Jakes and 'maleness'

There is no shortage of femininity in the world.
The western world in particular prides itself on the "liberation" of its women.

This ancient biblical question, however, seems still today, mostly unanswered in the minds of many.

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? Psalm 8:4.....and

Why is The God of the bible presented as a Father? a male!

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

I am sure that the original context did not involve some of the contemporary gender issues, but I want to use the question as a starting point in your discussion of this thorny issue 'mutilated maleness'.

The images of manhood that are portrayed in most of our television characters tend to be less than ideal. The role of fathers is often ridiculed.

Author Steve Biddulph asks the question :
Is there something fundamentally wrong with male sexuality -- or have we just not learned to handle it?

in another part of the article he states...That the development of mature, loving men, requires some deliberate help and training during the first two decades of a man's life, and that this process frequently does not take place.

QUESTIONS TO MEN.

Do you find it difficult to express how you feel and what you need in your personal relationships?

Do you have trouble communicating and developing relationships with other men?

Does the weight of responsibility drag you down?

Do you wonder why it seems difficult to get the support and encouragement you need from your wife?

Do you often feel that there is a stronger, more effective leader inside you waiting to be developed?

Do you wonder what God's plan is for you?

In his book HEMOTIONS, T.D. Jakes comments that maleness is not easily understood.

In times like these, when men, particularly Black men, are presented with weak and limited images of themselves from the media or vilified by women who’ve grown cynical as a result of indiscretions, the album is a wonderful message to men of empowerment and hope for a brighter and better day. He-Motions is a carefully crafted album designed to nurture relationships between ‘brothers’ and the people in their lives.

.....And ladies, He-Motions is also for you. Inspirational and refreshingly honest, this is the ultimate source for women seeking to comprehend and care for the men in their lives. It helps you decode men's often baffling behavior and provides eye-opening insights for greater intimacy and healing in your relationships.

He-Motions brings clarity and hope to men and helps them strengthen their relationships with themselves, with the women in their lives, and with their Lord. It gives women the solutions they seek as they relate to the men they love.

HEMOTIONS - It is a book that will bring you closer together and closer to God.


MALE issues are not new....listen to Saint Paul.....a while ago
For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 1 Corinthians 4:15

I think of "biblical maleness" or biblical fatherhood as the place to begin to understand God and man and women !!!

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Ps103:6-14 Truly God is good to all: he is in a special manner good to Israel. He has revealed himself and his grace to them. By his ways we may understand his precepts, the ways he requires us to walk in; and his promises and purposes. He always has been full of compassion. How unlike are those to God, who take every occasion to chide, and never know when to cease! What would become of us, if God should deal so with us? The Scripture says a great deal of the mercy of God, and we all have experienced it. The father pities his children that are weak in knowledge, and teaches them; pities them when they are froward, and bears with them; pities them when they are sick, and comforts them; pities them when they are fallen, and helps them to rise; pities them when they have offended, and, upon their submission, forgives them; pities them when wronged, and rights them: thus the Lord pities those that fear him. See why he pities. He considers the frailty of our bodies, and the folly of our souls, how little we can do, how little we can bear; in all which his compassion appears.

AMEN