Masculinity and Christian manhood

Here's some challenging thoughts from naked religion (HT: Jesus Creed) on masculinity and the church:

. . . both church culture and broader culture have emasculated men in subtle and in some not so subtle ways. Ask any man what their favorite movie of all time is, and you will be sure to hear them recite a list of movies where the principle character is honorable because of their willingness to go against the crowd, fight on behalf of justice, or simply stand up for what they believe in . . .

And if reclaiming our masculinity means becoming in some way “wild at heart”, I’m all for it. I’ve never really liked the image of pastor as demur, timid, and accomodating anyway. Perhaps if more pastors had the courage to stand in the pulpit, sit in a board meeting, or greet in the narthex and speak the truth about the Gospel, the church would be healthier and poised to actually compete for the hearts of a generation of men who left the church a long time ago, and who won’t likely be back until six of their friends carry them back– in a wooden box.

Amen.