My Friend, David, recently mailed me several books (he does that occasionally, just because that’s the kind of guy he is). One of the books he sent me is Future Men by Douglas Wilson. I haven’t had time to read it, but I have been anxious to dive into it.
In preparation for my Father’s Day sermon, I’ve been working through it today, and WOW, what a fantastic read, not just on raising boys, but on manhood and godly masculinity. Wilson puts forth five characteristics in the first chapter of his book that he believes to be distinctive of masculinity:
Men are created to exercise dominion over the earth; they are fitted to be husbandman, tilling the earth; they are equipped to be saviors, delivering from evil; they are expected to grow up into wisdom, becoming sages; and they are designed to reflect the image and glory of God. Some of these following terms may seem somewhat cumbersome, but let’s call them lords, husbandmen, saviors, sages, and glory-bearers.
In an age where manhood is diminished and boys are disciplined and medicated into effeminacy, this is a needed book. Wilson guides us to see the rambunctious and adventurous nature of boys through eyes of faith, rather than unbelief. In faith, we can believe that a fight, though not all good, does reflect something of the character of manliness that god has instilled into males at birth. Unbelief says fighting is wrong, faith says sometimes men have to fight and God has given them that drive. Faith leads us to re-direct aggression, unbelief leads us to emasculate our boys.
These are good words from Wilson. I’m anxious to finish this book.
