Where Have All the Good Men Gone?

“Where have all the good men gone and where are all the gods?

Where's the street wise Hercules to fight the rising odds?

Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?

Late at night I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need...I need a hero”

The singer cries out for a hero that she cannot find, a man to help her in her time of need. A modern day damsel in distress.

The question posed is, “Where have all the good men gone?”

Is it that the damsel is no longer allowed to be in distress? Can she not call for a hero because she is a modern day strong woman, or are there no longer any good men?

I’ve pondered this question as well. Where have all the good men gone, indeed?

Has Superman flown away? Is he no longer the man of Steele?

Have knights' armor lost their shine?

The brawn, the muscles, the strength, the manly man seems to not be considered appropriate anymore.

The suit and tie, the blue and white collar, the steel boots and hard hats are exchanged for men in dresses and is deemed appropriate by social media and society today. A well known pop artist, Harry Styles from the former band One Direction was recently praised for his fashion choices of wearing women's clothing. To speak against such an atrocity is considered intolerant. As far scripture is concerned, that's going in the wrong direction for 'man'kind in general.

Hard work and callused hands used be the sign of a man. A strong hand, gentle, yet firm was the way of masculinity.

Being a man isn’t all about the brawn, though. Strength comes in many forms, not in just the size of the muscle, but more the size of the heart.

Being a man, a Christian man, is being a good leader and provider for his family. His strength and stature is not physical, but spiritual. His growth comes from within, his humble attitude, servitude, and loving heart is what makes him a man. Don't mistake meekness with weakness. It takes a strong man to not strike back with a vengeful, hateful attitude. To bridle the tongue and fist takes strength.

David was a young, "ruddy-faced boy" when he faced the manliest of men. The giant he faced stood over nine feet tall, no doubt he was physically strong and confident.

“Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.

David knew he was no match for Goliath physically. He knew his strength was not in his muscles. He knew he was only a small boy and a runt compared to this massive man, but he did not let that stop him. David knew that his strength came from the Lord.

David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

David matched the confidence and strength of his foe, not because he was bigger and stronger, but because his God was and still is today. Due to this, we know from this age old story that David defeats Goliath with one stone and his sling shot.

To be a strong man and leader and provider in the home today is what makes a man mighty. Just like Proverbs 31 tells us that a woman's fear of the Lord is what makes her revered and respected, so goes the same for a man.

This seems to be lacking in our society today. We're back to the question, "Where have all the good men gone? Where are all of the capable leaders of the home? Where are all of the gallant men who take their family to church, who prays over a meal, who opens the Bible to read at night, who put God first in their home? Oh, there are a few, and we are thankful for them , but they are few and far between and society seems to speak against this sort of man.

Just as the narrative goes that says women can’t take care of their home, the same one says men can’t be men. Where have all of the big strong manly men gone? Where are all of the providers, hard working, get your hands dirty kind of men? They exist, but they are told to be quiet and not make a scene. Society, families, and churches still need these strong leaders. Without them the world is missing it's heroes.

Children who grow up in fatherless homes are at a great disadvantage. God made the family to function with the man as head, to lead and guide his family. Families without that strong leadership role of a father are more likely to have a rough road ahead.

• 85% of youth who are currently in prison grew up in a fatherless home.

• 7 out of every 10 youth that are housed in state-operated correctional facilities, including detention and residential treatment, come from a fatherless home.

• Children from fatherless homes are twice as likely to drop out from school before graduating than children who have a father in their lives.

• Girls who live in a fatherless home have a 100% higher risk of suffering from obesity than girls who have their father present. Teen girls from fatherless homes are also 4 times more likely to become mothers before the age of 20.

This is list goes on from what I found on the website, https://lifeisbeautiful.org/statistics-on-fatherless-homes/. Fathers as leaders and especially spiritual leaders are very important. This is part of God's design, but we have gotten away from realizing the importance of the family unit as God has planned. Unfortunately society is not letting men be men in all forms. Strong, capable, manly leaders both physically and spiritually are being forced to take a back seat. To this God would say, step up and take the drivers seat back, press on toward the goal, run the race, lead, be strong, work hard, love hard, be a man.

God wants more from men. He wants men to be men by finding strength in Him, and leading his family to Him.

You see the task of a man is not easy. He bears the financial, physical, emotional and most importantly the spiritual weight of his family on his shoulders. He needs to be strong indeed to carry all of this weight. He has the same responsibility to lead and love his family as Christ does the church.

"For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself." Ephesians 5:25-28

No pressure! It is a heavy responsibility given by the Lord, but just as David sought the help of the Lord, the good man of the Lord knows he can do the same and seek his ability from God. We need a hero that's fresh from the spiritual fight.

A strong man wields the sword of the spirit, his hands are strong enough to hold open the book of life, his words are confident as they speak these truths that are also hidden in his heart. His knees may be weary and weak from years of work, but are strong enough to kneel in prayer, the very same strong hands fold as he humbly seeks his strength from Lord. He knows the battles will come in forms of financial strain, sinks that need repaired, cars that break down, trash that needs taken out, work that needs to be done, days that seem to never end, unruly children, and a family to lead. The burden is heavy, but thankfully his God is strong.

The mystery of where all of the good men have gone can be solved. It only takes a strong man to step up and lead and others will follow. Our families and churches need and deserve this kind of hero.