THE SILENCE OF ADAM

INTRODUCTION

OPENING STORY: WE’VE ALL BEEN THERE- WAKE UP SICK ONE DAY AND SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE THE DOCTOR. ONE OF THE FIRST FORMS YOU WILL FILL OUT HAS A SECTION THAT HAS TO DO WITH YOUR FAMILY HISTORY, WITH QUESTIONS LIKE IS THERE A HISTORY OF HEART DISEASE OR CANCER, OR SPECIFIC KINDS OF SURGERIES…WHAT’S UP WITH ALL THESE QUESTIONS? MY DAD ISN’T HERE TO SEE YOU? WE KNOW WHY- THE DOCTOR IS IN NEED OF SOME CONTEXT, AND BECAUSE OF A LITTLE SOMETHING CALLED DNA, DOCTORS UNDERSTAND THAT MEDICALLY SPEAKING, THE TRAITS OF THE PARENTS OFTEN BECOME THE TENDENCIES OF THE CHILDREN.

POINT: WHAT’S TRUE IN THE MEDICAL WORLD IS ALSO TRUE SOCIOLOGICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. YOUR PARENTS GAVE YOU A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN JUST MEDICAL PROPENSITIES, THEY GAVE YOU SOCIOLOGICAL ONE’S AS WELL.

APPLICATIONS: THEY WAY YOU WALK, YOUR LAUGH, HOW YOU APPROACH MONEY, THE WAY YOU RESPOND TO PRESSURE, YOUR VIEWS ON MARRIAGE AND DISCIPLINING KIDS…ALL THIS AND MORE WAS SHAPED IN SOME WAY BY YOUR PARENTS. IT REALLY IS TRUE THAT THE TRAITS OF THE PARENTS OFTEN TIMES BECOME THE TENDENCIES OF THE CHILDREN.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT: THERE’S A SICKNESS EATING AWAY AT MEN TODAY. MEN IN 2019 ARE NOT FEELING WELL, WE’RE NOT HEALTHY. WE ARE IN AN ERA OF EXTENDED ADOLESCENCE…OUR YOUNG BOYS ARE CRYING OUT FOR MANHOOD POSTERS AND THERE’S NOT MANY TO BE FOUND (JOSH)…SICKNESS IS SEEN IN THE PORN INDUSTRY…IT’S HOW MANY OF US MEDICATE. NOT STEPPING UP IN THE HOME. LACK OF MORALS. THERE’S A PANDEMIC OF SICKNESS AMONG MEN THAT IS WREAKING HAVOC. SO WHAT ARE WE TO DO? IS LIKE THE FORM WE FILL OUT AT THE DOCTORS OFFICE. IT GIVES US OUR MANHOOD HISTORY. IF YOU WANT A GOOD GRIP ON YOUR TENDENCIES AS A MAN, GO TO THE TRAITS OF THE FIRST MAN ADAM. BECAUSE UNTIL YOU CAN UNDERSTAND ADAM, AND HIS MISTAKES, YOU’LL NEVER BE ABLE TO FULLY MOVE INTO HEALTH.

DISCLAIMER: WHILE YOUR PAST MAY EXPLAIN YOU, IT DOESN’T EXCUSE YOU. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A TRIP BACK IN TIME THAT WILL BE WILDLY HELPFUL IN EXPLAINING YOU, BUT IT DOES NOT EXCUSE YOU.

ILLUSTRATION: BEING PULLED OVER FOR DRUNK DRIVING. THERE’S A GENE. TRY TELLING THAT TO THE OFFICER. APPLICATION- JUST BECAUSE YOUR GRANDFATHER CHEATED, AND YOUR FATHER DOESN’T GIVE YOU THE RIGHT. YOUR PAST MAY EXPLAIN YOU BUT IT DOESN’T EXCUSE YOU.

PASSIVITY:

EXPLANATION: TELL THE STORY BRIEFLY BEGINNING WITH . IS THE FALL. SATAN SHOWS UP, AND I WANT YOU TO SEE HIM AS A PICTURE OF CHAOS. BECAUSE WHEN HE IS THROUGH CHAOS AND HAVOC WILL BE INJECTED INTO THE FIRST COUPLE, THE GARDEN AND THE WORLD. “AND SHE ALSO GAVE SOME TO HER HUSBAND WHO WAS WITH HER”. ADAM SAT BY AND WATCHED A SNAKE TALK TO HIS WIFE AND SAID NOTHING. HIS SILENCE WOULD BRING CHAOS INTO THE WORLD! PASSIVITY.

BIBLICAL EXAMPLES: GENESIS GOES ON TO TELL THE STORY OF PASSIVE MEN AND THE HAVOC IT WREAKS ON THE WORLD. ABRAHAM AND SARAH HAVING TROUBLE TO HAVE A CHILD, GOD PROMISES ONE, BUT SARAH WANTS ONE NOW AND TELLS ABRAHAM TO SLEEP WITH HER MAID HAGAR. NOW HE SHOULD HAVE STEPPED UP AND TOLD HER TO CHILL OUT AND WAIT ON GOD, BUT HE WENT ALONG WITH HER PLAN AND TURMOIL IS HERE TODAY. PASSIVITY. LOT LIVING IN SODOM AND MEN WANTING TO VIOLATE HIS GUESTS, SO HE OFFERS HIS TWO DAUGHTERS INSTEAD OF PROTECTING THEM. PASSIVITY.

A CULTURE DESIGNED FOR PASSIVITY ILLUSTRATIONS: AND THAT’S YOU. AND THAT’S ME. I RECENTLY HEARD OF A NEW BUSINESS HERE IN THE BAY THAT IS MADE FOR BUSY FAMILIES WHERE THEY WILL COME AND TEACH YOUR KID HOW TO RIDE A BIKE. I SHOULD SAY THAT’S FOR PASSIVE MEN. TIME OUR FAMILY WENT TO PHILADELPHIA AND THE BOYS STARED AT THE TV. WHERE’S THE REMOTE? NOT USED TO HAVING TO LEAVE THE SOFA. ALEXA AND HOW I GET ANGRY WITH HER NOW.

APPLICATIONS: EXAMPLE OF COMING HOME FROM A LONG DAY OF WORK, WIFE WANTS TO EMOTIONALLY CONNECT BY ASKING ABOUT YOUR DAY AND YOU SAY FINE. KIDS NEED TENDING TO, HELP WITH HOMEWORK, DISCIPLINE, WIFE NEEDS HELP IN THE KITCHEN, AND WE JUST SIT AND WATCH SPORTS CENTER. PASSIVE. IT’S HARD LEAVING THE PROVERBIAL SOFA.

“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. And it is a picture- a disturbing but revealing one- of the nature of our failure. Since Adam every man has had a natural inclination to remain silent when he should speak”- Larry Crabb, Men of Courage.

WHY AM I SO PASSIVE? WHY DON’T I GET AFTER IT IN MY FRIENDSHIPS? WHY DO I VEG OUT IN SILENT PASSIVITY WITH PORN? WHY DON’T I TAKE TIME TO REALLY CULTIVATE LIFE GIVING RELATIONSHIPS? ANSWER- WE MEN HAVE A GRAVITATIONAL PULL IN OUR HEARTS TOWARD PASSIVITY.

HIDING:

EXPLANATION: SO THEY EAT OF THE FRUIT, SINNING AGAINST GOD, AND NOTICE THE FIRST THING THEY DO- THEY HIDE FROM EACH OTHER BY SEWING FIG LEAVES. AND THEY “HIDE” FROM GOD (NOT POSSIBLE). THIS IS THE SECOND THING ADAM HAS HANDED TO US MEN- HIDING, A LACK OF VULNERABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. WE MEN LOVE TO HIDE. SIN ROBS US OF VULNERABILITY WITH OTHERS AND WITH GOD.

BIBLICAL EXAMPLE: SAUL CALLED TO BE KING, THE PROBLEM WAS HE COULDN’T BE FOUND. THEY DO A MANHUNT FOR HIM, AND NOTICE WHAT IT SAYS WHEN THEY FINALLY FOUND HIM: “AND THE LORD SAID, ‘BEHOLD, HE HAS HIDDEN HIMSELF AMONG THE BAGGAGE”- :22B. ONE TRANSLATION SAYS HE HAS HIDDEN AMONG THE STUFF.

ILLUSTRATION OF A QUIET TWO YEAR OLD. WHAT’S WRONG? HE’S UP TO NO GOOD. HE’S QUIET AND BY HIMSELF. WHAT’S TRUE OF TWO YEAR OLD BOYS IS TRUE OF GROWN MEN.

MOVING TO NYC ILLUSTRATION: COWORKER SAID TO ME I DON’T KNOW YOU AND I’M NOT TRYING TO GET IN YOUR BUSINESS, BUT YOU BETTER BE PRAYED UP AND HAVE GREAT TRANSPARENT COMMUNITY IN PLACE WHEN YOU GET HERE. NYC IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT PROVIDES YOU WITH A POWERFUL FEELING OF ANONYMITY WITH ALL OF THESE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE PACKED IN A TIGHT SPACE. IT’S EASY TO HIDE HERE, AND WHENEVER IT’S EASY TO HIDE, SIN ABOUNDS. GIRL AT EQUINOX, CALLING MARC. MADE A DECISION NOT TO HIDE.

APPLICATION: WHO KNOWS YOU, I MEAN REALLY KNOWS YOU? WHO KNOWS YOUR BAGGAGE? WHO KNOWS ABOUT THE SOCIAL MEDIA AFFAIR? WHO KNOWS ABOUT YOUR PRIVATE STRUGGLE WITH SSA? WHO KNOWS ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES? TIME TO TAKE THE FIG LEAVES OFF.

BLAMING:

EXPLANATION: SO GOD CATCHES UP WITH THEM, AND HE ASKS ADAM THE QUESTION, EVEN THOUGH EVE ATE FIRST. WHY? ADAM IS RESPONSIBLE. NOTICE ADAM’S RESPONSE- HE REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. HE BLAMES HIS WIFE, AND THEN KIND OF BLAMES GOD- WHOM YOU GAVE ME. GOD I WOULDN’T BE IN THIS SITUATION IF YOU HADN’T…SORRY MAN. HE REFUSES TO TAKE OWNERSHIP. SAME CONTINUES TODAY- WE MEN ARE SKILLED AT SHIFTING THE BLAME TO EVERYONE ELSE BUT OURSELVES.

AFFLUENZA ILLUSTRATION: ETHAN COUCH KILLED FOUR PEOPLE WHILE DRIVING DRUNK, BUT ONLY SERVED 720 DAYS IN PRISON, WHY? HIS DEFENSE ARGUED THAT HE HAD SOMETHING CALLED AFFLUENZA- THAT GROWING UP PRIVILEGED AND WEALTHY IMPAIRED HIS ABILITY TO MAKE HEALTHY DECISIONS. HE NEVER OWNED UP TO HIS ACTIONS FULLY, BUT FOUND A WAY TO BLAME OTHERS. IF THIS SOUNDS ABSURD LOOK INSIDE YOURSELF.

ADAMITIS APPLICATIONS: WE MAY NOT HAVE AFFLUENZA, BUT EVERY MALE HAS ADAMITIS. WE LOVE TO SHIFT THE BLAME. WE DIDN’T PERFORM WELL ON THE JOB BECAUSE OF OUR BOSS. IF OUR WIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN NICER, SEXIER, MORE ATTENTIVE THE MARRIAGE WOULD BE BETTER OR WOULD HAVE WORKED OUT. IF THAT PERSON HADN’T HAVE TRIGGERED ME BY MAKING ME MAD I WOULDN’T HAVE LASHED OUT IN ANGER. WE DON’T DO WELL TAKING THE BLAME.

JESUS THE LAST ADAM-

EXPLANATION: PRETTY DEPRESSING, I KNOW, SO LET’S END WITH SOME HOPE. LOOK AT …HOW DO I MOVE FORWARD INTO HEALTH? IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR US AS MEN? YES!!! JESUS IS CALLED THE LAST ADAM AND THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. THE FIRST ADAM TOOK THE WORLD FROM ORDER TO DISORDER, FROM BEAUTY TO CHAOS, BY HIS PASSIVITY, HIDING AND BLAMING. THE LAST ADAM- JESUS CHRIST- WILL BRING ORDER BACK INTO THE WORLD BY BEING INTENTIONAL, VULNERABLE AND RESPONSIBLE. WE HAVE A CHOICE TODAY- TO BE EITHER THE FIRST ADAM OR THE LAST ADAM.

FROM PASSIVITY TO INTENTIONALITY: JESUS WAS INTENTIONAL, NEVER PASSIVE. WE WERE IN A MESS, AND JESUS COULD HAVE STAYED IN HEAVEN, BUT NO. HE SAW OUR NEED AND DIDN’T STAY ON THE SOFA, BUT TOOK ON FLESH, LIVING THE LIFE WE COULD NEVER LIVE AND DYING THE DEATH WE SHOULD HAVE DIED. THE STORY OF THE INCARNATION IS THE STORY OF THE INTENTIONAL JESUS! . LOOK AT THE INTENTIONALITY HERE.

FROM HIDING TO VULNERABILITY: JESUS LIVED A FIG LEAF FREE LIFE. THERE WAS NO HIDING WITH HIM. HE WAS TRANSPARENT. .

COMMUNICATION PYRAMID?

FROM BLAMING TO OWNERSHIP: . NOT ONLY DID JESUS LIVE THE PERFECT LIFE, BUT WHILE THE FIRST ADAM REFUSED TO OWN HIS SIN, THE LAST ADAM OWNED OURS. PRAISE GOD!