With all due respect for the current emphasis on women's equality and appreciation, it’s time for men to rise to their calling. Much has been written about how the role of husbands and fathers has been culturally ridiculed for decades. (Think: Dagwood and Blondie or All In The Family with Archie.) But men can no longer hide behind victimization. It is time to Man Up.

I realize that such phraseology is not politically correct. Some will immediately accuse me of misogyny. Go ahead if you must, but the deplorable state of current masculinity compels me to continue. It is no wonder young boys have trouble determining what men are like. When political leaders spurn civil dialogue to demean opponents with name-calling like first graders, what's a boy to think? When male athletic heroes express themselves in terms of abuse toward women, or when they display unhindered unabashed ego in shamelessly promoting themselves, real men are embarrassed.

Then there is the effort by some to redefine masculinity in terms of passivity and ill-defined meekness. Often fashion tries to hide masculine identity under a unisex look. Reacting to such obvious attempts, some have resorted to crudeness and barbaric behavior. Vulgarity and shameless machismo have nothing to do with real masculinity. I could go on about how so many men have disqualified themselves in the church, and abandoned spirituality to the care of women, but the point is made. It is time to Man Up.

Being a man myself, I have a special interest in genuine masculinity. If there is a right way to be a man I want to know it. I have read varied opinions discussing whether or not there is any real difference (other than obvious biological ones) in masculinity and femininity, and have concluded that unless one has already decided what they want to believe, there is compelling evidence that men and women are distinctly different while sharing a common life in equality.

Of course the best selling book of all times tells us that in the first few pages:

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27 ("Man" is used in a generic sense as the context makes clear.)

In fact, the Bible tells the time-proven story about a personal God who created, out of love, a world that has order. Everything in creation has both value and purpose. In His crowning act of creation, He created male and female in such a way that their differences would both attract them to each other and complete each other. Masculinity and femininity are designed to complement each other, not compete. Since God loves, He created mankind to love. He gave them roles that matched their design. Peace reigned as long as they lived according to their creator's design.

As the story develops, the male and female chose to reject His design and the resulting disorder infected the human race as well as the creation they were to manage. It wasn't a design flaw. It was the human choice to reject God's design that proved to be the culprit. Those today still trying to address the human dilemma by ignoring the original design are as misguided as Adam and Eve.

It is revealed in the Genesis account that Adam was given the responsibility to "keep the garden." That meant he was to guard it, protect it, and develop it. He along with Eve had God-given authority over all the creatures, yet when a serpent suggested they should not trust God, Adam did not forbid him, nor protect his wife. He did not "man-up." It is history's first example of masculinity letting the whole race down.

We have seen it many times since, and today it is alarmingly evident. We have all read or heard of the rampant fatherlessness in our society. It is reported that some communities have more than 70 percent of the children growing up without a father in their lives. Millions of single moms struggle to "keep their gardens," while irresponsible men walk away. In their absence young men and women are left wondering what men are like.

I would lead you astray if I didn't mention that as the story continues, there was another "Adam" who confronted the enemy in the wilderness and chose to do whatever was necessary to redeem what Adam had forfeited. He gave His life for His bride and made it possible for all of us to live by His design. (See 1 Cor. 15:42-50; Romans 5:12-21.)

The apostle Paul in his closing remarks to the church in Corinth exhorts them to "act like men." (Man-up is a close translation in today's vernacular) Of course he is writing to both sexes, but they obviously knew what it meant to act like men. Real men act a certain way. I would be afraid to write that to the church today. With such confusion about masculinity, there is no telling what behavior would result if the readers tried to comply.

Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Cor. 16:13-14, NASB)

The surrounding statements in this text help to explain what was meant by "act like men." They are alert to what might threaten those under their care. They stand firm, refusing to bend to the pressures of culture that seek to minimize faith and faithfulness. They are willing to confront and forbid those destroying influences trying to invade their garden of responsibility. They know the true nature of their enemy and fight with weapons that are effective. Above all, they act in love. This precludes and dismisses all the facades of masculinity that have crept into our culture. There is no place for manipulation, domination, or condemnation in true strength. It is the weak man who tries to bully his way to the top. Real men are meek but they aren't weak. They don't have anything to prove; just their "garden" to keep. They lead by serving and serve by leading when leadership is demanded. Un-intimidated by voices that seek to disqualify and accuse, they have something grand to live for and someone they will die for.

The family begs for this kind of man. Contrary to Hollywood hype, women long for such men. The church suffers from the lack of such men. Society will die if men don't Man Up.