Every Man Wants to be a Studd, by Scipio

We use the term “he’s a stud” today when we refer to some man of unusual physical prowess. We generally associate it with pugilistic activities such as contact athletics and battlefield exploits. The physical and mental toughness demonstrated by these individuals is above and beyond what normal people are able to achieve. That is why people, especially men, admire “studs”. They are recognized by their peers and fans and enshrined in some type of perpetual memorial. For example, go to Canton, Ohio to the NFL Hall of Fame and see the sports legends honored there.  Who was George Halas BTW?  Or, go to the Medal of Honor Museum on the USS Yorktown in Charleston, SC where all of the accounts of America’s Medal of Honor recipients are enshrined. You can’t help but have your jaw drop when you read about these “stud’s” selfless acts of valor.

But there is another component of being a real “stud” that goes beyond the physical and mental achievements of who we think of as “studs”.  That is the spiritual element that was the driving force and core value behind the original modern day “stud”

History is full of forgotten “studs”.  Today’s generation hardly remembers yesterday’s atheletic and military “studs”.  Few remember the accomplishments of major league baseball’s Ted Williams whose 1941 batting average was .401, the last player to ever bat over .400, or Bobby Richardson being the only major league baseball player to be named MVP on a losing World Series team, or Olympian track star Louie Zamperini who, although finishing 8^th  in the 1936 Munich Olympics, ran the fastest 5,000-meter lap in Olympic history. It so impressed Adolph Hitler, that Hitler requested to meet the young “stud” from America.

Audie Murphy is the most decorated soldier in American military history.  He tried to join the Marines in WW II, but they laughed at him because of his diminutive stature and told him to join the Army.  Because of his size, the Army assigned him to be a clerk, but he insisted on joining the infantry.  In the sea voyage on a transport ship to Europe, Murphy was so sea sick and weak when they ship docked, he had to be physically helped off the ship. Once he got in country, he insisted on going to the battle front.  Once again because of his small statue and boyish look, his C.O. allowed him to go to the front only under the condition he stay in the rear and several soldiers were assigned to “look” after him.  In the first battle, Murphy ran from behind past everyone in the front of the line, personally turning the tide of the battle and winning his first medal for bravery.  Murphy’s C.O. scolded the men who were assigned to keep Murphy safe and in the rear.  He chewed them out yelling at them that Murphy could have been killed! But the other soldiers said, “Sir, we couldn’t control him, he was a mad man out there!”

In another battle, there was a burning armored vehicle on fire in the middle of the battlefield billowing smoke obscuring the vision of the field of fire for both the Germans and the Americans.

Murphy seized the opportunity and ran to the burning armored vehicle and used the vehicle’s 50 caliber machine gun to fire point blank into the oncoming German infantry who could not see him because of the thick smoke.  The German commanders could not see where the machinegun fire was coming from either. They waited for the fire to blow up the vehicle and clear out the smoke, but it never did. So, the Germans started firing artillery rounds at the vehicle to remove its obstruction from the field.  Meanwhile the Americans were having the same visibility problems, so they started firing artillery rounds at the vehicle also. The vehicle took hits from both the Americans and the Germans but miraculously did not blow it up nor kill Murphy! Murphy’s “stud” action that day turned the tide of the battle and won him the Medal of Honor. He would eventually become the most decorated soldier in US Army history winning every medal for bravery that was awarded at that time. He was a “stud”.

Not all “studs” are forgotten.  In the Bible, king David, was the ultimate “stud”.  He not only slayed Goliath, as well as several other giants, but he inspired other “studs”. He was at war with the Philistines at a low point in his life in Adullam. However, his reputation and need for warriors attracted what would be characterized today as a type of “dirty dozen” fighters.  It’s important to understand, “studs” always attract other “studs”. These men become known as David’s “mighty men” of valor.  Previously these men had reputations of being unsavory characters and were generally “bad dudes”.  They were known to have accomplished numerous brave exploits. One, Josheb-bassebeth, once killed 800 men with a spear. Another one, Eleazer, stayed on the battlefield killing Philistines until his hand grip stuck to his sword and his buddies had to pry his hand away. Another, Abishai killed 300 men with a spear in battle.

So, where did we get the modern term “stud” to describe men such as these? The answer is in the life of a 19^th century English Cricketer, C.T. Studd. Cricket is a physically demanding rough and tough sport, and Studd is considered by many sports historians as the world’s first modern alpha professional athlete, the GOAT. He dominated the game in England and was the sport’s highest paid.  Pictures of him show a strong muscular build long before modern methods of increasing strength and size were known.  His eyes said, “I am going to run over you” and you knew he would.

He shocked the sports world when he walked away from the sport at the top of his game, gave away his entire inheritance of $2 million dollars for missionary work, and became a missionary to China receiving only a base salary. He inspired five of his fellow Cambridge graduates to join him in China and inspired the Student Voluntary Movement at Cambridge University that sent many to the mission field. He founded the Worldwide Evangelization Crusade (WEC), and would later spend eighteen years in present day Zaire as a missionary, all the while suffering from tropical diseases. Today, the (WEC) has 1,500 missionaries serving in over fifty countries.

C.T. Studd was the original “stud”, and now you know the origin of the term “stud”. On July 16, 1931 C.T. Studd drew his last breath and his last word was, “Hallelujah”.

Some C.T. Studd Quotes:

“Some wish to live within the sound of a church or chapel bell.  I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.”

“It takes a real man to make a true confession.”

“David- the man after God’s heart- was a man of war and a mighty man of valor.  When all Israel were on the run, David faced Goliath-alone-with God.”

“Battle is the soldier’s vital breath!  Peace turns him into a stooping asthmatic. War makes him whole again and gives him the heart, strength, and vigor of a hero.”

“Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”