En este Día del Padre, estoy agradecido por el modelo espiritual a seguir que mi padre siempre ha sido para mí. Pastor principal de la Iglesia Rockpoint (contenido en inglés) en Lake Elmo, Minnesota, comenzó a inculcarme, a una edad temprana, los cuatro rasgos de la hombría bíblica.
Cuando alguien me pide que defina la hombría bíblica, hago referencia a Formando a un Caballero Moderno ("Raising a Modern Day Knight" - contenido en inglés),el recurso que mi padre y sus amigos usaron para enseñarme a mí y a mis amigos que un hombre bíblico rechaza la pasividad, acepta la responsabilidad, lidera con valentía y espera una mayor recompensa. La recompensa de Dios.
Ahora, años después, los rasgos están arraigados en mi mente. Se quedaron porque mi papá no solo me los enseñó, sino que los modeló. Estos rasgos han sido mi guía para la toma de decisiones y una lista de verificación para mi carácter. Creo que soy el hombre que soy hoy debido a las enseñanzas y acciones de mi padre.
Durante 60 años, Josh McDowell ha estado guiando a los interesados hacia un conocimiento más profundo de la verdad y el poder de Dios. Te ofrecemos nuestro conocimiento acumulado e investigaciones para ayudarte a encontrar la verdad y el estímulo para vivir una vida sana e íntegra en Cristo.
Modelando los cuatro rasgos de la hombría bíblica
Mientras mis amigos y yo nos sentábamos alrededor del fuego una noche en el norte de Minnesota, nuestros papás aprovecharon la oportunidad para enseñarnos sobre la hombría bíblica. Cada uno de nosotros sacó sus diarios y tomó notas. En ese momento, no sabía cuán influyente Formando a un Caballero Moderno ("Raising a Modern Day Knight" - contenido en inglés) sería para mí este programa. Los cuatro rasgos, que destaco a continuación, me han ayudado a seguir a Cristo mientras navego por este mundo empapado de pecado.
1) Un hombre bíblico rechaza la pasividad
Desde el comienzo de la Biblia, vemos el tema del trabajo. En el primer par de capítulos del Génesis, el autor describe la creación del mundo por parte de Dios como “obra”. Este trabajo está relacionado con la creación ordenada y divina y el propósito humano. En Génesis 1, vemos a Dios deleitándose en Su obra. Génesis 2 se expande a Dios cuidando de Su creación. Luego encarga a la humanidad que continúe Su obra. Génesis 1:28 dice que debemos “llenar la tierra y someterla”.
El encargo del trabajo de la humanidad fue diseñado para traernos recompensa y libertad. Pero requiere nuestra disciplina. El libro de Proverbios nos dice que nuestros buenos hábitos de trabajo honran a Dios. Estos hábitos se forman a partir de nuestra reverencia a Dios y, por lo general, conducen a nuestra prosperidad. Es fácil sentarse y adoptar un enfoque pasivo de la vida, pero tú y yo estamos llamados a un estándar más alto.
He visto a mi padre trabajar no solo por la provisión de nuestra familia, sino también para que las vidas de muchos cambien con las buenas nuevas del Evangelio. Mi papá no se queda de brazos cruzados, sino que actúa obedeciendo al llamado de su amado Señor. Yo activamente rechazo la pasividad debido a su enseñanza.
2) A Biblical Man Accepts Responsibility
Parents raise their kids to the best of their abilities, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be hurt in the process. As a kid, I always wanted my parents to be perfect. I knew my sin and mistakes, but I struggled when my parents would fail. It wasn’t until later in life that I realized that my parents are just like me: broken and sinful, yet saved by the grace of God. The difference between my sin and my parents’ sin has been their response.
I used to (and sometimes still do) hide in my sin as it produces guilt and shame. Like Adam and Eve, we tend to respond to our failures by running and covering. I find my gut reaction to sin is to shift blame, lie, and avoid pain. But my parents have modeled a better response: dealing with their sin quickly and responsibly, as God commands. They repent, first bringing their sin to God in confession, then to others in conversation, and finally by taking active steps to turn from their sin.
I learned to accept responsibility for my actions by watching my dad. I remember a few times he understandably got frustrated with me and my sisters, only to sit next to us in bed later that night, to apologize and ask for our forgiveness. Those little moments of taking responsibility have been monumental in my own integrity and development.
3) A Biblical Man Leads Courageously
My dad leads from his convictions, not necessarily his beliefs. To hold a belief, people know qué they believe in. But to have conviction, we must know por qué we believe it, and have experienced it in our lives.
I’ve learned that being a spiritual leader isn’t always about spiritual conversations, group devotions, or the outpouring of knowledge. These are important, but one of the most important ways we can model spiritual leadership is through our daily walk with Christ. Most of the time, leadership isn’t public. Rather, it is in our private moments, when we choose to do the right thing when no one is looking.
Jesus, in John 15:4-11, calls us to remain in Him, as He is the one who produces life. Courageous leadership stems from remaining in the source of all good things, our heavenly Father.
My dad has always led my family publicly, and himself privately. I have always admired the way he processes things with my mom, discerns current events, and spends time reading and applying God’s word. My father’s leadership isn’t just affecting lives here on earth, but affecting lives for eternity.
4) A Biblical Man Expects the Greater Reward, God’s Reward
My dad also modeled that biblical manhood is rooted in meekness and humility. Meekness is power under control. Humility is knowing who you are, Who made you who you are, and giving God the glory. Biblical manhood is not working or leading for recognition by others here on earth, but for the one whose opinion ultimately matters, our heavenly Father. We can only grasp this eternal mindset when we continue to remain in Christ, walking in His way and following His example.
What ultimately matters is if we know Jesus, not how much stuff or recognition we have. Do we love people well, are we guiding them toward the gospel, and furthering their fulfillment in Christ? My dad has an eternal mindset, and is working for eternity. To the best of his ability, he strives to do all things for the greater reward, God’s reward.
A Modeled Relationship & Spiritual Legacy
My dad did not learn to model these godly character traits on his own. To understand why my dad taught them to me, we have to look at his relationship with his own father. I have a loving, principled father porque of my grandfather.
My grandpa was a sharecropper. He was raised dirt poor, by an extremely dysfunctional father. Hearing him say that he hated his dad still shocks me. My great-grandfather stole from my grandpa and victimized him. Angry and bitter, my grandpa sat in the little chapel where he first heard about Jesus. Confessing Christ as Lord, he chose not to be a victim, but to forgive his father and walk in the way of Jesus.
My grandpa made the decision to model Christ’s ways to my dad. Because of that choice, my father was then able to model biblical manhood to me. The blessings I have received from my dad are the result of my grandfather’s obedience and faithfulness in walking with Christ. Haz clic en este enlace. (contenido en inglés) to listen to my grandpa’s story from my dad’s perspective.
Sadly, I all too often hear stories of father wounds distorting and damaging family relationships for generations. My grandfather’s testimony teaches us that it takes choosing to change to disrupt this painful cycle. It requires a step of obedience to forgive, not live as a victim, and walk in the love that Christ modeled.
My dad hasn’t just taught me about the Bible, he has walked the way of Jesus in his everyday life. His teaching hasn’t just led me; his actions have motivated me to follow in his footsteps.
I love you dad. I am so thankful for the impact you have had on my life. You will always be my hero!
¡Feliz día del padre!
- May we pray for you? It would be our honor to walk alongside you. Comparta tus necesidades con nosotros..
- Josh’s free parenting research for dads: El Factor Padre.
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