God Loves Bad Men?

God loves men who are addicted to pornography, and God loves men who are not. God loves men who are good and loving to their wives, and God loves men who are not. The uncomfortable reality (to those who are slightly self righteous) is that God loves good guys and bad guys…

In light of this opening statements, one must wonder… Is God conflicted? Of course not. But, wherever your theological paths may originate, it leads us to the larger truth which is that God loves men.

So, does your behavior matter? (Hold that thought for a second.)

God identified David as a man “after His own heart…” But David was guilty of marital infidelity- he saw a naked woman, lusted after her, and found a way to get her into his bed. He was guilty of a murder conspiracy- he found a way to get Bathsheba’s husband killed so that he would not be entangled by loose ends.

He was guilty of being a poor, ineffectual father who let too many things slide which ultimately ripped his family apart… (Those are the plain, ugly facts.)

“After God’s own heart”? Does that mean that God was “fine” with his behavior? No, actually, it means that David had a heart towards God, he sought after God’s heart, in spite of his short comings.

The overlooked and uncomfortable reality is that having one’s heart towards God ultimately bears more fruit than one’s action. (Drop your stones for a second…)

Having your heart’s desire towards God is a pathway to redemption, forgiveness and transformation.

When we read the book of Psalms, we don’t think about marital infidelity, murder or bad parenting… We see a book (so beloved by believers) that lifts our hearts and minds towards God.

Yes, bad behavior does matter. There must and will be a payment, but if you’re a believer, Jesus balanced that ledger some time ago.

Song number 12 on my Life Sound Track is called “You Are More” by Tenth Avenue North, and it has a chorus that really resonates with me:

“You are more than the choices that you’ve made,

You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,

You are more than the problems you create,

You’ve been remade.”

What do I hope to accomplish with this blog? Well, if you are less than perfect, if you struggle with hurts, hang ups and addictions, if you’re not a good man, God loves you. There is hope for whoever you are and wherever you’re from. You just need to start with turning your heart towards God.

This idea of focusing or not focusing on behaviour is probably an uncomfortable slippery slope…

I’m not trying to divorce behaviour from choices or consequences. What I’m getting at, however, is that pointing out or focusing on behaviour rarely ever changes it. You see that with the Old Testament “Law”, right? (The Law couldn’t save, it could only highlight sin…)

We know that behaviour is important because it’s all part of living out meaning. You live out meaning based on how you behave, and that comes about by the way you think, (consciously and sometimes unconsciously). Addressing the thinking, as the foundation underneath, is important.

When I’m writing these blogs to reach older and younger men, there are some young men who are engaged in bad behaviour, and instead of pointing that out, I want to make the focus about the thinking and what it means to be masculine. Maybe that is a more relevant conversation to be had. If we can turn our hearts to God, our behaviour will follow. (Do you remember the movie “Field of Dreams”? “If you build it, they will come!”)

Yes, I was trying to drum up a little bit of “shock and awe” with the topic. However, the theological point that underscores this entire discourse is that of grace and love. God loves all people, and he wants them to become his sons and daughters. The fact that God loves good and bad men really focuses on the importance of relationship. It brings hope to guys, no matter where you are… you can still approach and explore that spiritual aspect of your masculinity.

Masculinity is about living in relationship with God as He helps you (and me) live above mere motions, reactions or the “nature or nurture” of life…

Know this, we are not shackled to bad behaviour. On the other hand, we are not self righteous saints without spot or wrinkle. Rather, as we live with God, that relationship can and will affect you and shape your own choices and actions…

You will find yourself living in your purpose, and living in the meaning and roles of manhood, and living in relationship with God in the physical, social, and spiritual arenas of your masculinity.