One Life can Change a Community

If you ask a woman today, “Where have all the men gone?” she’ll probably shrug and say, “I’ve been wondering the same thing.” A question that was once rhetorical, now feels like a diagnosis of something much larger and less metaphorical. Men haven’t disappeared physically. In fact, they are living longer, have healthier lives and are more economically capable than ever before.

Yet something is clearly missing. Men seem absent in the world, and we are all apparently suffering because of it. But what seems like a crisis of our generation is actually a recurring cycle. If you look back in time, you will realize that this phenomenon isn’t new—we just have a much louder microphone today.

Throughout history men have stood at the center of shaping civilization. Men have built, fought, and led. The facts are actually startling when you begin to examine the outsized role men have historically played in society. This is not to diminish women. It is to affirm the God-ordained calling of men to create, provide, and protect. Here are some statistics to drive this point home.

• Engineering: 82.8% men (BLS 2024)
• Medicine (Doctors): 61.9% men (AAMC 2023)
• Construction: 88.8% men (BLS 2024)
• Manufacturing: 70.7% men (BLS 2024)
• U.S. Presidents: 100% men (historical record)
• Fortune 500 CEOs: ~89% men (2025)
• University Professors (R1 institutions): ~65–67% men (IPEDS/NSF 2023–24)
• Generals & Admirals: ~90–92% men (DOD 2023)
• Religious Leaders: ~86.5% men (National Congregations Study 2018–19)
• Founders of $10M+ Firms: ~97% men (U.S. Census ABS 2022)

Keep in mind that these figures reflect men’s lowest historical share of influence across most domains. These domains represent the building blocks of society. A few decades—or especially a century—ago, men held near-total dominance in virtually all technical, professional, and leadership fields. Yet, somehow, it doesn’t feel that way today. If men still occupy the majority of positions of power, then the question “where have all the men gone?” is not about representation—it is about retreat. Our presence is not felt in the way it used to, and so today, most of us have little conviction about our roles, our beliefs, and our purpose.

What is Man?

The Hebrew word for “man” in Genesis is אָדָם (’adam), which literally means human being or earthling — derived from אֲדָמָה (’adamah), meaning ground or earth. This etymology shows that “man” is first defined not by gender, but by his relationship to creation and to God’s breath of life. For example, the Book of Genesis states:

“Then the Lord God formed man [adam] from the dust of the ground [adamah] and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7

God also said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26–27 

The word itself reveals that man is tied to origin, purpose, and divine likeness, not simply physical form. God chose to reveal HIMSELF in the masculine, and that choice carries profound meaning. It speaks of initiative, responsibility, and creative authority. Man carries the breath of God within him and therefore reflects not only flesh but Spirit. To live as a man, then, is to live conscious of that breath—to embody strength guided by purpose, power tempered by humility, and dominion governed by obedience.

Where many men have faltered is in accepting a purely scientific view of themselves—one that reduces manhood to biology and anatomy. Science defines a man by the XY chromosomal pattern, typically associated with higher testosterone, facial hair, a deeper voice, and distinct reproductive organs. While these traits mark physical difference, they do not define divine purpose. Men are distinct from women not only in design but also in calling. A man cannot give birth; that is a sacred gift entrusted to women alone. His task is different but no less holy—to cultivate, protect, and lead with the strength and grace of the One whose breath he carries.

Our differences neither diminish nor exalt manhood as the world might suggest. Yet somewhere along the way, many men have abandoned that charge. Some feel they were pushed out, but in truth, most simply gave up their position. They walked away from their assignment the moment resistance appeared. Others crossed boundaries they were meant to guard. And worst of all, many have stood by in silence, watching as responsibility slipped slowly through their hands. We have stood by because we have traded manhood for acceptance. In our pursuit to be agreeable, we’ve forgotten how to be accountable. We sought comfort instead of conviction, applause instead of purpose. And in doing so, we surrendered the very thing that once defined us—not our dominance, but our design.

God’s Blueprint for Man

The blueprint for manhood starts with recognizing your role in HIS plan. You have been given dominion over the world. Scripture affirms this design: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over… every living thing” (Genesis 1:28). Adam was placed in the garden to work and keep it (Genesis 2:15). He has been given headship over Women, who themselves have great significance in God’s design. Men like Noah, Moses, David, and Paul were called to carry burdens and change history through action. God’s design for man can be summarized in four responsibilities, or what I call F.O.R.S.: Fruitfulness, Order, Relationship, and Stewardship.

• Fruitfulness-Men should have children if they are blessed to have them and support them. Science reinforces this command. Through sexual reproduction, creation renews itself generation after generation, helping to ensure genetic survival.

• Order– Men should be orderly and have the ability to create structure. One of the first responsibilities God gave man was, in essence, scientific. In Genesis 2:19–20, Adam is instructed to name every living creature an act of observation, discernment, and categorization. He instructed Adam to transform chaos in to order as God did when he created the heavens and earth.
• Relationship-Men must be in relation with those he loves. Relationship begins vertically, in communion with Jesus, and then extends horizontally, through love, faithfulness, and service to others. A man who neglects his relationship with the divine cannot rightly lead those around him.
• Stewardship-Men must be good stewards of Gods grace. Scripture teaches that everything entrusted to us—time, talent, family, and faith—is a gift to be managed, not owned. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10).

As a man, you must possess at least three of the four forces to withstand the vicissitudes of life. Order brings clarity and guides your priorities, helping you see what truly matters. From order flows relationship, for a man who lives with structure will tend to form healthier connections with the people and principles that govern his life. Stewardship is essential to sustaining those relationships; love, friendship, and companionship all require consistent care to endure over time. Without order and stewardship, fruitfulness loses its meaning—it becomes self-serving, a pursuit of pleasure or ego rather than purpose. True fruitfulness grows only when discipline, devotion, and responsibility are in balance. If these steps were that easy, all men would move in the right direction. But if you’re observant, you will recognize that is not happening, especially today.

Where Men go Wrong

Men haven’t vanished. Most have simply gone the wrong way. If you’ve ever watched The Godfather, you might recognize the image above — the scene where Michael (the man in the black suit) kisses his brother Fredo (the man in the white suit) to mark his betrayal and seal his tragic fate. It’s a haunting picture of what happens when conviction gives way to compromise. But going the wrong way doesn’t have to be that insidious. In most cases a wrong turn seems benign, but the consequences mirror a similar fate or even worse.

When God’s chosen people, Israel — biblical, not modern — defected from HIS order, the men of Israel became captive to their own desires and ways. They went the wrong direction. They worshiped false gods, practiced unholy rituals, and blended their lives with those who opposed the God of Israel, Jesus. This happened even after they had witnessed HIS power and miracles firsthand.

Most men follow a similar path. They recognize the fruits of the Most High, yet at some point fall short of fulfilling HIS commands and drift the wrong way. It’s not uncommon, so don’t feel alone. But every wrong path eventually leads to a wrong destination. And when men as a collective go in the wrong direction, society suffers. As mentioned earlier, men being absent is a vicious cycle. We saw this nearly three thousand years ago, when the prophet Isaiah warned Judah and Jerusalem about the collapse of their moral and social order. Scripture captures this condition vividly.

“As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths” (Isaiah 3:12).

This verse laments a breakdown of divine order — a time when male leadership becomes inverted, symbolizing weak men and a disordered society. It’s not a condemnation of women, but a prophetic sign of what happens when men abandon their calling to lead with justice, courage, and faith. It represents the retreat of men and the eventual decay of society. The question “where have all the men gone?” is not hyperbole, but a warning, a cautionary tale of a road that too many are traveling, all because we have simply forgotten our role in society.

Paving a New Road

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18–20).

Jesus gave us this command. You are commissioned to bear God’s image, spread HIS Kingdom, and reconcile creation back to its Creator. Although this command is for all, men must lead to bring it into fruition. This calling means living fruitfully, bringing order, nurturing relationships, and stewarding God’s grace with integrity. From this alignment, all good things flow. It may take the form of healing through medicine or technology, teaching through consulting or scholarship, building God’s territory through engineering or manufacturing, or saving lives through ministry and social action. Whatever the work, the purpose remains the same—to restore what was broken and reflect the Creator in all that you do.

The path you build will not be easy, but it is the one you were created to walk.