All Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible 1995 Ed. (NASB95)

There are many different types of Christian ministries, and ministry emphases. Specifically, I mean when it comes to addressing the concerns of distinct groups within the body of Christ. For example, there are men’s ministries, women’s ministries, single’s ministries, children’s ministries, young adult ministries, teen ministries, and everything in between. But which group within Christ’s Assembly should be the priority for Christian teachers and elders? Which group of people needs the most encouragement, instruction, and help from the gifted teachers of our local fellowships?

Many western believers would probably suppose that young adults, teens, or children should receive the most attention from Bible teachers and overseers in our fellowships. However, I argue that the New Testament teachings of the apostles overwhelmingly focus on the instruction and encouragement of the men of Christian assemblies. And if you understand the leadership structure of human society, and of the Assembly (aka, “Church”), it’s no wonder.

But I don’t think we western believers pay close enough attention to the distinct emphasis placed on discipling the men of our fellowships in the New Testament. This past Lord’s Day, I was struck by the apostle John’s focus on the brothers to whom he was writing in 1 John 2:13. In the midst of a passage in which he divides the sections of his audience into groups, and explains why he’s writing to each of them, he makes these striking statements:

“I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one . . .”

Although you might not notice how strange these words are if you’ve just glossed over them, or are engrossed in biblical terminology, John’s addresses to these groups are strange to our common western mindsets. The only other group he mentions are the “children,” who are a sub-group of the “little children” he mentions a few times in 1 John. Given that he clearly uses “little children” to refer to his audience in general, the term “children” seems to refer to a relatively immature part of the believers, including men and women.

But it’s the gender-specific terms that mark out his words as very significant in our effeminate and anti-masculine culture. The only two other groups, besides the “children”, that he names are “fathers” and “young men.” Why didn’t he specifically address the “mothers” and the “young women”? He very well could have. Yet he deliberately referenced the older men with children, and the young men with little experience raising children.

John wasn’t just using the language conventions of his time, but had a specific intent in pointing out the old and young men, rather than the women. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 11 help to clarify his mentality in encouraging the men of his followers specifically, where he writes,
“But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.” – 1 Cor. 11:3

In this biblical social order that transcends all aspects of human community, “the man,” or men, are the heads of women. This is the human parallel to the authority and leadership structure among the Persons of the Trinity. For Paul makes a direct comparison to the Father’s (or God’s) relationship to Christ. In other words, just as the Father is the ruler and leader of Christ, so also men are the rulers and leaders of women, who should submit to their husbands as Christ submits to the Father.

But this leadership design of men being in authority over women goes beyond marriage, and extends to the body of Christ. This is shown in many of Paul’s words to his apostolic representative, Timothy. One of the clearest passages I like to point out is 1 Timothy 2:8-9a, which reads,

“Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly . . .”

Note that Paul makes a clear distinction in roles between the men who are to pray “in every place,” and the women, whose contrasting role is to act modestly. In other words, the men are the ones to lead the prayer gatherings of the saints, and the women are to support and submit to the men leading them.

The second piece of evidence from Paul’s writings that men were the focus of his encouragement and instruction is that he writes two letters specifically addressing the qualifications and duties of the men in leadership. He devotes most of 1 Timothy and Titus to instructing the leading men to whom he’s writing, as well as the elders that they’ve appointed and/or trained. This is similar to the purpose for which he writes his very last letter, 2 Timothy. In 2 Timothy 2:2, he charges his apprentice to take

“The things you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, [and] entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

This is clearly a commission to train new leaders to succeed those that either physically leave, or pass into glory.

While we have three whole letters devoted to instructing and encouraging men, there are no letters in the New Testament that focus on any other group in the body of Christ. Yes, the apostles do specifically address wives, children, employees, and  employers, but these are usually instructed among other groups, and rarely receive lengthy treatments.

In light of this intense concern that Christian men understand their callings, and are motivated to fulfill those callings, we can better appreciate why John wants to call out the older and younger men in 1 John. The reason for all this concern about men being amply and strongly encouraged is that they are the rocks, stabilizers, and direction-givers of Christ’s body. In other words, as the men go, the women and children go. So, like John and Paul, we should make the discipleship, encouragement, and instruction of our older and younger brothers a top priority, even more so than the instruction of women and youths.

Rise up, O men of God!

Be done with lesser things

Lift high the cross of Christ!

The church for thee doth wait,

Rise up and make her great!

To the glory of our God and Savior, Jesus the Christ . . .