ARE YOU A MALE OR A MAN?

KINGDOM PERSPECTIVE
with Remi Akano
E-mail: remiakanosr@believeandrepent.com


I can almost hear you counter the headline with a question of your own: what’s the difference? And that is precisely the problem with society today, particularly, the Nigerian nation. Most people do not realize that it takes much more than being male to be a man. Ben Kinchlow, former co-presenter (with Pat Robertson) of the popular 700 Club on Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) it was, who put that truth into a powerful aphorism. Popularized by the late Dr Edwin Louis Cole, it says: being a male is a matter of birth, being a man is a matter of choice. In other words, the fact that you were born with the ’Y’ chromosome simply makes you a male; but you have a choice whether to remain just a male or rise to be a man.

This is a truth that has eluded most men, including Christian men, over the ages. It is a truth which unless the men of any nation become acquainted with and eventually internalize, that nation can never really develop. At best it might experience stunted growth, but real development to the level ordained by God shall remain a mirage.

So what makes the difference between maleness and manhood, you ask. The answer is simply this: Christ-likeness. In fact the Holy Spirit caused a man of God to put it into the maxim: manhood and Christ-likeness are synonymous. That man, Edwin Louis Cole went on to build an international men’s ministry around it and, through that ministry, pioneered what is today known as the international men’s movement.

This is also the truth that some men, including yours sincerely, have, these past few years, been propagating among Christian men in Lagos and some cities of Nigeria.

Operating under the umbrella of Christian Men’s Network Nigeria, this ministry is an affiliate of the Texas, United States-based ministry of Ed Cole, as he is more popularly known. Under the spiritual guidance and leadership of one of Nigeria’s foremost teachers of the word of faith, Rev Dr Chris Tunde Joda, the network has had a number of impressive activities which have sown seeds of critical self awareness in thousands of men in Lagos and across the nation.

CMN Nigeria, then known as Champions for Christ, had its first major outing, the Mighty Man of Valour Conference way back in June and July 2001 in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. The conference featured, apart from Dr Joda, such great men of God as Rev Larry Titus from Ohio, United States of America who had been in ministry for 35 years. There was also Emmanuel Asiedu Appiah, then Executive Director, Leaders International, a body, which had identified Africa’s 21st Century Challenge as that of Developing Godly Leaders. An internationally acclaimed Ghanaian business consultant and CMN representative in his home country, he conducted a series of word-based workshops on leadership and management. Kunle Falola, a minister of songs, who used to be known as Dizzy K, also came in from his London base to minister in anointed and prophetic songs.

At the close of that particular conference, believed to be first ever such gathering of Christian men in Nigeria, a very perceptive communiqué was issued which climaxed with the clarion: Nigerian Men, Arise!

Over the years there had been the quarterly Breakfast with the President events which held mainly at the CCIC Joy Centre Auditorium in Surulere. There was the Mighty Man of Valour Award special event held at a popular eatery in Surulere during which the president, Dr Joda received the network’s Mighty Man of Valour Award. Three of the network’s partners were also honoured with the Man of Valour award at the event which featured Rev Dr Jide Awosedo, Chairman/Chief Executive of Grant Properties Ltd as guest minister. The Ikeja Chapter ran an entrepreneur development seminar series titled Wealthy Place; while its chapters in Ojokoro, Victoria Island/Lekki, and Somolu were also very active.

But permit me to dwell a bit more on the “Luncheon with the President” held on Saturday June 24, last year at the International Conference Hall of Etiebet’s Place in Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. I recall that meeting today because as I survey the horizon, it seems that many of CMNN President Joda’s words spoken under the Holy Spirit’s unction can bear repetition today as the network prepares for a series of activities for the last quarter of this year. I recall that some three hundred men drawn from across the kingdom, united in their love for God, hungry for a change in their nation and determined to be instruments of that change, came together. Together they praised and worshipped God; together they soaked in the anointed teaching of the man of God. Together they received impartation and the prophetic marching order to unite across all dividing lines, constantly sharpen one another and thus become God’s threshing instrument in His project of cleansing Nigeria for His end-time use.

The four-hour meeting lasted a bit longer due largely to logistic challenges connected with the venue. As a result the event took off behind schedule. But did that deter the men? No way. Those were men led of the Holy Spirit to abandon any personal agenda to operate with his own. They were men fully persuaded that being a man is a matter of choice and have made their choice irreversibly.

Dr Joda’s ministration was on the theme and topic “the Culture of Christian Manhood” and it was thought-provoking, challenging and “revelational”.

“Culture is the trait that identifies you, the instinct inbred in you”, he began. “People are identified by their culture. That is why the Nigerian, wherever he may be would rather eat with his fingers than with any man-made contrivance. That is why the Chinese cherishes his chopstick. Culture cannot be destroyed; it can only be developed. But a man’s real culture derives from his original heritage! Genesis 1:26 is clear about that! God made man in his image and after his likeness. So a man’s real culture derives from his heavenly heritage.”

But how does that translate to the way he lives during his earthly sojourn? Dr Joda likens that to the Phillip’s request in chapter 14 of the book of John. “Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us (verse 8). To which the Lord answered “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (verse 9)”. So, if man derives his heritage and therefore his culture from God, he only has to look to Jesus whom the bible described as the express image of the Father (see Hebrews 1:30) as his model. That then is the rationale for the truth that manhood and Christ-likeness are synonymous, which Christian Men’s Network International has proclaimed for over 25 years and the Nigerian chapter, for six.

Therefore the culture of Christian manhood takes its root, stem, leaves and fruits from the character of Christ Jesus. The interesting thing, continues Dr Joda, is that that Culture became inbred in every man when he meets Jesus. “When you meet Jesus, you acquire a new gene; a different DNA from what you had before you were saved”

Like Jesus, you are supposed to lose all fears; become courageous; able to resist temptation and reject compromise. Jesus was love personified; he was the epitome of humility; he radiated kindness; he was consistent and never did anything without seeking the counsel and direction of the Father through prayer. He was faithful to the very end. Those are the components of the Christian man’s culture; without which, though he remains a male, he will never become a man.

Dr Joda told his audience characteristically bluntly: “If we are going to change our nation, it will not be because we carry a bible, no matter its size. It will be because we have imbibed the culture of Christian manhood. The culture of the world is sub-standard; it is weak, cowardly. You must resist the temptation to conform to the culture of the world. It doesn’t matter who else is conforming, you must STAND FIRM…”

Those men left the venue rededicated to taking their place as God’s men. Many signed on to join this evolving men’s movement. What about you? My dear brother-in-the Lord, are you living your culture? All things considered the time for Nigerian Christian men to break denominational and other barriers, come together and sharpen one another to take their place is NOW – as our nation grapples with the aftermath of unprecedented electioneering brigandage. The time to stop being just males and stand up to be men is here. The time to learn the ways of Christian manhood is here.

Whether you are a man already or a male desirous of becoming a man, you can begin by finding your way today at 4:00pm to 76 Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja where the local Chapter of the network is holding a “Men at Worship” event. Also watch out for power-packed meetings with Dr Joda and such men of character, insight and experience as Mr Felix Ohiwerei, Dr Chris Kolade and many more in the coming months.

To my female readers, you have a critical role in this. Please encourage the males or men in your lives – husbands, fiancés, fathers, uncles, brothers, cousins, boyfriends, even bosses to be part of this new move of God. Your own lives would be positively affected by the change they’ll experience.
Think about it! Our families, our communities, our nation need real men, Christ-like men; men who know the truth and do the truth; men who go out courageously daily - doubting nothing, compromising nothing. It won’t be easy, but as we come together, iron sharpening iron, we will get there. And our families, our businesses, our communities and our nation will never be the same again.

First published in a Nigerian Daily, the Sunday Independent, published in Lagos Nigeria.