Into His Image - Part 2 - Sounding Like Him

You have been working on your writing-like-a-man skills, right? And you have been changing the words that come out of your mouth - your public confessions? Good!

More on your transformation...........

I partly apologize, for I know that scripture does not apply exactly. And then, it does, in one way. So keep it in mind as we go. Today we'll take a slightly different approach toward the male-ness image - the Christ like image for men. We'll talk about, well - we'll talk about they way you talk - the sound of it. Could be that you were born with a high-pitched or tenor voice. Could be that you have a soft voice, naturally. Nothing wrong with those. And we won't try to get you to change your physiology. But some of that "sound" can be learned behavior, can't it? And the inflections that we give our words and our sentences - that is surely learned, and can be unlearned if necessary. It's very like learning a new language, being very diligent and getting rid of the old accent.

Just as important as what you say can be how you sound. For those around you know. Also you may know that you have formed a habitual way of talking that carries the odor of your old life. Some men who come to Door of Hope do not talk that way. Many do. It emanates from them, whether they are always conscious of it or not. For those many, I hold out hope for a new sound - one that sings to the world and to yourself -

I am a new creation in Christ Jesus!

You are going to have to help me a great deal. You may know more about this than I. But consider whether the below sounds are good, or not good, for Christian men:

Many men who struggle with homosexual sin have learned to switch between demeanors and languages, changing the way they talk at will. So, for them, they can talk like a heterosexual anytime they wish. If you are one of those, it's time to forget your old language altogether.

For those of you who do not know what sounds wrong, I suggest that you get a voice recorder and make quite a long recording of yourself talking. Make sure it is in your usual conversational style; not like you're reading it. It might be better if you're actually having a conversation with someone else (perhaps on the telephone) when you record it. And then compare it to that of heterosexual men. In that way, you will be able to hear the difference (hear your accent) and gradually, by doing more recording, and making corrections, change the way that your speech sounds. Again - we're not talking about artificially lowering your voice or making it gruff. We're talking about unlearning old ways and learning new sounds - manly sounds.

I urge you to do this. Practice this. Your new speech will become a welcome sound in your ears, and in the ears of God! For it will be the sound of the man He intends for you to be. There is nothing more exciting that the realization that we are truly becoming God's man!

Passages