December 12, 2008
One thing that has been emphasized many times at this blog is the importance of Manliness.
As has been said so many times, the culture of bold, Christian manhood is under attack. That means that the example of heroes who go into battle to help others is now being questioned by modern day, effeminate wimps. (I say wimps because I don't even deign to call many modern "males" men.) They have their own great commission, and it includes their belief that it is their mission, above all else, to destroy such vestiges of Christendom as manliness and to "wimpify" the nations.
It is our mission to "Teach all nations . . . teaching them to observe ALL things whatsoever I have commanded you." (Matt 28:19-20) This is a command to teach, live, and work in direct opposition to these 'modern-day wimpy men.' I believe that part of "teaching the nations" is setting out examples of true manhood. That's why this website is dedicated to manly authors like Ballantyne and Henty.
I believe that one example of true manliness is a good friend of the Phillips family named Mr. Matthew Chancey. Right now Mr. Chancey is in Nairobi with my Uncle, Brad Phillips, helping and ministering to the Sudanese people. Not only does he help and comfort the Christians, he also brings Bibles to give to the Muslims.
Currently Mr. Chancey is on the docket for "Man of the Year" on the Old Spice Art of Manliness website. (Caveat: I do not support everything on Art of Manliness, furthermore I do not know the full content, and advise all readers to show good judgment and discernment when visiting AoM.) He was nominated by his wife, Mrs. Jennie Chancey, who wrote a truly stunning report on why her husband should be Man of the Year. Everyone should read her amazing tribute to her husband. The best way to know if someone is truly great (or manly) is to listen to what his wife says about him, and anyone who read Mrs. Chancey's essay sees just how much she thinks of her husband.
Here are a couple of key points about Mr. Chancey that I appreciate and that make him an example of a true man:
Proverbs 20:11 says "It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself if his conduct is pure and right." Mr. Chancey is only 32, yet he has eight children and has accomplished many great things because when he was a young man he began digging into the world of law and politics, and set his hand to the plow and put his back into honoring Christ as a teenager.
Theodore Roosevelt said "It is the doer of deeds who actually counts in the battle for life, and not the man who looks on and says how the fight ought to be fought, without himself sharing the stress and the danger." As was already noted, Mr. Chancey is in Africa right now being a "doer of deeds" and not just sitting back or saying "how the fight ought to be fought."
Often you can really know a manly man by his enemies. Overseas, the enemies of Mr. Chancey and his coworkers at the Persecution Project include Islamic jihadists, like the janja weed, who murder men, women, and children, and hate efforts to rescue the Sudanese people with the Gospel and practical supplies. Here in the U.S., Mr. Chancey's enemies include homosexual activists and hateful feminists who despise Mr. Chancey's manly resolve and convictions. (Mark 13:13--"And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. ...) Even his enemies show him to be a real man.
He reads the works of G.A. Henty to his family. What more need be said?
Mr. Chancey with Sudanese friends
To sum up: Mr. Chancey is one of the manliest men I know and has set an example that we should take note of. He is an honoring man, a dutiful man, and a true friend.
Now it is our turn to honor a Biblical and Henty-esq man, to tell the world what type of men we set before us as examples, and as my friend Nathaniel Darnell pointed out:
As George Washington once called upon his country, we must now call upon ourselves to "raise a standard which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God." We must raise the standard of true Christian manliness so that others will gather to that righteous standard. Supporting Matthew Chancey candidacy is a terrific way to raise such a standard.
And give Biblical manhood a podium for the world to see.
So, I encourage all of you to immediately vote for Matt Chancey as the Man of the Year. In some ways, I look on Mr. Chancey's nomination as David standing up against Goliath. In this case though, it is Mr. Chancey (as David) standing up against the Goliath of effeminate men and preparing to chop off the head of that monster. With only two days left, please Vote now! As one of my friends said, "Matt is clearly the most awesomly manly man to choose from." But even more than that, it is time to raise up more examples for the modern generation of men like King David, William Wallace, and G.A. Genty.
Also, please pray for the gospel to reach the Muslims and animists who are in the Sudan. Mr. Chancey and my Uncle Brad always take in many Arabic Bibles, and the Muslims are grateful for any gifts, so pray for God's blessing on their work in the Sudan.
Now, VOTE!
