What does it take to be a man?  You gotta do the right thing, right?!?  Precisely!

Paul appropriately writes in 1 Corinthians 13:11…

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

Now recently I’ve been reading up a bit on what leadership is, spiritual leadership to be specific, and especially the definitions and descriptions of biblical Christian manhood–focusing more on the manhood aspect within Christian theology.

Here are a few things I found through the aid of the Southern Seminary Magazine - Winter 2005 edition article “Show Yourself to be a Man”: to be a true man of God, I need to be (1) a leader, (2) a provider, and (3) a protector, and I need to have:

1. Vision (this is where we are going)
2. Direction (this is how we get there)
3. Instruction (let me show you how)
4. Imitation (watch me)
5. Inspiration (isn’t this great?) [group]
6. Affirmation (you’re doing great!) [individual]
7. Evaluation (how are we doing?)
8. Correction (let’s make a change)
9. Protection and provision (I’ll take care of you)

And from John Piper’s “The Marks of a Spiritual Leader“, he writes that “Biblical spiritual leadership contains an inner circle and an outer circle. The inner circle of spiritual leadership is that sequence of events in the human soul that must happen if anyone is to get to first base in spiritual leadership. These are the absolute bare essentials. They are things that all Christians must attain in some degree, and when they are attained with high fervor and deep conviction they very often lead one into strong leadership. In the outer circle are qualities that characterize both spiritual and non-spiritual leaders.”

The Inner Circle of Spiritual Leadership
1. That Others Will Glorify God
2. Love both Friend and Foe by Trusting in God and Hoping in His Promises
3. Meditate On and Pray Over His Word
4. Acknowledge Your Helplessness
 
The Outer Circle of Spiritual Leadership
1. Restless
2. Optimistic
3. Intense
4. Self-controlled
5. Thick-skinned
6. Energetic
7. A hard thinker
8. Articulate
9. Able to Teach
10. A Good Judge of Character
11. Tactful
12. Theologically Oriented
13. A dreamer
14. Organized and Efficient
15. Decisive
16. Perseverant
17. Lover
18. Restful

What do you think about these qualities that are needed in biblical manhood and spiritual leadership?  Do you have what it takes?  Do our leaders have these qualities?  If we are missing some, how are we to attain them?  I personally think that answer is found in His Word–that is when us guys read more and more of His Word, and become closer in relationship with our Father, His Truth transforms us, and His holy otherness rubs off on us, and molds us into who He has made us to be: men of faith–leaders at home, in the church, and in the world…

Some things to reflect upon
(HT: Justin Taylor)