“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Cor. 16:13,14
Devotional Thought For The Day
Much has been written in regard to the feminization of the church over the past 40 or so years. Of course, depending upon how you view and define “masculinity,” it could be argued that the church has always been a civilizing force in the world, and in many respects this is more commonly associated with female characteristics and concerns, than with male traits – think Lysistrata, the ancient Greek comedy written by Aristophanes. I have read that there was a church started out in California somewhere that is a “male only” congregation – with the goal and purpose of allowing men to “act like men” and to “be strong,” and to be free from the pressures of the feminist movement. I’m not sure of the advisability of such a strategy.
At any rate, Paul may have had this dynamic in mind when he urged the men in the congregation at Corinth not be feminized but to be masculine and strong. This is part of “being watchful” and “standing firm in the faith.” It may not be a popular thought in our current cultural context, but it is part of God’s creation of mankind that there be both male and female, both created in His image, but with obvious physiological and psychological differences. We’re not talking about male dominance, chauvinism, and certainly not any abusive behavior. None of this is particularly “manly,” especially not when directed toward women, and no informed Christian male would feel free to engage in such misogyny. But we are talking about strength, leadership, servanthood, genuine sacrificial love – “let all that you do be done in love.” Such “acting like men” would include all of the apostolic instructions as to our demeanor as Christians: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” [Eph. 4;31,32] Likewise: “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” [Rom. 15:1,2]
Many women are in fact attuned to the important blessings God has provided for us in “manliness,” and regret the consequences that the feminist movement has brought into society, and especially the church. Sadly, men who have submitted to feminist ideology and insistence find it difficult to rediscover genuine manliness within themselves. They are unaware of what has happened to them, unaware of what Christian manliness might look like and involve, and become unwilling to buck political correctness and to reinvigorate their own personal manliness. If the important women in their life are persistent in emasculating them, there is little hope for recovery. Since this is at times associated with church life and Christianity, such men may also lose faith, or at the least, may end up being quite impotent and useless in the life of the church. And if such feminization predominates the life of a congregation, all the manly men might leave.
Again, Paul is not advocating for male arrogance, male superiority, chauvinism, and the demeaning or mistreatment of women. Real men, those who “act like men,” do not engage in such sin, bitterness, wrath, and anger. But neither do they become door mats, spineless jellyfish who are unable to stand up and do the strong lifting in the work of the church. God has created both maleness and femaleness – and generally He creates with great wisdom, with purpose in all design, so that we are best served not to tinker with certain things or to socially engineer what we think is a better design. May God bless our contemplation of these dynamics, and enable Christian men to adopt His encouragement to be manly and strong.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, although many see Your softer, kinder, and gentler side, help us to recognize and remember that You were also authentically and genuinely manly. This is seen in the strength You exhibited in debate, with detractors, and especially in Your suffering and death for our sins, in bringing us to salvation. Preserve us from the hateful attitudes that many men have toward women; preserve us also from weak resignation and forfeiture of created gifts. May all who believe in You have wisdom to keep Your church in the blessed balance and status that You will for it. Help the Christian men to act like men and to be strong. Amen.