-
Photo courtesy Ken Nickerson
Several years ago I was driving on the freeway when a young man passed me at ninety miles an hour while doing a wheelie on his motorcycle. “That’s so stupid…and so like a stud!” I thought. Daring, fearless, and wreckless, he was proving something to everyone on that freeway: I AM A MAN!
Fast forward to 2018 and suddenly our definition of manhood has changed. According to research done by the University of British Columbia, young men now tend to value selflessness, social engagement and health over the traditional values of bravery and physical strength. In other words, instead of that guy I saw doing a wheelie on his motorcycle, today’s young men can be seen donating blood at a local blood drive.
“Of course, physique and independence were still prominent values for the 630 Canadian men aged 15 to 29 who took part in the survey, just not as important to participants as selflessness. In fact, selflessness was by far the top-rated male value. Nine in 10 respondents said that men should should help others, and 88 percent of the respondents agreed that men should be open to new ideas, new people, and new experiences. Eight in 10 felt it imperative that a man gives back to his community.”1
“Selflessness,” “help others,” “give back to his community.” I like this trend! If this survey applies to American men as well, which I think it does, then it’s no wonder men’s team ministry to their widowed and single parents has done so well here, as it has in Canada.
The moral of the story, pastors, is give your men plenty of opportunity to serve others. It’s not only biblical, it’s also increasingly culturally relevant.
This post first appeared in NewCommandment.org.
_______________________________________________________________
Learn how to form teams of men for every widow, single mom
and fatherless child in your church at NewCommandment.org.
_______________________________________________________________
