Future Men: Raising Boys to Fight Giants

"As much as it may distress us, our boys are future men." Douglas Wilson touches all the bases in this book. In chapter one, he outlines his premise. He points out that boys are future men and that as men their calling is summed up in five terms: Lords, Husbandmen, Saviors, Sages, and Glory-Bearers. He gives a brief summary of each of these and then moves on to show how Biblical masculinity is being replaced by effeminacy. This problem, Wilson shows, is not only existent in the world but also in the church. He presses the need for masculine hymns to take the place of romantic and flowery songs, the need for men to lead their households and be an example for their boys, and the importance of training boys to work. These are only a few of the issues addressed in "Future Men."

Several reviewers of this book seem to be upset over the idea of Biblical patriarchy, which is really a rebellion against the authority of God's Word. True, it is unfashionable to structure one's family and church after the pattern laid out in Scripture, but is our aim is to please God rather than men, we dare not depart from His commands. Here lies the rub: if the Bible is fully inspired, and authoritative in all it teaches, then these "troublesome" passages from 1 Timothy 2 and Ephesians 5 are authoritative, clear and binding on the Christian family. My guess is that the negative reviewers above have a lower view of inspiration than Wilson (along with most conservative Reformed Christians) does. That being said, Wislon does an excellent job of explaining the importance of teaching our boys (I have 2) to be men. Not "persons", but men. Real men. His work is succinct, practical, and inspiring. He writes as an experienced elder, father and grandfather. God bless you, Doug, for this fantastic work. I pray my sons grow up to be as Godly as yours.

This book is full of wit & wisdom that would have been common sense a hundred years ago, but in this age of muddled sexual roles is a rare gem. It made me laugh, it made me think, it made me both cherish and guard my role as father to two sons. Warning: this book chock full of political incorrectness and dang proud of it! Here are a few of my favorite quotes: Men must learn to be men themselves before they can teach their boys to be men. Instilling toughness in boys is extraordinarily important. A masculine toughness is the only foundation upon which a masculine tenderness may be safely placed. Manners for boys should be a means of disciplining and directing strength, and not a means of denying it. And my favorite of the year... A young boy who is somewhat timid needs to learn the piety of courage. If he has a good lacrosse coach, he will be urged to knock somebody down to the glory of God. (What would Alan Alda think of that?)

Wilson's "Future Men" is another invaluable work in the family series he and his wife have penned. The book spells out solid Christian principles, neither becoming preachy nor overly sentimental, but refutes twin the dangers of false masculinity and the feminization of young men. Wilson never makes excuses for immature behavior, but demonstrating how boys can be forged into men by teaching them through their adolescent foolishness. One of the other reviewers missed this key point, thinking that Wilson would have us believe that punching someone's lights out is his answer to Godliness. Wilson only points out that the child in the story about Teddy Roosevelt was acting on good principles, but did so in an immature way. Roosevelt rewarded the child, not for his immature action, but for his desire to preserve and protect the honor of his sister. Wilson constantly admonishes and encourages parents with the wisdom of the Proverbs, helping them to see through the troubles of teaching a boy to the joy of biblical manhood.

Would you like to know how to rear sons (or teach others' sons) in such a way that their honor would refuse the lure of pornography? sons who would know how and when to fight, but would never fight for merely selfish reasons? sons with true godly masculinity--strong men who honor women, take responsibility, and refuse excuse-making? sons who honor their mother but don't become feminine in the process? sons who avoid the dual dangers of false macho masculinity and effeminacy? sons who gladly take on the role of fighting dragons, and see the Christian faith as a faith of warriors, not wimps? Those future men are today's boys, and Douglas Wilson shows great wisdom (and lots of humor) in showing how to avoid the pitfalls of our culture, our community, our media--and even our churches--in rearing truly masculine sons. He covers little and big things with equal wisdom and a charming writing style. I have no sons, but I have many nephews, and I care greatly about the fatherless boys I teach at church (but whom I cannot teach adequately by myself, without godly men alongside in their lives, their church, their community). I read at least 50 books a year, and this one is in the top ten or twenty most profound books I've read in the last five years.Cheryl Dunlop, author of Follow Me As I Follow Christ: A Guide for Teaching Children in a Church Setting