Are you man enough – Tsogang Banna!

The Bible says the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, but fools despise knowledge and instruction. A fool has said in his heart there is no God; that is they don’t utter it audibly or tell anyone but by their life by their acts they say there is no God. Because the wisest man that ever lived, Solomon says; “Here is the conclusion of the whole matter, fear God and keep is commandments for this is the whole duty of man. (ref. Prov.1:7; Psalm 14:1; Ecc.12:13).

Where are the real men; that are man enough to shoulder the responsibilities of being a man? There is a big difference between being male and being a man? Unfortunately, we are living in a day and age where the line of demarcation is blurred. Since our first father departed from God’s blueprint for humanity; man have slowly been degrading to the level of brute beast. This is how we have been degenerating almost mimicking the behaviour of the lower creation that was made subject to man.

But from the very beginning as we read in the book of Genesis 1&2 man was made completely different and superior to animals. Man was made in the image of God; man was made with a defined social relationship structure different from animals. After Adam was made, God performed the first operation to establish a new order of social relationships different from that of animals. He gave Adam his first wife and even gave instructions of how to run and manage this order of relationship completely different from that of animals. After this arrangement God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it”. Thus, God ordained men and women to continue the process of procreation but not like the lower creation, which were also ordained to be fruitful and multiply. The order of “being fruitful and multiply” was to be different among human beings from that of animals. Unfortunately humanity has been morally deteriorating ever since Adam was removed from Eden.

God’s purpose was for human beings to build permanent, sacred, and binding relationships between men and women before, fulfilling the command to be fruitful and multiply. But man have slowly throughout the ages fallen to the level of beasts where procreation is perpetuated without any binding relationships. Animals are defined as male and female; this is why a real man is not just a male, but an accountable, morally responsible person who takes accountability for all his actions and their impact in the society and future generations. Even his beautiful God given gift of romance, he exercises it responsibly not do destroy anyone emotionally or socially.

We are living at an age where men admire the beauty of women and desire to have them and enjoy romance but are not ready to soldier the responsibility that comes with loving a woman and getting into the inner room where procreation begins. They just want to enjoy the benefits of the divine ordained process of procreation without being accountable for the outcome. They want to be boyfriends, even at 60 years but are not ready to carry the responsibility of being a father. That is why God ordained marriage to come before procreation. The platform for raising families among human beings was to be based on marriage, whereas the animals were just to continue mating and increasing their numbers. But God in His love and mercy made the process of procreation slightly different for humanity than it is for animals because it is also pleasurable. Otherwise it would have been like animals where it serves only one purpose, “be fruitful and multiply.” But nonetheless even this precious gift of God has been abused. Romance is indeed one of the beautiful gifts that God has left for us even in a sinful world; we can see how tender and affectionate our God is. God is love!!!

In this day an age there are more man and few fathers! I mean there are more man who bring forth children but there are very few who are fathers in the real sense of the word! The key of bringing forth children, is in the hands of men. If all men were to take a ‘nazarite’ vow not to bear children before there are ready to be fathers, no son or daughter will ever ask their mother who is my father? Unless of course it is an unfortunate situation where the father died before the child was born and other social ills and misfortunes that affect our family structures. Being morally sound is more important than being smart, at least in the standard of heaven. It is not enough to look smart in luxurious suits and snickers and smart phones and spotty cars; when our children are still asking their mothers who is my father? This is the worst kind of folly, deception, and irresponsibility? If no one will hold us accountable for it, God will? Like he asked Cain in the begin, where is your brother? He will ask the irresponsible man where is your son or where is your daughter? Where are the real men?

Males only enjoy romance and end there, but real men go beyond this to carry the responsibility of being a father. Where are such men to help our women build a nation of responsibly citizens? Where are such young men who can respect the dignity of young women and help them to grow into responsible mothers and women of our nation. While God in His architecture and romantic creativity made women more attractive to man, He did not expect us to look at women in the context of the lower creation where passion is the master? God expected us to use judgement and reason and self-control, because we are made in His image, this is what happens when a man is morally sound. Where are such boys in our schools who will play with the girls without spoiling their career? Where are such God-fearing boys and young man who will know that sex is not part of their social intimacy with young women and girls until they are ready to assume the responsibility of being a father. I have been a boy, now I am a man I know what I am talking about! I have seen how our young girls can be vulnerable and have their careers spoiled even at a tender age by boys who have not been taught how to play with their sisters and make the fatal mistake of playing with the forbidden in their wilful ignorance! I have lived at the fields and cattle posts and have seen how our young girls are exposed to risk of teenage pregnancy! I am not speaking fables but reality! So, where are boys, young men and men who can create a safe haven for our young girls, young ladies and women? Sometimes young man in their game of fake love and romance with young ladies forget that they will not always be young! No wonder the Bible says remember your Creator in the days of your youth, because it will teach a young man how to live responsibly and age gracefully! I ask rhetorically; ARE YOU MAN ENOUGH???””