Musings on Spiritual Matters

Most people struggle in raising well-adjusted Christian boys.  The Morine family is no different.  Since my wife and I have both a boy and a girl, we decided to read both Bringing Up Boys and Bringing Up Girls.  Even though it makes for extra reading, Bringing Up Boys has been a huge blessing.  This book is written by the local and nationally known author Dr. James Dobson.

When I first picked up Bringing Up Boys, I thought it would be more of a step by step process in training young men.  Of course, there is a ton of useful advice along these lines, but the book seems to have a broader focus.  It begins with explaining the neurological difference between boys and girls.  He counters some of the modern thinking of refusing to acknowledge the uniqueness of the genders.  Boys are different, and therefore the methods in raising them will be different.  The book transitions to detailing the need to protect young boys from the dangers in the world.  This is a passion of mine as I have felt that Christianity has pacified men.  The boy’s spirit is one that is becoming feminized in the world.  Young boys cannot shoot guns, be warriors, and live for adventure.  It seems that some in Christianity prefer that boys be “nice guys”, which is a turn off for the man’s spirit.  Jesus was not “Mother Teresa” but the perfect combination of the Lamb and Lion of Judah.  Dobson argues that “boys must be boys.”  Of course, this must be shaped through the fruit of the Spirit and the image of Christ.

Dobson moves to more specific advice by addressing fathers, mothers, and grandparents.  Each role has a purpose to play in shaping a healthy self-image for the young man.  When these characters are removed, there seem to be long lasting scars that remain.  Some of these scars can develop into a homosexual orientation for a young man because he is being developed inappropriately.  The author has a whole chapter on the development of homosexual feelings within guys.

Another excellent chapter presents Dobson’s attempt to overcome some of the negative stereotypes of men described in society and in the media.  He refuses to allow movies and the television to dictate the image of the man.  Hollywood seems to portray man as a “fool” in most shows.  The husband or male figure is pictured as an immature “idiot” who, on his own, is unable to think and function in this world.  He must have the strong and smart woman to “boss” him around.   Instead of seeing men as leaders in the home, Hollywood pictures the man as just another boy for the woman to tend.

James Dobson moves to some more practical matters in the final chapters of the book.  He deals with the issue of school.  He notes that many a boy’s spirit has been crushed because of unmerciful teasing in the school yard and classroom.  He adamantly refuses to subject a child to this behavior.  It does not teach him to be a man but to be insincere.  Dr. Dobson also turns his attention to predators in this world.  The world is becoming increasingly more sexually sick.  Parents must be aware of these shifts and guard the child from this.  Never assume anything, but guard against these predators, whether they be other adults or the media that is filtered through the computer or television.  He submits two chapters on “staying close” to the boy.  Teaching a boy to be a man means mentorship.  And the final chapter deals with disciplining the boy.

All through this book there is wisdom to be gained.  Do your boy a favor, and read this text; you and he will be thankful.

Related posts:

1. Review of “Guyland”
2. Review of “Manning Up”
3. Review “Review of “Effectiveness by Numbers”
4. Review of “Sidney Crosby”
5. Review of “On Rocky Top”

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This entry was posted by Matthew on Tuesday, May 31st, 2011 at 11:13 am and is filed under Church News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.