A Definition of Manhood- The First Component

As Robert Lewis begins constructing a compelling definition of manhood, he starts with the need for a man to reject passivity. In his book, "The Silence of Adam", Larry Crabb agrees when reflects on Adam's passivity during Eve's temptation. "But Adam said nothing. He stood there, heard and watched the whole thing, and didn't say a word. He failed his woman. He failed, in his first spiritual struggle, to represent God. He failed as a man! The silence of Adam is the beginning of every man's failure, from the rebellion of Cain to the impatience of Moses, from the weakness of Peter down to my failure yesterday to love my wife well....The result is what we see every day: sexual passions out of control, uninvolved husbands and fathers, angry men who live to be in the driver's seat. And it all began when Adam refused to speak." Or to say it another way, it all began when Adam went "passive".

If we are going to pursue noble masculinity, the kind of masculinity that God created us to experience, the first step will be to take a truthful look at our own lives and see where passivity has taken roots. It may be in how a man relates to God or how he treats his wife or his disengaged parenting or in how he cares for his body. Where ever we have let passivity take roots, we must identify it and reject it.

Is rejecting passivity crucial? Absolutely! That becomes obvious when we look to Christ, the 2nd Adam who actively did everything His Father told Him to do. Whereas the first Adam sinned in large part due to his passivity, the 2nd Adam succeeded by obeying the will of his father.

Passivity's impact is lot like the effect of termites on a house. Passivity eats away at the substance of our lives unless identified and rejected. How are you doing in facing your passivity?

In the journey with you,

Reggie