Strength Is Needed
When people feel relatively safe and comfortable, it can be easy to fail to appreciate the value of strength. Given enough time those who are weak begin to see strength as a threat. Women view masculinity as wrong. Weak men view strong men as dangerous. The strong are villainized even when doing nothing wrong because of the threat they may become.
On the other hand, strength becomes a bastion for everyone when dangers come knocking. When a criminal breaks into the house, even the most “strong, independent” woman will expect her husband to protect her rather than the other way around. Even on emotional matters, when a group of people feel shaken by a terrible tragedy they will appreciate someone who can provide stability when everything feels out of control.
While a Christian ultimately depends upon the strength that only God can give, Paul knew that individuals within the fellowship of believers depend upon that strength being manifest through our fellow believers. This is why he issued the following command to the church in Corinth.
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13
Watchful Guards
The start of this command is that the church be watchful. The church today has largely forsaken this practice of discernment. When Jesus was describing to his disciples what would come in the last days, one of the major warnings was that false teachers, prophets, and messiahs would come attempting to lead them astray. We need men who aren’t afraid to call this out today.
This can be hard for many leaders, who worry that it would be divisive to call out false teachers that are preying upon the flock. However, allowing the false leaders to continue to influence the church will actually be what has that effect!
They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.
Jude 1:18-19
If you want a healthy, united church we must be watchful! The calls for unity outside the faith actually result in divisions within the church.
Shield Wall
Next, the church was commanded to stand firm in the faith. In the armor of God, faith is the shield that stops the fiery arrows of the evil one. While a watchful eye can prevent the subtle attacks designed to creep in unnoticed, it is only by faith that we can stand firm against the relentless assault aim directly at the body of Christ. The world would love nothing more than to tear the church to ribbons, but the Devil can do nothing against Christians when we stand firm in service to God.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
Many Christians today have been convinced by our culture to think our best defense is to compromise and blend in. Again, this is the exact opposite of what we have been called to and our best defense against the attacks.
When we compromise, we’re letting our defenses down because we’re trusting in something other than God to get us through. That is when we become most vulnerable.
Masculine Leadership
Finally, the church was commanded to “act like men” and “be strong”. Despite the world pretending there’s no significant difference between men and women, it is men who are called upon to protect their wives and not the other way around. In marriage, husbands are called to be understanding that their wives are going to need their protection and that to ignore that need will even become a hinderance to prayer.
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
1 Peter 3:7
While men and women are absolutely equal with regards to eternal life, their responsibilities differ greatly. The Corinthian church didn’t just need watchful, faithful believers. She needed men who act like men. She needed caring protectors.
Strength is Love
As the world goes from sin to more egregious sin and the church turns to compromise, strength is vilified as unloving and even hateful. This couldn’t be further from the truth. While the righteous should stand against the wicked, it is not out of hatred but love, and that is entirely possible.
Let all that you do be done in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14
A person can be wary, immovable, masculine and strong and at the same time also be loving. In fact, a man must be all of those things in order to care for those under their authority in a loving way. It is apathetic at best to leave the church to the wolves, the constant attacks on our faith, and the constant calls to compromise.
Men, we are needed. We need to step up. Women, we need your encouragement. We need to stop trying to tear down the strong out of envy and start recognizing the harm being done by trying to keep them down. We need faithful, strong men to act like men!
