Rebuild – A Christian Society For Men
June 22nd, 2010Recently St. Andrew’s Church stated on the website a desire to help start “Rebuild – A Christian Society for Men” through our work in the community called “Mission Lawrence”.
It’s intended to be a place for any Christian man in Lawrence County. It’s goal is to “educate and support men in their quest for godliness in work, family, and God’s kingdom”.
Given our unemployment situation in the county, one of the goals will be to help Christian men find and keep gainful employment. As God leads, we’d like to see (and assist educationally and with technical assistance) the formation of new businesses to spread employment and prosperity through the county. Ideally these would be employee owned businesses run along Christian ethical principles.
While that may be “a long ways down the road”, learning to live like godly men is something we can start right now.
Back when there were such a thing as “Christian Knights”, men wrote manuals teaching these knights how to lead virtuous Christian lives.
That’s the groundwork we must lay again if we are to be faithful Christian men. These are short extracts from such a manual written by Desiderius Erasmus in much the same way John the Baptist gave moral instruction to the Roman Centurions of his day…
The actual book is over 200 pages (link below). But for now consider these guidelines for to help you be ready to form “Rebuild – Christian Society for Men”.
1. Increase Your Faith
…even if the entire world appears mad.2. Act Upon Your Faith
…even if you must undergo the loss of everything.3. Analyze Your Fears
You will find things are not as bad as they appear.4. Make Virtue The Only Goal of Your Life
…dedicate all your enthusiasm, all your effort, your leisure as well as your business.5. Turn Away From Material Things
If you are greatly concerned with money you will be weak of spirit.6. Train Your Mind to Distinguish Good and Evil
Let your rule of government be determined by the common good.7. Never Let Any Setback Stop You In Your Quest
We are not perfect–this only means we should try harder.8. If You Have Frequent Temptations, Do Not Worry.
Begin to worry when you do not have temptation, because that is a sure sign that you cannot distinguish good from evil.9. Always Be Prepared For An Attack
Careful generals set guards even in times of peace.10. Spit, As It Were, In The Face Of Danger
Keep a stirring quotation with you for encouragement.11. There Are Two Dangers: One Is Giving Up, The Other Is Pride
After you have performed some worthy task, give all the credit to someone else.12. Turn Your Weakness Into Virtue
If you are inclined to be selfish, make a deliberate effort to be giving.13. Treat Each Battle As Though It Were Your Last
…and you will stand, in the end, victorious!14. Don’t Assume That Doing Good Allows You To Keep A Few Vices.
The enemy you ignore the most is the one who conquers you.15. Weigh Your Alternatives Carefully
The wrong way will often seem easier than the right.16. Never Admit Defeat Even If You Have Been Wounded
The good soldier’s painful wounds spur him to gather his strength.17. Always Have A Plan Of Action
…so when the time comes for battle, you will know what to do.18. Calm Your Passions By Seeing How Little There Is To Gain
We often worry and scheme about trifling matters of no real importance.19. Speak With Yourself This Way:
“If I do what I am considering, would I want my family to know about it”?20. Virtue Has Its Own Reward
Once a person has it, they would not exchange it for anything.21. Life Can Be Sad, Difficult And Quick-Make It Count For Something
Since we do not know when death will come, act honorably every day.22. Repent Your Wrongs
Those who do not admit their faults have the most to fear.From Enchiridion Militis Christiani: A Guide for The Righteous Protector by Erasmus, 1503, as extracted by Sgt Chris Pascoe, Michigan State Police, and quoted in On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and Peace by Dave Grossman, 2004.
Thanks to the Mancraft Guide for this resource.
Related information:
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