Men, Wheat, and Chaff
Christian men are facing a test today. Many are failing.
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat…”
-Luke 22:31
The more I think about it, the more I think this cultural moment is separating the wheat from the chaff when it comes to men in the faith. (And women too but that’s different.)
As God turns up the pressure, will men succumb to bitterness or be sanctified?
I think most men are succumbing. They want to take up the sword against women, minorities, “the Joos,” even fellow men.
And sure they can do that. The problem is that they’re trying to call it “Christian.”
Ultimately they’re only fooling themselves. Even if they can get the consent of their conscience, that’s not the final authority, nor is it infallible. God’s word is the final authority. So men scramble around seeking Bible verses (proof texts) to justify what scripture clearly forbids.
They trust their own strength, not God’s sovereignty. Salvation and peace with God isn’t enough, they want man’s justice. They want to be the ones to end all evil, and to be the architects of a new utopia, constructed in one election cycle.
“Moreover, Absalom would say, “Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any suit or cause could come to me and I would give him justice.”
-2 Samuel 15:4
We might be short on Davids today, but there’s surely no shortage of Absaloms
I would give these men a pass, but that’s not what men do. The Word of God is there, and it’s clear, and all are held accountable to it.
Yet for all this talk about “masculinity” there’s precious little discussion of accountability.
Sadly, no one evades accountability forever.
My prayer is that these men will come to the humble position of throwing themselves on the mercy of Jesus Christ, to give them peace.
But my sense is that instead they are speaking of war.
God help us.
“… but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
- Luke 22:32