Men are sorely missing in America's churches. Some of them are really not there (i.e. not involved at all). Others are not really there (i.e. teeth-gritting Sunday attenders because it is useful for maintaining good relations with a wife or girlfriend). In neither case are men actually involved in the life and leadership of the church. In response, a cottage industry of pundits has rushed in to help reverse-vasectomy the Church. "Sing masculine songs and don't wear pink shirts" these sages tell us. But are they really recovering Christian masculinity or just helping the Church to be more market savvy?
Al Mohler, President of Southern Seminary, throws some on-target jabs in a recent article: "Thank God for Testosterone? Confusion About Christian Manhood." He writes:
"Christian manhood is not about beating chests and celebrating testosterone -- it is about showing up and doing what real Christian men do. Real manhood is demonstrated in the fulfillment of a man's assigned roles as husband, father, leader, servant, teacher, protector, and provider. Real manhood is in doing what men do, not endless talk about how great it is to be a man. Real Christian manhood is evident in taking up leadership in the home and in the church..." Read the whole article.
HT: Kevin Cawley
Other Resources:
Kevin Cawley has an excellent post on this subject that first pointed me to Mohler's article.
I am forever grateful for Robert Lewis' series "Quest for Authentic Manhood" where he lays out a memorable theology of masculinity: "Reject passivity. Accept responsibility. Lead courageously. Expect God's reward." You can check it out at Mensfraternity.com. Unfortunately, you'll need about $300 and 24 hours to get through the DVDs. (Robert: PLEASE WRITE A BOOK!)
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