(Re)Introducing Masculinity

ANNOUNCEMENT - I’ve added an audio version of the newsletter. I know you are busy, so this allows you to listen to the article instead of spending the time reading.

The world is confused about what masculinity is. You could ask 5 people and get 10 different answers.

There is no shortage of people who would disagree with the traditional role of men. But many of the arguments come from a misunderstanding of the traditional role.

The Bible defines and gives great examples of true masculinity.

God created men and women equal in value, but distinct in function.

A masculine man:

• Fears God and obeys His commandments

• Leads

• Works hard

• Knows where the money is coming from to meet necessities

• Protects others

• Loves sacrificially

There are five typical areas of leadership for a man:

1. Spiritually – For yourself and your family. The man bears accountability for the spiritual health of his home as Adam did in the garden.

2. Exercising Dominion – “Work and keep the earth.” Most of us are not farmers, but still have things/areas to manage.

3. Production – “Be fruitful and multiply” are God’s first words to man. Men are to work hard and should know where money will be coming from to meet needs.

4. Establishing a family – “take the initiative to ‘leave father and mother’ (Gen. 2:24a), ‘find a wife’ (Prov. 18:22), ‘hold fast’ to that wife as ‘one flesh’ (Gen 2:24b), and then love her as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:31-33).”

5. Fighting the Curse – God promises two areas we will struggle when sin enters the world. Of course sin impacts all areas of life, but these are the first two mentioned.

   1. Struggle in marriage – “God tells Eve, your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you” (Gen. 3:16b). This shows that there will be conflict over the roles of men and women in marriage.

   2. Thorns and thistles – Work was not introduced after sin, but struggle in work was. We will experience challenges and pushback when we work.

David and Soloman are main characters of the Old Testament and provide many lessons to learn about manhood.

1. Accept challenges – David was laughed at until they knew more about him. David was a shepherd, but unlike other shepherds. Bears and lions came to kill his sheep, and instead of running, he fought…. I can’t imagine fighting a bear or lion with two hands and a shepherds hook. Thank God I’m not in his sandals. 

2. Move toward the action – Those challenges will prepare you, but the real test is whether you can shift physical tests into spiritual action. We may cultivate bravery in sports, a conference room, or in an auditorium, but are you brave enough to share the gospel in a possibly uncomfortable conversation?

3. Keep your head – “When there is a crisis, leaders don’t panic. Crisis reveals character and capacity. This is the point when true leaders are distinguished from others.”

4. Do the hardest task first – David made it clear to Soloman in 1 Kings 2:1-9 that he had hard tasks in front of him. That passage makes me laugh. It almost seems like David was saving some hard stuff for his son. DO YOUR PAIN FIRST.

5. Be a man of your word – David swore to not kill Saul even though Saul was trying to kill him. David had the perfect opportunity to get his revenge, but chose to keep his word (1 Sam. 24:1-22).

6. Obey the Lord – In David’s dying breaths he told his son to Obey the Lord (1 Kings 2:3). Obedience could bring prosperity or it could bring problems, but we should do it anyway. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).

Hopefully this helps clarify the role of men. This is not all encompassing but my goal is to give some practical ideas to help us guys out.

A helpful resource, which I have used and quoted in this newsletter, is “A Guide to Biblical Manhood” by Randy Stinson and Dan Dumas. It is short and to the point. My kind of book!

God Bless,
Matt Virgin