The word virtue comes from an old word for “a man“. For us to act with virtue is to act like men (1 Corinthians 16:13) To live the way we have been called to act.
What are virtues?
Virtues are the necessary qualities of strength (physical and moral) to act rightly in the World. Virtues are good habits.
Certain virtues men should have, sharpen, and always be ready to use. As a man among other men–strength, courage, mastery, and honour should be valued.
Character, competency, courage, and conviction are developed and matured through the crafting of virtue and assist men in their duties of protection, provision, and reproducing masculine virtue in others whom they disciple and build up.
The Men Hold Fast places a focus on younger men to pursue living purposeful and virtuous lives. These things do not save of course. We do know what does save though…
“At the judgment, the law of God will justly declare us condemned. And the Gospel is that God the Son freely agreed to die our death for us, to suffer our deserved condemnation and doom in our place. And He didn’t just agree from eternity to do that. He actually did it. On the cross. For free! And for each one of us”.
Over five sessions we ask very specific questions to get men to design a path for their lives. Those five questions include:
How do you want to die?
What is one thing that you must do but are avoiding?
What is a man?
Who is in your tribe?
How can Character, Competency, Courage, and Conviction define the map that you draw and follow?
The desire for Men Hold Fast is to shape more biblical men who look different than the world around them and are reliable. Men whose lives echo that which the Apostle Paul encourages us to:
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Corinthians 16:13–14)
“The Gospel is so comfortable with God’s created order that manliness has a vital place. Paul takes all he has taught in 1 Corinthians — the humility of the gospel, sexual integrity, marriage and singleness, personal entitlements, how to take communion, spiritual gifts, the resurrection — he translates all that theology into this practical summary: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
–Ray Ortland