Why Boys Matter

Posted on October 7, 2025 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Paul Schlehlein

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

There are more boys alive today than at any time in human history. Africa, in particular, possesses an army of boys, as it is projected that by 2050, 40% of the world’s children will live in Africa. By 2055, Africa’s child population will reach one billion. By 2050, boys ages 1-18 will account for 1.5 billion of the population, more than the entire world’s population just 200 years ago in 1825.

Add to this the 21^st century’s One-Child policy—which wiped out millions of female births—and it’s clear that boys should be our priority, though not for what they can accomplish at this moment.

Despite most boys being too tender-aged for great exploits, there are outliers. Mozart wrote his first symphony at age eight. Alexander the Great started conquering the world at age eighteen. Both at age nineteen, respectively, the Marquis de Lafayette helped turn the tide of the Revolutionary War and Blaise Pascal invented a calculator.

But the average boy simply needs steady character training today so that he will be of good use tomorrow. Let’s explore some reasons why boys matter.

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Who was to Blame for Original Sin?

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Paul Schlehlein

Answering 439 Bible Contradictions

Answer: Eve was guilty for the first sin, but Adam was responsible for original sin.

Problem: First Timothy 2:14 says Eve (not Adam) was deceived into sinning first, but Romans 5:12 says that sin came into the world through Adam (not Eve).

Explanation: First Timothy 2:14 declares: “Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.”

This verse gives the second reason why Paul prohibited women from teaching the Bible to men in the church and exercising authority over them (2:12).

The first reason comes from v. 13: “Adam was formed first.” But Paul, never one to leave his audience short-handed, gives another basis for men-only preachers: Eve was deceived, though “Adam was not”. Eve, being tempted by Satan, sinned first by eating the forbidden fruit (Gn. 3:6). Continue reading →

The Redeeming Value of Rugby – How Strenuous Sport Helps Boys Become Men

Posted on September 19, 2024 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Titus Cantrell

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

On September 7, South Africa’s rugby team, The Springboks, beat the New Zealand All Blacks by 18 points to 12 in another thrilling contest between rugby’s fiercest rivals. Saturday’s victory positions the Springboks as the strong favorites to win this year’s Rugby Championship, building on the winning streak of the back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions. The impact of rugby in post-apartheid South Africa is a testament to the unifying power of sport on a national level, but there is another way in which Christians can see the redeeming value of rugby on an individual level: rugby is a tool to help boys become men.

Continue reading →

A Word of Wisdom on the Worth of Women

Posted on August 13, 2024 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Richard Peskett

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Last week South Africa celebrated “National Women’s Day.” It is a public holiday which commemorates a group of women who took a stand against oppression—on the 9th of August 1956, the women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the government’s unjust pass laws. National Women’s Day is thus “a reminder of the important contributions women make to society, as well as a time to ponder the advances in women’s rights.”

Women’s Day also highlights the mistreatment of women in South Africa at the hands of men. God has made men to protect women, not to abuse them. Furthermore, God has given marriage as the hallowed place for physical intimacy between a husband and wife—it is therefore wickedness when men sleep around with women, sometimes forcibly, selfishly fulfilling the passions of their sinful flesh and leaving women to live with the consequences of their immorality. It is right to act against such abuse of women.

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Choose Your Love: Steps for Young Men in Finding a Wife

Posted on April 5, 2024 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Paul Schlehlein

Podcast edition here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

For centuries breeders have tried to predict the fastest racehorses. Secretariat, a thoroughbred that won the 9^th American Triple Crown, is considered by many to be the greatest racehorse of all time. He set and still holds the fastest time in all three Triple Crown races. The average thoroughbred’s heart weighs almost 4 kg. Secretariat’s heart weighed nearly three times that. For some years now, yearlings have been selected on the basis of heart size, as judged by ultrasound measurements.

We can also predict the weather. The old adage is often true. “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailors take warning.” Jesus said a similar thing in Matthew 16:2-3: “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is read and threatening.’”

But forecasting the weather and fast racehorses seems somewhat trivial compared to predicting who will make a godly wife. Every Christian man wants to wed a virtuous woman, but how can he know? Is it possible for a man to predict who will be a godly wife?

Continue reading →

How to Teach Your Children Hard Work

Posted on March 14, 2024 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Paul Schlehlein

Listen to the audio version of this article here: Spotify – Apple Podcasts – Youtube

Child labour is bad. Hardworking children are good.

Child labour is the illegal employment of children in business in order to exploit them. Many of the countries most guilty for child labour are found in Africa. Christians should rightly reject the exploitation of children for financial gain as evil. But every parent should teach their children a Protestant work ethic in hopes of equipping them for a productive life in adulthood.

How may parents succeed in teaching their children to work hard? Here are five principles.

First, wait to have children after marriage. Many children learn hard work from their mothers but mothers cannot be everywhere at once. Single mothers that work full-time jobs lack the vigilance and time to oversee and correct the lazy trends in their children. Fatherless homes are without the male intensity necessary for a disciplined family structure.

Continue reading →

On Godly Men and Picking Fights

Posted on February 20, 2024 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Paul Schlehlein

Audio version of this article available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Godly men are called to fight, but they must pick their fights prudently. “Fight the good fight of the faith,” Paul said (1Tm. 6:12). “I have fought the good fight,” were his last words (2Tm. 4:7). This differs from today’s 11th Commandment: Thou shalt be nice. Break this command and you’ll incur the world’s wrath.

Consider the recent expulsion of final-year law student Shaun Christie from North-West University in South Africa. On 6 February 2024, an orientation programme was held for first-year students at the Potchefstroom Campus. Students were forced to sit for LGBTQA+ indoctrination, which opposed many of the students’ religious convictions. Christie, a Christian, publicly stood and voiced his protest at the presentation, which was captured on camera. Afterwards, the university expelled him for what they called disruption and denying free speech. Christie refused to back down.

Continue reading →

The Dangers of Gaming

Posted on November 30, 2023 by Paul Schlehlein

–– David de Bruyn

Listen and subscribe: Youtube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Amidst much economic downturn, one industry that is thriving in South Africa is gaming and e-sports. The Price-Waterhouse-Cooper Africa Entertainment and Media Outlook reported that South Africa’s gaming and e-sports increased its revenue by 30% in 2022, and leads both Kenyan and Nigerian markets. Although power cuts, slow rollout of 5G, and poor quality networks have hampered growth, Africa’s mobile-first landscape has allowed for quicker adoption of digital currencies. E-sports and gaming often use digital currencies for betting and in-game purchases.

Worldwide, the gaming industry makes more money than the film and music industries combined. In 2021, the gaming world brought in over $180 billion. Companies such as Facebook and Google have invested billions of dollars into Virtual Reality, which is certain to become a major part of gaming in the next 5-10 years.

Although using games for harmless diversion and amusement may be a lawful use of leisure for Christians, there are some real spiritual dangers associated with gaming.

Continue reading →

Three Benefits of Christian Boys’ Camps

Posted on August 17, 2022 by Paul Schlehlein

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Boys’ camps are like the crow’s nest on a four-masted schooner.

If a boy’s life could be compared to a Renaissance ship, the Church would be the rudder, giving him direction. His family would be the sails, driving him forward to success. His school and places of education would be the anchor, protecting him from drifting into moral danger. A boy doesn’t have to attend a Christian boys’ camp any more than a yacht needs crow’s nest to sail from Tahiti to the Falkland Islands. But it sure yields a beautiful and unique perspective

If parents have the opportunity, they should send their sons to a Christ-centered boys’ camp. Here are three reasons why.

1. God calls men to teach boys

Specifically, God calls men to teach boys informally. Deuteronomy 6:7 says parents should teach their children the Scriptures when they “walk by the way”. This means Dad and Mom should find way to instruct their kids at places besides the dinner table, church and bedtime prayers.

Girls are domestic by nature, meaning they gravitate to the home and kitchen. Moms train their daughters best while scooping out cake batter and hemming her finest dress. Boys are different. They are hunters, explorers, defenders. A boy learns better when there’s dirt beneath his fingernails. Moses’ phrase “in the way” is a reminder that fathers especially need to maximize the informal teaching moments they have with their sons. Continue reading →

Thanks, Dad

Posted on June 22, 2020 by Paul Schlehlein

“Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart” (Pr 29:17).

Thank you for driving our family to church each Sunday,

for staying married to mom,

for sending us to a Christian school,

and for taking me with you when doing errands.

—

Thank you for rising before the sun each day,

for teaching me how to throw a curve,

for laughing with me till our sides hurt,

and for spanking me when I did wrong.

—

Thank you for coming to all my games,

for teaching me how to drive stick,

for paying all the bills,

and for being strong physically.

—

Thank you for fixing the cars late in the Wisconsin winter,

for taking us on vacations,

for leading our family to the church pew,

and for taking in your mother-in-law and sister-in-law even though it was tough.

—

Thank you for playing to win each time you laced em up,

for showing me the difference between a forward and a guard,

for shoveling the snow each January morning,

and for giving up your drinking buddies.

—

Thank you for showing me how to bait a hook,

for haggling till it was practically free,

for teaching me how to bowl a 6-7-10 split,

and for sharing Christ in every eulogy you gave.

—

Thank you for teaching me what a good pizza crust tastes like,

for not moving an inch when a tough guy tried to intimidate you,

for dancing the jitter bug with momma on the kitchen floor,

and for reading a good bio because I recommended it.

—

Thank you for wearing Gravel and smelling like a man,

for playing flag football in your forties and anchoring left tackle,

for rebuking me publicly for disrespecting mom,

and for teaching me to rub some dirt on it.

—

Thank you for trying a soul patch in your sixties and laughing at yourself when it bombed,

for commending my sermons when they bombed,

for pop riveting the car floors to save some money,

and getting Brenda braces instead of me.

—

Thank you for rolling your eyes at guys who praise themselves,

for teaching AWANA with a pocket full of candy,

for not playing the victim over what your father didn’t do,

and for singing loudly like no one was watching.

—

Thank you for coaching every baseball team I played on,

for not shaving your chest hair,

for making me drive junkers in high school,

and for still wearing a suit when the deacons donned polos.

—

Thank you for opening your home to our family of nine,

for teaching me the Boston crab,

for showing me how to ask questions in Sunday School,

and for supporting me in my move to Africa.

—

Thank you for being a man,

for being a Christian,

for being a model,

for being Pap.

—

Happy Father’s Day, Dad. I love you.

—

Between Two Cultures

Missions. Theology. Books.

Tag Archives: Masculinity

Why Boys Matter

Who was to Blame for Original Sin?

The Redeeming Value of Rugby – How Strenuous Sport Helps Boys Become Men

A Word of Wisdom on the Worth of Women

Choose Your Love: Steps for Young Men in Finding a Wife

How to Teach Your Children Hard Work

On Godly Men and Picking Fights

The Dangers of Gaming

Three Benefits of Christian Boys’ Camps

1. God calls men to teach boys

Thanks, Dad