“Truth isn't relative; only our position to it…” J. D. Payne (yeah me)
I was asked to post what I believe is a Godly man, and what God has said about it. First let me say that I was honored someone would think I knew. I thought about doing this after I left the site and then have Jim (Rencal45) post it for me, but I got nudge to do it while it was fresh and new in my mind. I also thought of which passages of the Bible to pull from, as there a many, but I as I contemplated it was a shock to understand something so lacking in Christiandom that only a few seem to know.
It is not the passages that are important - it's understanding and living them. That would stop a lot of food fights wouldn't it?
So I can quote scripture all day long, and many do, but what is the underlying concept, the principle or law of that scripture and how do I apply that in my everyday living?.. I have stated for years that Christianity is not just something you do, but Christianity is also who you are. So I want to take this time to express my understanding of what it means to be a Christian man - and a desirable mate to the Christian women. Someone they can cherish, and be cherished by in return, for the rest of their lives.
The hierarchy of success
To be successful in anything is to adhere to the principles that guarantee that very success. Being a godly man has a hierarchy of success (or a structured set of principles) that can be applied as effectively as any endeavor in the world.
- Discipleship
- Commitment
- Effort
- Obedience
- Resolve
- Purity
- Change
Discipleship
This has also been called mentoring as well, though that is a little different, and is the foundation of everything we do in life. We should understand that we follow an example of a teacher, master or another authoritative individual when we disciple ourselves to someone. Much like a monk in a monastery, we are following a master. His name is Jesus.
Again I could quote scripture on this, and I do have many favorites, but let's just look at how Christ did things, how He lived. His discipleship was unto God the father in His form as Son of Man. He always made it clear that He did not do anything unless that either it was given to Him by God, or something He saw God doing. This is our foundation as well.
When you see some people who are billionaires, have untold power and position, it usually because they are building on the success of others, usually a line of men that have been amassing fortunes over the period of decades if not centuries. They take what the first ancestor had accomplished, maintained it, and then added to it.
This principle holds true in our discipleship to Christ. Men should always be mentored to an elder Christian to build on what that person has experienced and can give insight to from their own walk of discipleship. The world calls this "not reinventing the wheel". Again, we call it discipleship. Mentoring is a part of this discipleship where we are helped along the way through the advice and counsel of older, maturer Christians. How else could the disciple make new disciples if they did not counsel and teach them?
So in mentoring, it allows us to focus on building our own faith, our own discipleship in Christ, and expanding our own understanding and seeing the very principles of faith put into action. If that mentor is a mature Christian, we can begin applying the principles that we see them applying in their lives. Reading about something is one thing, having a living, breathing example of it is another thing altogether. It brings the power of faith into our lives because it makes faith VISIBLE - we can see what it looks like!
Those who think they do not need this, then consider: Christ discipled to God the Father, and was Master to the disciples who discipled themselves under Him, and they in turn were admonish to go unto the world and make disciples themselves - and so on. But their Lord, and our Savior, was also their mentor in that He also guided and counseled them as well as teach them the principles of faith.
That is how God does and did it, through discipleship and mentoring. It is an example of we all should be doing as well, but I speak to men today. If a man is unwilling to be under authority in Christ, then that man is questionable in his walk of faith, because he is ignoring the hierarchy that God put in place.
