Forging a Godly Man: Identity, Purpose, and Masculinity in a Confused Culture
- James Treadway
- Dec 4
- 4 min read
We are living in a time when masculinity is under siege. Culture is shouting louder than ever about who men are supposed to be, what they’re allowed to be, and how they should show up in the world. Strength is labeled toxic. Leadership is called oppressive. Conviction is dismissed as arrogance. And somewhere in the noise, countless men have lost the ability to answer life’s most essential question:
Who am I?
Identity is not a small issue. It is the bedrock of a man’s life. Before a man can lead, fight, rise, or stand strong, he must first know who he is — and who he is not. The dangerous truth is that most men today aren’t trapped by who they truly are, but by who they believe themselves to be. They live under labels, failures, fears, and expectations that were never meant to define them.
And when a man doesn’t know his identity, he cannot step into his purpose. When he cannot recognize his purpose, his masculinity becomes passive, confused, or destructive.
But God does not leave men without clarity. Scripture tells a different story — one that restores strength, mission, and masculine design.
Identity: The Foundation Every Man Builds On
Every man carries an internal narrative. A story he tells himself about who he is. For many, that story is shaped by wounds, criticism, culture, or past mistakes.
“I’m not enough.”
“I always fail.”
“I don’t have what it takes.”
“I’m too broken to change.”
But God’s Word confronts every lie with truth. In Christ, identity is not earned — it is given.
Men are called:
Image-bearers (Gen 1:27)
Warriors equipped for spiritual battle (Eph 6:10–18)
Leaders in their homes and communities (1 Tim 3)
Stewards of strength, not abusers of it (Ps 82:3–4)
Ambassadors of the Kingdom of God (2 Cor 5:20)
Identity determines destiny. A man who believes he is weak will live weak. But a man who knows he is called, equipped, and strengthened by God becomes dangerous to the kingdom of darkness.
Culture doesn’t get to define masculinity. God already has.
Purpose: Why God Calls Men to Rise
A man without purpose lives frustrated, restless, or numb. A man with purpose becomes focused, disciplined, and driven.
Purpose gives direction. Direction gives clarity. Clarity gives stability. Stability gives confidence. And confidence gives a man the courage to act.
Your purpose as a man isn’t random. It isn’t something you “manifest,” discover in self-help slogans, or stumble into by accident. Purpose is assigned by God, anchored in Scripture, and activated through obedience.
God calls men to:
Protect what is holy
Provide with integrity
Lead with humility and strength
Stand firm in truth
Fight spiritual battles with courage
Build what honors Him
Love in sacrificial, Christlike ways
Purpose isn’t found in career success, titles, or financial achievement. Those things can be part of the journey, but they are not the mission. True purpose is found when a man aligns his life with God’s design and lives out the role God created him to fulfill.
Masculinity: The Strength God Designed, Not the World Despises
Biblical masculinity is not toxic — sin is.
Strength is not dangerous — unrestrained sin is.
Leadership is not oppressive — pride is.
The world doesn’t need less masculinity.
It needs redeemed masculinity.
It needs men whose strength is controlled by character, whose convictions are shaped by truth, and whose courage flows from a heart submitted to God.
Masculinity is not the enemy.
A lack of it is.
When men retreat, families crumble.
When men reject responsibility, society weakens.
When men lose a sense of identity and purpose, the next generation pays for it.
But when a man rises with godly strength, everything around him changes. His marriage stabilizes. His children flourish. His home becomes secure. His community gains a pillar. His church gains a warrior.
Why This Matters Now More Than Ever
The enemy fears a godly man. He fears the man who knows who he is, understands why he was created, and walks confidently in biblical masculinity.
So he does everything possible to confuse men:
Distract them with pleasure
Numb them with entertainment
Cripple them with shame
Seduce them with sin
Weaken them with passivity
Fill them with lies about identity and purpose
But God is calling this generation of men to rise — not in arrogance, but in strength; not in ego, but in conviction; not in pride, but in purpose.
The world needs godly men now more than ever. Homes need them. Churches need them.Children need them. Wives need them. Communities need them. The next generation is crying out for them.
Final Challenge to Every Man
Your identity must be rooted in Christ. Your purpose must be assigned by God. Your masculinity must be redeemed by Scripture.
When you know who you are, why you’re here, and what God has called you to be, you become a force hell cannot ignore.
Men don’t stumble into strength. They train for it.They rise into it. They surrender to it.They walk it out daily.
The question is simply this:
Will you become the man God created you to be — or the man culture pressures you to be?
Only one leads to life, legacy, and freedom.
Above is just a sample of what my new book that I'm working on currently, Tactical Manhood is about. Release date will be end of December 2025.
Check out other book James has written...
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