Perhaps we will look back on the last 25 years as a blip on the cultural radar when it comes to gender. Or maybe we will look at these days as a mark of genuine decline. God created man and woman separately and uniquely, with specific roles. Genesis 1:27 reminds us, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Our creation was not a fluke, or an evolution, or a malleable amalgam of cells to be defined more fully, later on in life.
Today we face a cultural decline of manhood. We attach words to masculinity like “toxic” and “patriarchic”. Many of the traditional avenues for development into manhood—from Boy Scouts to the YMCA, to men’s boarding schools, to school sports teams—have become “unisex”. At the extreme, some encourage men to “change genders” if they feel in any way uncomfortable with their minds and bodies. The result is that we aren’t teaching boys what it means to be a man. They lack not only the knowledge of manhood, but any concept of the responsibilities of a man. In short, males do not know how to live and act as men.
The function of masculinity. God made man intentionally. Man was created in God’s image, meaning he possesses characteristics of his Creator. The Bible says, “He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them ‘Mankind’ when they were created” (Genesis 5:2). Male and female were not designed to be “separate but equal”, but rather, “separate and unique”.
The Bible shows man’s responsibilities as providing fathering, food, shelter and protection for wife and mother, and children. He is created generally with greater strength, musculature and endurance to do exactly these things well. Further, the Bible gives detailed instruction to people—especially men—in how to act and live in the image of their Creator. Men are to lead the home, protecting, providing, and directing, and being held accountable by God for the stewardship of their household and family. The Apostle Paul repeats God’s command succinctly in his letter to the Corinthian church: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).
Males must learn the God-given function and responsibility of man. We must teach our sons to grow up and to “act like men”. We want males to take on the God-ordained tasks of man and to do those to the very best of their ability. The function of masculinity is in part to put aside our own wants and desires in life and become through pursuit of Christ and obedience to God’s Word, the very picture that the Creator envisioned of His greatest handiwork—man.
The misrepresentation of masculinity. Two fundamental shifts have occurred in modern culture with respect to men. First, the equality movement sought to erase the differences between men and women, in order to make them “equal” in all respects. “Anything a man can do, a woman can also do.” This is true in some ways, but in other ways it simply denies the physical and mental differences between the sexes.
There are some things a man can do that a woman cannot (provide sperm). There are some things a woman can do that a man cannot (birth a child, breast feed). In addition to physical differences there are areas of mental development that vary. A woman is generally a better nurturer, with greater emotional intelligence. A man tends to focus on one task or area of expertise instead of multitasking. These differences shouldn’t be erased, but rather celebrated, and honed for the advantage of humanity, and within the individual family.
Secondly, the gender movement sought to separate sex and gender into choices in life, versus physically defined at conception. The science of sex is clear down to the chromosomal level. One cannot change their gender or sex any more than an apple can become an orange. You can stumble about with surgery and makeup and dress, but at the cellular level, a man is always a man and a woman is always a woman.
The truth of masculinity. We are no longer systematically teaching boys what it means to be a man. Boys lack the knowledge of manhood, as well as any concept of the responsibilities of a man. Adult males do not know how to live and act as men. Paul’s statement to “act like men” today might as well be “build a spaceship”. We do not know where or how to begin. In looking at the responsibilities assigned to man by God as written in the Bible, we’ll quickly discover what manhood means. What is man supposed to do? It’s not to twiddle around on earth for eighty years and then sit on a cloud, playing a harp in the sun, for all eternity. No! God has a role for man.
We are losing the ability to know how to treat one another honorably and courteously within the traditional gender roles. Also lacking is the principle that a man’s life is lived in service to noble pursuits, and to aid the less fortunate. The knights of the Middle Ages were trusted men, defenders of their lord’s lands and people. Today’s man plays video games into his 40s and lives in his parents’ basement. No wonder many women ask, “Where have all the good men gone?”
The world needs more men. My neighborhood needs more men. My wife and kids need a man. The world doesn’t need more men who are thugs, or studs, or woke apologists. The world needs real men. More knightly men, full of chivalry, service, honor. Men of character. Men committed to learn and pursue their God-given purposes. Men who positively impact those around them and focus on others in a way that makes the world a better place in which to live. This is the truth of manhood—that godly men serving a godly purpose raise up civilization through strength of character and service.
