For the past two years the Southland Ministry Center of the Chicago Church of Christ has conducted its April series as a type of survey of masculinity. Last year this series was entitled "the Great Escape" and attempted to suggest what Biblical masculinity might "look" today. This year our April series on Masculinity is entitled "Foxholes and Wrestling Mats".
The goal of this series is to examine need for masculine friendship and camaraderie. Through the series we have tried to demonstrate that male friendships often look very different than female relationships and great care must be taken to make allowances for those differences. More importantly, however, these male friendships must be more than mere golfing partners and drinking buddies. The fun and mirth of male friendships has to be coupled with genuine vulnerability and honesty.
"Foxholes and Wrestling Mats" makes the assertion that such relationships can be successfully forged when men share a common cause or fight. When men share a foxhole together trust, respect and loyalty are formed. Furthermore, the best relationships are ones that make us better. There is often a striving and grappling within masculine relationships that hones the edges of the metal within each man. Men who go to the wrestling mat together only to later rise, shake hands and look one another in the eyes with greater respect have forged a deeper more meaningful trust. These themes can easily be traced in the interactions of David and Jonathan or Jesus and his twelve disciples. Men must choose their friendships with deliberation and prayer. The measure of a man can often be gauged by the friends he keeps.
It was a great joy to see three men baptized last week as Adam, Ron and John all accepted the Lordship of Jesus and all the blessings His friendship entails as well as His inspiring call to Biblical masculinity.
Chris Zillman, Evangelist
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