Galatians 6:1-2English Standard Version (ESV)Bear One Another's Burdens6 Brothers,[a] if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
James 5:19-20English Standard Version (ESV)
19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
What is so special about men anyways? Why are they so important in building God's Kingdom? Why does God decide to use you and I in His plan? Why does he make men the leader of the house?
Some statistics cited by Man in the Mirror:
Men’s Statistics Gathered by Man in the Mirror (with sources) 113,000,000 men in America 15 years of age and older.1 69,000,000 of these men make no profession of faith in Christ.2 Only 6,000,000 men are involved in discipleship or spiritual formation—1in 18 men. Imagine putting a football team onthe field, and only one player had studied the playbook.3 As many as 70% of men seek out pornography. As many Christians will divorce as non-Christians (34% vs. 33% according to Barna). 40% to 50% of recent marriages will end in divorce according to the United States Census Bureau.4 4 out of 5 students in evangelical churches will drop out of church by their senior year in high school (HowardHendricks). We have become a fatherless nation. 33%5of the 72 million children in America will go to bed tonight without theirbiological father in the home. 73% of households with children under 18 headed by married couples (vs. 91% in 1960); 27% households headed bysingle parents.6 Nuclear families comprise less than 23.5% of households.7 40% of Busters raised by divorced or separated parents.8 More than 50% children born in 1990s spend part childhood in single parent home.9 10 Two years after a divorce only 53% of children see their non-custodial parent on a monthly basis. Ten years after thedivorce on 28% have monthly contact. 11 66% children born in America will not live with both biological parents through the age of eighteen.12
---Male Population113,00,000 men 15 and older as of 2004, 10,600,000 were 15 – 19 years of age, and 10,800,000 were 20 – 24 years of age.http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/tables/06s0011.xls , retrieved September 29, 2006. 2Estimate based on 39% indicating “born again.” 39% of Americans describe themselves as “a born again Christian.” (2001) Two-thirds of Americans (66%) say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important intheir life today. (2001) Half of those who attend a Christian church (49%) say that they are absolutely committed to the Christian faith, andanother 36% say that they are moderately committed. (2001) Commitment to the Christian faith changes considerably with age. Of those who attend church, only 34% of Busterssay they are absolutely committed to the Christian faith, compared to 52% of Boomers, 63% of Builders, and 70%of Seniors. (2001)Retrieved from Barna at http://www.barna.org/cgi-bin/PageCategory.asp?CategoryID=19 3Male DiscipleshipPer Barna: Of the 16% of churched adults involved in discipleship, 69% rely upon small groups for their growth.(2000) Of the 16% of churched adults involved in discipleship, one-fifth (20%) rely upon Sunday school and 11% attendother classes to grow spiritually. (2000)http://www.barna.org/cgi-bin/PageCategory.asp?CategoryID=9*The following two stats do not take into consideration how participation in discipleship may vary by gender:16% of America’s 38,880,000 men who attend church in discipleship = 6,000,00069% of 6,000,000 in small groups = 3,500,0004Garbarino, J. 1992. Children and Families in the Social Environment. New York: Aldine de Gruyter (p. 87). 5Living Arrangements of Children [Electronic version]. U. S. Census Bureau, U. S. Department of Commerce. April, 1996.6The Family Portrait (The Family Research Council), 14.7“The Changing American Family,” New York Times, May 18, 2001, retrieved from Internet June, 2003.8Dobson, 106.9Ibid., 134.10 Garbarino, J. 1992. Children and Families in the Social Environment. New York: Aldine de Gruyter (p. 87). 11 Ibid. (p. 87).12 Dobson., 54.
When men come together and read God's word together, worship together, and share real life together:
- Things change
- The Holy Spirit will move
- Lives will be changed
- Brothers come along side one another
- Friendships are bonded for eternity (whether we like it or not)
- Marriages are saved
- Marriages are renewed
- The Church will flourish
Blessings,Dante