Male Performance Issues

 Introduction: I grew up in a Pastor’s home, with 4 younger brothers… As typical teen boys we were all competitive in sports and as adults have been driven to succeed. 2 of my brothers are firefighters, 1 is a C-130 pilot for the Air National Guard, 1 is Lead Pastor of a thriving church plant. Still today, when we get together there is some sort of competition at play. God has given men a drive (strong desire to pursue) success (combat, sports, business, material possession, even women). We dream of success, we pursue success, and we idolize those that have achieved it. (Fame, Wealth, Power). We all want to win, be the best, be successful and accomplished. In Church, men’s bible studies, retreats and sermons I have called out men, husbands and fathers to live out their faith, to act with leadership, devotion and integrity. As I challenged men, I feel that I have often missed sharing a vital, foundational message of who they are in Christ, not just what they do. Many years ago, I shared a Father’s Day Message reminding fathers their vital role that only they could fulfill and shared statistics of negative outcomes of fatherless children. I chastised and challenged them to pull up their sleeves, work harder, do better at being a father, husband and man of God. After the service, one young father came up to me and said “How come you honor Mother’s on Mother’s Day and share how awesome they are, but on Father’s Day you just make us feel bad.” My initial thought was “what, I didn’t do that. I was encouraging and motivating you to be better.” Today, I think I have a “better” understanding of what my young friend was thinking and feeling. I unintentionally shared that Biblical Manhood was a pursuit of discipline, virtue and moral purity and I used guilt, working harder and to save oneself as the means. “Be a Man, Be strong.” I didn’t realize I just added a huge burden on my friends shoulders that no man can bear under his own strength. Question: As a Man and a Believer/Follower/Disciple of Christ, have I allowed my natural competitive drive of success and accomplishment to dictate how I purse being a Godly Father, Husband and Man? Men, we have a Male Performance Issue. God’s Instruction: Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. The Apostle Paul gave us this “little blue pill” to our Male Performance Issue in this powerful and timeless statement of Truth. 1. We have often placed our pursuit of Christian Manhood as a prize to be won, a checklist of accomplishments, a fruit of our own hard work, strength and dedication. We go to church (instead of fishing or watching football), we read & study the Bible, do our devotions, pray, become an usher, deacon, elder or pastor, stop doing obvious things (swear, lie, cheat or steal) and we learn a new language of Christianease (“Bless you my Brother”)…but we have allowed the pursuit of “Good” to replace the Gospel of Grace. It can happen to us at any point or even throughout our Journey of Faith. It robs us of our true freedom and identity in Christ. This is what the Apostle Paul describes as “Works”, or Moralism (Emphasis on Behavior), or legalism (strict, literal, extreme conformism to the law, or a religious or moral code). Jesus gave direct and sharp rebukes to the Pharisees, Scribes and Teachers of the Law, the religious legalist who were filled with pride and self-righteousness. Moralism & Legalism are a common pursuit with all world religions including devote Muslims, devote Jews & devote Christians. 2. Striving to be worthy or righteous through Works or Moralism is fruitless and will only lead you to exhaustion, discouragement and failure. The pursuit of “salvation” or the pursuit of “righteousness” through your own doing, or result of your works, is fruitless. Romans 3:10 & 20  What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written:“None is righteous, no, not one; For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, If I only chastise and challenge you to be a “better Christian”, “Act like a Godly Man”, “to try harder”, “Give more, serve more, grow more” in your own strength of will and determinism. Than I have placed the burden of “Moralism” and “Works” on your shoulders and you will fail, get discouraged, quit or fake it. 3. You ARE saved by Grace. You ARE God’s beloved Son. YOU are saved, cleansed from all sin, failures and mistakes, and declared righteous “For by Grace you are saved through faith…the gift of God”. Grace is simply “God’s unmerited favor”. Faith - belief & confession that Jesus Christ is God’s one and only Son, who died on the Cross for your sins, and rose again to take His place at the right hand of the Father, preparing for his blessed return. YOU are God’s Beloved Son. Galatians 4:4-7  But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. YOU are accepted, loved and embraced by your Heavenly Father just who you ARE. Today! Yes, even with your faults, failures, addictions and sins-YOU ARE GOD’s BELOVED SON! There is nothing you can do to earn more of His love and nothing you can to do to diminish it. Today He delights in YOU! Challenge: Men I want to give you a challenge this morning. An opportunity to make a statement and to receive a blessing. 1. Professing Believers in Christ: maybe you have dedicated your life to Christ within the past couple of years or maybe its been several decades ago, but “works” and “moralism” has crept into your faith. You know it and you feel it. Stand with me and we will together make a declaration of our identity as God’s beloved Son. If that’s you please stand. 2. Those new to the message of Grace through faith in Jesus: Maybe today is your first time hearing about it, maybe you’ve been to church with some knowledge but never made a statement of faith. I invite you to stand with my Brothers and together we will make a declaration of identity as God’s beloved son. If that’s you, please stand. Please repeat after me. I am God’s beloved son. By God’s Grace I am saved. Through Faith in Jesus Christ I am worthy, loved and accepted. I dedicate my life to obedience and worship to Christ. Amen Prayer of Blessing: