What is your preferred pronoun? What is a woman? How do you identify? Some questions, be they in a Senate confirmation hearing, at school or in the workplace, can make a man wonder if he is in some kind of alternative universe where the reality of certain norms is no longer recognized as normal.

This should not surprise anyone. Between the hyper-sexualized culture and the widespread exposure to, if not addiction to, pornography, the norm designed to ground all norms in this world is compromised. That norm is a healthy, respectful relationship between man and woman.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. … they are without excuse. – Romans 1:18-20. Men know the truth. “God is evident within them” so they know godly from ungodly! But the truth gets suppressed when it is seen as impeding pleasure or a worldly perspective on happiness. The authority of God is essentially tolerated up to a point, then man steps up as his own god over certain facets of life. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper. – Romans 1:28. Ungodly behavior leads to raising an ungodly generation. This is in direct conflict with God’s design for the relationship between man and woman in marriage. Did He not make them (husband and wife) one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was God seeking? Godly offspring. – Malachi 2:15. It is God’s expectation of man to raise godly offspring. It is man’s responsibility to submit to the Father, and lead the family through the schemes of this world at work to devalue God’s design and righteous behavior. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, – Ephesians 6:14. The belt of truth is the word of God. It is perceiving everything with a biblical worldview, seeing worldly happenings through the lens of scripture. The breastplate of righteousness protects “that which is known about God” within a man’s heart and spurs him on to always do what is right in God’s sight.

A young man went to his dad for help to quit viewing porn. Some peer pressure had encouraged him to watch videos of naked women. Then, one more click took him to hard porn. The dad understood the natural attraction and explained how pornography works to warp a young man’s mind with sexual fantasy. After discussing the realities of the physical and sexual abuse of women in the porn industry, the dad provided the Biblical worldview for a healthy, respectful relationship between a man and a woman. He charged his son to always do what is right in relationship with women.

Prayer guide: Thank You Lord for Your word and Your love in my life. Thank you for the beauty that is a healthy relationship between a man and woman in marriage. Your design in perfect. You know how the culture devalues relationship with the hyper-sexualization of everything. Help me secure the belt of truth to lead my family in a Biblical worldview and put on the breastplate of righteousness to always do what is right in Your eyes. That is the dad You call me to be and that is the dad the next generation needs. Amen.

A faithful father leads his family in a Biblical worldview and does what is right.