No more Mr. Nice

by | Mar 3, 2020 | Culture | 0 comments

What do you think?

A Philistine has invaded our ranks, a shadow has swept across culture and crept into the church. He is a suffocation, a photo negative. He has become a false ideal, a half-truth, a silhouette: a man described by what he should not be rather than what he should.

… Amen to what real men are not, but what, then, is a real man? Can we not say more than just a male who doesn’t do bad? We need men who not only avoid evil but embody what is good.

There is a profound difference.

One sees manhood as an incurable illness of society to be managed; the other, a pillar to build civilization upon.

And consider:

I know… men [for whom it] would be a dishonor and a lie, once you get to know them, to meagerly call them “nice guys”— or any other bland, empty-calorie, sugar-free synonym. Initially, one might be tempted to call them common. They may not stand out at first glance. But they will in time.

After hearing the hushed thunder of their prayers, watching the firm tenderness with which they lead their family, after fighting next to them in spiritual battles, marveling at their unwillingness to grumble in hard times, yearning to imitate their ever-buoyant love for those who wound them, their courage to stand when others flee, their unmistakable heavenly assignment, their ability to lift all around them towards spiritual-mindedness — many, including myself, become rightfully astonished. They are not celebrities. They have not written books. You can’t find their sermons on Youtube. But with worn Bibles, sore knees, and a sincere faith, they live distinctly in the world for Christ.

This is all from a great article by Greg Morse, on why we should stop trying to be “nice” guys. Gentlemen, consider reading it.