Where Are All the MEN?
Rewind: Where are all the MEN? We look around and see a lot of grown boys and even guys. But what about the MEN?
Is there a MAN shortage? I see lots of dudes mowing yards, working a lot, talking and living and breathing sports like an nineteen-year-old with a ball will really matter a year from now. But where are all the MEN?
Sometimes I don’t even see a MAN in my own house, when I work too much or check out when I am supposed to be the most engaged. Or when I am scared of spiders or roaches.
Seriously, is someone abducting all the MEN? Where are the spiritual leaders? The ones who are confident in themselves?
The leaders, where are they? The ones that will take risks, where did they go? Is there a MAN shortage? Did the MAN factory run out of materials?
I’m not talking about ties, church clothes or bank accounts. Nor am I speaking of egos, popularity, followings. I’m talking about real MEN: Guts, integrity, honest, vulnerable, faithful to their family, faithful to their faith, MEN. Where are they?
Our prisons are overcrowded, our schools are strapped for dads and mentors, our cities are dragging in a slow, painful, cultural death. Our churches have Lone Rangers, floating around on their own. Where are all the MEN?
I guess we should do something about it. I guess if we knew we had one day to live, we would act different. I guess we should start BEING MEN and then helping others learn how to be MEN. I guess we shouldn’t just sit around and blog about it, gripe about, wonder about it. I guess we should DO SOMETHING about it. Raise up some MEN who can teach some more MEN who can lead even more MEN.
Are there any MEN out there than will join me? What are YOU going to do about it?? Let’s hear it…. I’d like to challenge you to share this post with some other men.
Are there any women who will join me in praying for men everywhere to STEP UP?? I would also like for you to share this post ladies.
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Masculinity can only be bestowed by other men. Get in with a small group of men to do men things with. Sports, activities, bible study. Then throw in conversation about how you are leading / want to lead your family. Talk about failures and successes as a man, father, husband, and spiritual leader
Read books! It’s a guy thing. Wild at heart. The blessing.
Realize only a small minority of men on this planet have properly been “trained” to be great men, daddies and spiritual leaders of their families. It’s not your fault, but you are most likely in need of being trained up.
Jody, great point. It has to be passed on. I think it could definitely be too easy to blame one’s self instead of looking outward for help. Thanks for the comment!
I’ve been asking this question for years. Sometimes in the mirror.Man’s passivity is the root cause of every sociological problem we face. We know at a soulish level we were made to engage. The counterfeits hold our attention and hold us hostage. Video games, obsession with sports, pornography. workaholism. Let’s start with our own families. Our wives,sons, and daughters. Then go after our brothers in the family of God. I think our Commander in Chief will take us from there. Dr Robert Lewis (author of Quest for authentic manhood) says a real man rejects passivity, accepts responsibility, leads courageously, and expects God’s greater reward.
Robert, love the challenge: Start with our own families, so important. Then lets go get it! I’ll have to check out the Quest for Authentic Manhood. Or I could just drive up to OKC and hang with you for a spell….
Excellent post, Chad. In my experience, the shortage of men stems from the fact the men today have not had men in their lives who invested in them and taught them how to be men. How can we as men be men if we have no example to draw from of what true, biblical manhood is? This is an admirable challenge…to not accept what has been to affect today or what will be in the future. Men need to stop blaming everyone who’s ever been a part of their lives, accept responsibility, and break the negative patterns in their lives to positively affect their families and friends. This is true of me as well.
Thomas, thank you so much. What a great thought of accepting responsibility and moving past our past. I believe you are dead on; many of us have not had anyone here on earth to watch, learn from, model our lives after. Let’s break the mold!
I recommend the book “raising a modern day knight.” It speaks to how Dads can help their sons enter into adulthood with strength in the Lord, courage and honor. My husband and I have seen a lack of leadership in men-in the church in our generation (gen X) and those generations that follow. The lack of respect men receive in society is heavily influenced by TV and movies. The 50′s we had father knows best and Andy Griffeth. Everything from Parenthood to Modern family portrays dads as weak, stubborn (and wrong), and usually the children have to solve the family problems. Boys need strong men to emulate. I happen to marry a very strong man, and we are being very intentional to raise that “knight” with strength and honor.
LeighAnn, GREAT insight. I’ll have to check out that book. Great point on the media side of things…
Hit the bullseye here, brother.
Thanks A-rod, let’s live it.
Keeping it simple. MEN GET OFF THE BENCH AND GET IN THE GAME!! God has given us everything we need right now to be the Man he is calling us to be. The game is on and you should not expect others to do what God has called us to do!
Robby, love it! Thanks for the comment.
Great article…. I have the privilege of saying we are doing something about it!!!Connecting more then 250 men a week from an environment called MAN CHURCH to Intentional MAN discipleship..Just in the last year we have had guys start their own missions organizations reaching the men on the street and offering hope and a place to stay and now are currently moving guys to hardcore discipleship with a plan for multiplication. It’s time to stop playing video games and to be men…Good stuff Chad!!! ceck us out on FB: MAN CHURCH, at vimeo.com/manchurch, follow us on twitter @CSMEN and http://www.cschandler.com/ministries/mens.html
Bob, LOVE to hear it. Keep up the good work!! Thank you so much for sharing.
So Important,good to see this article, I noticed that there were not alot of Men, seeking Men’s Life Groups, at church…and we have awesome Men’s Leaders! I will pray, that those Men, continue in their calling and are able to encourage and equip other Men, to reach out in the community! Thanks for bringing attention to a growing concern!
The men you seek have been pushed out of their family because of divorce. Many can not see their children. Is it any wonder that, over time, fewer and fewer men step up to the plate when the system is clearly rigged against them.