Guest: Michael Craven

Michael is the Vice President, Equipping and Mobilization at The Colson Center.

To learn more about The Colson Center and its founder, Chuck Colson, visit their website.

What Does It Mean to be a Man?

What is our philosophy of parenting? The Christian goal of parenting is to raise virtuous men and women.

If God has given the power and authority of the “sword” to the state (government) to enact justice and fight evil, then is it our responsibility to participate in the state’s actions that fight against evil?

From a mother to her son - do your duty. When women expect men to be men, they rise to the occasion.

Are we raising our young women to expect men to act like men, to expect men to treat them with respect? Women determine the sexual ethic of a culture because they “control opportunity.”

Psalm 144:12 - May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace.

What are you going to do about those two questions:

Who does she say Jesus is?

What are you going to do about sex?

The man should lead the relationship and establish those proper, right, and good boundaries for a healthy relationship. Sex before marriage inhibits true intimacy and frustrates the maturity and development of meaningful relationships.

The physical connection (sex) is not adequate to sustain a meaningful and profound relationship that should last a lifetime!

Once you establish those clear and healthy boundaries for sex, then you need to make good decisions that support that decision!

If she is a WALL, we will build on her a battlement of silver, but if she is a DOOR, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.  Song of Solomon 8:9

Men, work to protect the virtue and chastity of the women in your life - your sisters, those you date/marry, your daughters - if she is a wall, strong and virtuous, value will come to her…but if she is a door (meaning that she would allow men to be intimate with her without discretion), then you need to work to protect her from herself.

Dads, guard the hearts of your daughters. Check out the movie Courageous to see this concept in action!

We need to raise and expect our kids to be godly…not good. Godly individuals, by definition, will be “good” (nice, polite, meek - powerful under control), but they will also be strong, courageous, bold, truthful, honest, etc…