Out Our Way: Good Old Boys Club

1 Timothy 5:8 "If anyone does not care for his family he had denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

Out our way, cow-calf operations have a number of bulls. When the cows are in season, the bulls rule the roost - often battling each other and sometimes causing severe injuries. But after mating season, they forget the cows and the calves, and old rivalries, and hang out in "the Good Old Boys Club."

I first discovered the "club" when getting ready for the gall drive down to the winter pasture. The cows and calves formed the big herd and as we began moving them down to the lower grazing land, Charlie sent me back up the hill to gather the bulls. I found all six calmly "hanging out" together without any animosity. If they had ruled the pasture before, they had clearly abdicated their position as they impregnated the females and then abandoned all responsibility for them and their offspring.

Sadly, that sounds all too familiar among some human "bulls" as well. Studies have shown that fatherless families are a primary cause of both rising poverty and soaring crime rates in many parts of the country. We see young men brag about having 10 kids by different "baby mamas" but take no responsibility. "Let the baby mamas and the government handle it." Then they flock to their own version of the "Good Old Boys Club."

That mentality works with cattle, but as both Scripture and modern statistics show, it doesn't work very well for humans. The "Good Old Boys" and their defenders may ignore the truth of God's word and of the numerous studies on the culture of fatherless society, but facts remain facts, and they cannot ignore the consequences. "It is what it is" and, as they say, "denial ain't just a river in Egypt." Pretending water isn't wet does not make it dry.

"And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." John 8:32

Be blessed and be a blessing

Brother John

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The Rev. John Bruington is the retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Havre. He now lives in Colorado, but continues to write "Out Our Way." He can be reached for comment or dialogue at [email protected].