Act Like Men — A Father’s Day Call to Biblical Manhood
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AI Generated
By Dr. Barrett Mosbacker
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong (1 Corinthians 16:13).
A lot of guys don’t know — they have no sense of what it means to be them, particularly. They have no idea what it means to be a man. — Washington Post
Growing Up in a Culture of Confusion
Our boys are growing up in an upside-down culture. God is dead, irrelevant, or at best a cosmic therapist. Gender is not biological; it is fluid, flexible, and anything you want it to be from moment to moment. Marriage is at best optional, at worst a patriarchal prison. It is okay to kill a human embryo, but not the dime-size blind spider. Men are told they should be more like women, and women should be more like men.
In a world increasingly hostile to biblical manhood, clarity and conviction are more vital than ever. Men must know who they were created and redeemed to be. The world offers no shortage of counterfeit images of masculinity—brash, self-indulgent, misogynistic, and shallow, or entirely emasculated.
True manhood is not found on the big screen or in the manosphere, but in Scripture, where character defines a man. The Latin word most directly related to masculinity is virtus, which encompasses qualities like courage, bravery, manliness, excellence, worth, and virtue. It’s a broader term than simply bravery, encompassing moral and character traits.
Biblical Masculinity vs Machismo
There is a difference between biblical masculinity and being macho.
Biblical masculinity is defined by Scripture. It reflects the character of Christ and God’s design for manhood. It emphasizes servant leadership, humility, courage, faithfulness, responsibility, and sacrificial love (Ephesians 5:25; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Micah 6:8). It is characterized by serving, leading with humility and love, and developing a strong character that reflects God's image.
Machismo or being macho is a cultural caricature. It often values dominance, aggression, emotional suppression, and pride. It is fueled by ego and social expectation rather than biblical truth. It is defined as strong or aggressive masculine pride.
Teaching Boys to Be Good Men and Good Fathers
Boys become good men by watching good men. Our sons, students, and spiritual sons need to see what biblical manhood looks like in everyday life. They need role models—not perfect models, which do not exist this side of heaven—but men who are serious about virtue and character as the foundation of biblical masculinity.
What follows are virtues essential to becoming the kind of man—father—and role model—God intends.
Leads with loving sacrifice
The biblical model of manhood is one of loving, empathetic, and self-sacrificing leadership—a leadership that honors God and cares for others (Ephesians 5:25–28). Abdicating this God-ordained responsibility is not loving; it is unfaithful.
Biblical leadership is not about dominance or control. It is about Christlike sacrifice, responsibility, and love. A godly man does not use his strength for personal gain but to serve and protect those entrusted to his care. As the head of his home, he is called to love his wife as Christ loved the church—sacrificially, selflessly, and faithfully (Ephesians 5:23–25). He is to manage his household with dignity, self-control, and integrity (1 Timothy 3:1–5). And he is to honor his wife, treating her with gentleness, understanding, and respect—not because she is inferior, but because she is deeply valued and a co-heir of the grace of life, a companion and helper in life (Genesis 2:18; 1 Peter 3:7).
Embraces masculinity without toxicity
Contrary to what some would have us believe, masculinity is not inherently toxic. Sinful men may display toxic masculinity, just as sinful women may display toxic femininity. God created men and women with distinct differences—designed to complement one another, not to be interchangeable. These differences are not grounds for superiority, abuse, or neglect. Verbal or physical abuse is a distortion of God’s design, not an expression of it.
Exercises self-control
A godly man disciplines his appetites—whether for food, sex, emotion, or anger. He does not indulge his impulses but brings every desire under the lordship of Christ. He is sober-minded, self-controlled, and steadfast in his speech, habits, and relationships (Titus 2:2, 6–7, 11–12). His strength is not found in dominance, but in self-mastery.
A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls (Proverbs 25:28).
Walks in integrity
He speaks the truth and keeps his word, even when it costs him (Psalm 15:4). He does not twist the truth for convenience or self-preservation. His life is marked by consistency—he is not one man in public and another in private. His character is the same behind closed doors as it is on a platform. He does not merely profess godliness; he lives it. He walks the talk, putting his convictions into action (James 1:22). Others may not always agree with him, but they can trust him to be honest, faithful, and unwavering in principle.
Protects the vulnerable
He defends the innocent, speaks for the voiceless, and stands against abuse and oppression (Proverbs 31:8–9). In the Washington Post article, Men are lost. Here’s a map out of the wilderness, professor Scott Galloway is quoted as saying:
My view is that, for masculinity, a decent place to start is garnering the skills and strength that you can advocate for and protect others with. If you’re really strong and smart, you will garner enough power, influence, kindness to begin protecting others. That is it. Full stop. Real men protect other people.
Admits wrong, repents humbly
A real man owns his failures. He does not shift blame or make excuses. He repents before God, apologizes to those he has wronged, and takes concrete steps to make things right.
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy (Proverbs 28:13).
If he is angry with his wife or children, he seeks to reconcile quickly, not allowing bitterness to take root.
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger (Ephesians 4:26).
Invests time in real relationships
He is present. He listens. He chooses real relationships over digital distractions (Ephesians 5:28–29). He is not enslaved to his devices or consumed by screens. His attention is not divided—he gives himself fully to those entrusted to his care. He is not addicted to technology; he is devoted to his family.
Prioritizes family over success
Success at work means little if he fails at home. He does not measure his life by status, wealth, or accolades, but by his faithfulness to those entrusted to his care (1 Timothy 5:8). While work may demand long hours and occasional sacrifices, these should be driven by necessity and duty—not by selfish ambition. A godly man does not pursue financial, social, or professional gain at the expense of his family.
Rejects prolonged adolescence
A godly man is not a boy who shaves. He rejects the cultural trend of prolonged adolescence—what some have rightly called Peter Pan Syndrome or the man-child. These terms describe a generation of males who resist responsibility, avoid commitment, and retreat into perpetual leisure, gaming, or pornography. They may be adults by age but remain boys in maturity. Scripture calls men to something far greater: to put away childish things (1 Corinthians 13:11) and to work to provide for his family and others (Ephesians 4:28).
Real men don’t check out—they check in at home, work, and church. As my pastor used to say, “Show up, stand up, and speak up.” Grown men set aside the games and the phone, put on a tie or a hard hat, and get to work. They pick up the yoke of manhood with humility and resolve, doing a man’s day of labor to provide for their families and serve those entrusted to their care. It is shameful to be a “man-child.”
Real men grow up—not just older.
Perseveres
Godly men are not perfect this side of heaven, but they are intentional and dependable. They can be counted on because their lives bear the marks of consistency and conviction. They press on in the face of hardship, striving to grow in faith and in biblically informed, Spirit-empowered manly character (Philippians 3:13–14). They are not derailed by the inevitable trials and temptations of life; instead, they face them with godly character, spiritual resolve, courage, and a faith firmly grounded in the truth of God’s Word.
Orders professional and personal life around God’s Word
He loves the Lord. He leads his family and builds his life and work on the rock of God’s Word (Deuteronomy 6:6–7; Matthew 7:24). With Joshua, godly men declare: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
Seeks the good of others
He is not self-absorbed. He resists the pull of isolation, entitlement, and self-interest. Instead, he seeks the good of others, contributes to the common good, and stands for truth and justice in the public square (Jeremiah 29:7; Micah 6:8). He engages his community with humility and conviction—praying for its welfare, serving where he can, and speaking with moral clarity. He lives not only for himself, but for the flourishing of others and the glory of God.
But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24).
He honors God’s command to pray for and respect those in authority, even in times of disagreement. He does not stir up strife or contempt but promotes peace and righteousness.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way (1 Timothy 2:1–2).
Cultivates strength with gentleness
Strength and gentleness are not opposites—they are companions in a godly man. Biblical masculinity is not defined by bravado or harshness, but by a balance of courage, humility, conviction, and compassion. A godly man is strong enough to lead, protect, and persevere—and gentle enough to listen, nurture, and weep (John 11:35; Luke 19:41; Acts 20:36–38). He is courteous and kind, showing respect and consideration in his words and actions. He practices good manners, exercises discernment, and cultivates good taste that reflects an appreciation for God’s goodness and beauty in creation—whether in music, craftsmanship, literature, or hospitality. His conduct is marked by grace, dignity, and moral clarity (Philippians 4:5; Colossians 3:12–13).
Think of David: a warrior who faced down giants (1 Samuel 17:45–47), a poet who gave us psalms of worship and lament (Psalm 23), a king after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), and a musician who played the harp before Saul and danced with abandon before the Lord (1 Samuel 16:23; 2 Samuel 6:14). David’s life reminds us that godly manhood is not narrow or rigid—it is whole. It is a life shaped by strength under the Lord’s authority and gentleness formed by His grace.
We may not be Davids, but we should be men—and gentlemen.
Summary
What to be a good father? Be a good man.
Like our Heavenly Father (Matthew 6:26), fathers are called to be attentive to the needs of those entrusted to their care—providing, protecting, and nurturing with wisdom and love.
This Father’s Day, let us reject the shallow stereotypes promoted by Hollywood, social media influencers—whether on the left or the right—and podcast personalities. Our boys need fathers who are real men, as Scripture defines manhood. As Paul exhorts: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).
Real manhood is not measured by bravado, wealth, or physical strength, but by moral courage, godly conviction, the resolve to do what is right, and sacrificial love. This is the kind of masculinity our sons need—and our culture desperately lacks.
Masculinity must never be rooted in arrogance, misogyny, or self-promotion. It must be grounded in grace, truth, strength, self-sacrifice—and above all, love (1 Corinthians 13:1–13).
Let us recommit ourselves to being good men, faithful fathers, and godly examples for the next generation. Our sons are watching. Let them see holiness—not Hollywood. Let them see Christ in us.
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Recommended Resource
The Art of Manliness – A site offering practical insights on manhood, virtue, and discipline. While not all content aligns with a biblical worldview, its overall ethos affirms many values consistent with biblical masculinity.