER BALANCING" look at what counts as propriety by men, will not encourage men to view believing women as they really are first and foremost.

When I read through the scriptures I don't read a half sided story of the fall of mankind (male & female). I see the whole story throughout scriptures being given as a whole. Both genders stood naked in the prescence of God and needed to be clothed. I see they were divinely clothed. Without the proper balance in which you speak there can be no harmony. Everything stays lop sided and confusion continues and the younger ones only repeat and practice a lop sided example that can tip over at any second. Both men and women need to be covered and they need to know what it is all about. It's not about the battle of the sexes as one being better than the other or above the other as both sexes are the body and it is Christ who is the Head of that one body.

 

 

Gal 3:28

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

All believers first and foremost belong to God through Christ, we are coheirs to the promise of salvation, and it seems to me we ought to seek to treat each other as such.

 

After 1 Peter talks about how women ought to dress modestly, it says this:

 

1Pe 3:7

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

This is a truth that I don't think most men or women are aware of or just not mindful of it. I don't think the truth of what scripture is teaching the husband and wife comes through as it should in understanding. But both the husband and wife are "one body" (co-heirs) and that one body has only one head being Christ he is Lord of both of them and both should give themselves over to His Lordship.

 

Before men go on to opine about how long the hem of a woman's skirt is, perhaps we ought to consider the commandments laid on us first.

Proverbs tells us "in all of our getting get understanding. Proper balance gives more knowledge to men and more knowledge to the women as a result ignorance is put to shame in our midst and walls of confusion the enemy has built between the men and women will begin to crumble at our feet.

It's good for us to get "moody" and stirred up within by way of rememberance in the examples given in scripture.