MANHOOD A MISSING INGREDIENT TO THE FAMILIE’S SUCCESS

Douglas Haynes, PhD Pastor,

Trinity Fellowship Church of God in Christ

Born in the early 1960’s, where two people sharpened my views and my values.

A mother who nourished me and spoke truth constantly over me. And a father

who worked hard and loved his Family. We were poor, but I was unaware of it

because my family was rich with the commodities that money cannot buy, love,

truth, and respect.

Years later, I have found that the dynamic of a typical family today is different;

drastically different! More often than not there is a missing figure in way too

many families. What is it? The man! When I speak of the man, I am not

regulating the term to any male figure. In the perfect sense, a man is an

individual made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26); one who loves his wife as Christ

loves the Church (Ephesians 5:26); one who nurtures his children in the fear and

admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4); and lastly, he provides for his family (1 Timothy 5:8).

The ills that plague the younger generation of today can be traced to the

disconnect of a godly man’s influence. During a recent seminar I facilitated for a

group of Christian men, I started a discussion by asking this question. What

does a bull elephant and a 14-year-old boy have in common? The answer is

their elevated levels of testosterone. In the 1990’s bull elephants in South Africa

begin to act strangely and more aggressively than at any time in history. They

reportedly killed more than sixty rhinoceroses, and, in some cases, they were

witness attempting to mount them. Why the strange behaviour? Why

uncontrolled aggression? The problem was that the government in an effort to

control the elephant population killed the older adult bull elephants. The

removal of the male authority in the animal world created a crisis that has now

put not only the lives of other animals in danger, but humans live as well.

Likewise, the removal of the male authority is clearly shown today in the odd

behavior of both male and females’ youth and a frequent display of out-of-

control aggression along with a total lack of respect for authority. The mistake

that was made with the elephants has been made over and over again with

humanity, usurping the Plan of God for the plan of man; mass incarceration,

lack of to no family stability has all contributed to this critical problem of the man

missing from the family equation.

The Man along with his companion (Woman) is a vital part of the life plan that

God has for the development of a people who He created to made in the image

of Christ. As the authority figure we are to groom and teach the next generation.

Deuteronomy 11:19 reads: “And ye shall teach them your children, talking of

them, when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and

when thou liest down, and when thou risest up (ASV).” When this leadership is

consistent then the results are children who grow up to be God fearing,

productive, and eventually adults who will pass God’s perfect plan on to the

next generation. A generation where manhood is no longer the missing

ingredient.

Heavenly Father, return the heart of the father to his son and the heart of the

son to his father. Let the love of God motivate the actions of man to love his

wife, and his children being present and displaying godly wisdom and

leadership in the home.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Douglas Haynes, PhD

Pastor