Men, beware! Your identity is being attacked! Mine was, and it happened this way. Yesterday, as I was beginning to prepare articles for this issue of the magazine, I received a courtesy telephone call, asking how my computer was working. The man identified himself as a representative of Microsoft Windows and said they suspected there were a large number of malicious wares on my computer that were slowing it down and which needed to be removed. He led me through a test process that was supposed to help my computer function better, and he promised to call back the next day to verify its performance. I should have known better, but in a weak moment I fell into his trap. Before it was over, I had revealed my credit card number to him, my social security number and an undisclosed amount of information he gleaned from browsing in my computer for over an hour. I spent the rest of the day taking measures to protect my identity, including sending reports to all the fiduciary companies and Microsoft.
Upon consideration of what had transpired, it occurred to me that this same thing is happening to men all around us today; their God-given identity is being taken from them and used by others. Cases involving men who abuse their position of headship are cited as a reason to throw off the whole established order of God. Those of us who have been given the place of representing God (under Him) ought not to shirk the place we are put into merely because some say that we are being overly assertive. The difference between the positions of men and women is not something men have assumed of themselves; God made the difference between the relative positions of men and women. Sadly, many who attack the headship of man do not realize this. We men must remember that the efforts to tear down the differences between the genders is not as much an attack against us as it is against God. We are being attacked because we are His representatives — made in the image of God.
Returning to what happened to me yesterday, I wish to point out three particular things which were used to lead me into the trap. One, the caller represented himself as from a reliable company, and I did not verify it. Two, he appeared to be seeking my good. Three, no mention was made of charges for the services until midway through the process. Now let us consider how these same deceptive practices are used by those attacking the male role.
The Reliable Source
One would expect the attack on traditional family roles to come primarily from atheists, agnostics or those not affiliated with Christian denominations, but this is not the case. The pulpit of “Christian religion” is being used as a platform from which the opponents of Christian ethics are attacking biblical family roles. Under the banner of “Christianity,” changes and tolerance are being urged upon us, without making a distinction between sin and the sinner. Islam, Hinduism and other false religions are strangely absent from this movement. Why? Obviously for the same reason the telephone caller chose to hide himself with smooth, intelligent talk under the Microsoft name, in order to steal my identity. Interestingly, after I had discovered his tactic and resisted giving him more information, he became belligerent.
The Christian faith has changed the world more than anything else. Those of us who are born again know it is God’s testimony to the world. The enemy also knows it is a good platform from which to attack. It is the perceived reliable source used to deceive the unwatchful. Simon Magus, mentioned in Acts 8:18-24, also saw the tactic of which we are speaking and wanted to use it, but there was discernment in the apostles to detect and stop it. Today there is not the same power, but individually we can walk with God.
Let us give some examples of how attacks are being made from “Christian platforms.” Consider the many new translations of the Bible each year. Why is the Bible the book chosen by both liberals and conservatives to be retranslated and changed? The old classic books have archaic words in them, yet they are left untouched. The old saying holds true that nobody counterfeits a false bill. With the introduction of gender neutral translations, the liberal agenda is becoming more evident. This is a bold attack on God’s order revealed in the very book they pretend to support. The enemy is operating under the umbrella of “Christianity.” This banner gives the operation an authoritative blanket, while at the same time deceiving the unaware. Sadly, there are also many who follow this deception in their simplicity, who are not enemies to the Christian testimony.
The Well Being
of Men and Women
As to who is allowed in the believer’s home, the test the Apostle John gave is pertinent to our case. “Many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist” (2 John 7). Then he followed by saying, “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed” (vs. 10). The test had to do with the person and work of Christ, not whether the one at the door was offering something that supposedly was good for the family. We may learn from this and be assured that if someone gives the Lord Jesus His right place, he will also be good for our family. In this regard we need to be careful not to get the cart before the horse and consider what is good for our families before considering the Lord. There are many helpful books for men and boys; some are good and some are not. I would suggest John’s simple test be put to everything we allow in our homes. Of course, this is not the only criterion for finding the right help on the subject, but it is foremost.
More often than not, the ongoing social conflict over the place of men and women is being waged over what is best for men and for women, and depending on various vantage points, different solutions are suggested. The enemy would like to keep the battle on this front rather than on what is God’s order, for if God’s Word is allowed, all is settled. There may be some different applications as to details, concerning what the Word says, but basically we submit to it. The differences become a non-issue when each one submits to God.
The True Charges
Midway through the process of “eliminating the malicious software” on my computer, I was advised that for five dollars I could upgrade the program for two more years. Leaving aside all comments about my folly, allow me to share what I, and perhaps you, need to learn by the experience. During the second session to fix the computer, my suspicions had risen to the point where I called Microsoft. Time was important; I needed help fast. After going through what seemed like an endless sequence of menus, I finally was able to speak to a representative who patiently listened to my case. He was kind and informed me that he would help transfer the call to the appropriate department. All lines were busy due to a high volume of calls. After thirty minutes there was still no answer, so he took down all the information and gave me a case number for follow-up. And there it remains to this day. Next on the list was the need to talk to the credit card company. They have a shorter list of menus to get to the right person. The second person was able to inform me that there were three recent charges posted on my account, one for $277 and two others with open ended amounts that had not been posted. He terminated the card account and issued a new card which I received the next day. This is not the whole story, but it is sufficient for my purposes in relating it. I plainly learned that the man’s object was to deceive me in order to get what I had. Now I am concerned with how much more he will try to take, through stealing my identity.
The greatest deceptions come from those “who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18). Because of this, many are prone to give up the truth of the Christian faith. As Pilate said, “What is truth?” But we have the opportunity to stand for the truth. Paul says in Ephesians 4:15, “Speaking the truth in love.” Every married man should assume his place as head of the home, treating his wife with love and respect, while maintaining his children and home in godly order. It is what God has established for us. “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13).
D. C. Buchanan