I’m preaching on masculinity in a couple of weeks time at church, and have been thinking through a whole bunch of things. Especially off the fact that Mark Driscoll really provoked a good deal of thought about this lately, it’s something which I’m keen to reinforce in our hearts and minds.
So, with that in mind – I’m keen to do a bit of a survey. I’d love it if you could simply reply with a few thoughts on the following:
1) Are you male/female?
2) What do you think are the biggest blindspots for men today in their being masculine? (Ie, what are the big challenges you’d put to men today?)
3) What things in our current culture fight against what being masculine is? (Ie, what cultural things are causing men to drop the ball?)
Much appreciated! 
Mark
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9 comments
Jason Au says:
September 29, 2008 at 9:59 am (UTC 10 )
1) M
2) Knowing the right thing to do, doing it, and leading others to do that also.
3) A plethora of images telling men that masculinity is related to your body and throwing it around and grunting, and a dearth of images that set a true example of what being man really is about.
Anonymous says:
September 29, 2008 at 10:28 am (UTC 10 )
1) F
2) Showing initiative, taking the lead and then just doing it. Standing firm in leadership, whether that be a home, church or the like and a willingness to grow and be strong while encouraging and nurturing younger men to be the same.
3) Focusing on image and what it attains rather than the attribute of being a man. Perhaps also years of women being told they can do anything including a man’s role therefore emasculating men that need to be strengthened in this area naturally.
Masculinity is also the strength to be able to walk away from a bad situation and be an example to others.
Anonymous says:
September 29, 2008 at 11:23 am (UTC 10 )
1) M
2) Protect
3. Identity Theft. (Loss of identity; distinguishment)
mark says:
September 29, 2008 at 11:41 am (UTC 10 )
Guys,
Thanks for these good thoughts – excellent stuff. It’s also really helpful on a personal level too!
Mark
Anonymous says:
September 29, 2008 at 1:36 pm (UTC 10 )
1) F
2) Taking responsibilities – Responsibility builds character.
3) I think the feminist movement calls men to let women to have a go. On the other hand, I think men need to distinguish between being macho and being masculine. To exercise your masculinity in a way that glorifies God is a true witness of Christ’s transforming power in this depraved world.
Anonymous says:
September 29, 2008 at 9:43 pm (UTC 10 )
1)Woman
2)Passivity,sitting on the sidelines waiting for something to happen,rather than getting busy ,hands-on serving God.
Taking the initiative and the lead! You might not always get it right but God sees your heart and these are good attributes for men to grow in!
Being kind and protective(song of songs 2v4)
3)Feminism has almost left men redundant and wondering what their role is.
Porn has made women into objects for sexual pleasure rather people with a heart and soul.
Media portrays that external beauty and image is everything and gives no value to inner beauty and character!
Honoria says:
September 30, 2008 at 10:19 am (UTC 10 )
1) F
2) Lacking emotions(?). Not girly ones, but the masculine ones. Look at King David’s courage, graciousness, anger, determination, passion… where is that in our men? Are they so bursting with the love of the Lord that they would compose love songs and dance on the street with all their might in their linen ephod? Where is the anguish and anger for sin and injustice? Where’s the weeping?
3) Culture emotionally knee-caps men. The hero is emotionally unavailable and unaware. [Grunt]
I liked the earlier thoughts! Especially about taking responsibility.
Steve says:
October 2, 2008 at 5:09 am (UTC 10 )
1) M
2) Look to the servant-leader Jesus for a true, deep, profound vision of masculinity
3) Sterotypes both from secular society and our churches that oversimplify masculinity. Masculinity is not; success, it is not powerful, it is not laziness dressed up as a laid-back larikin, it is not freedom of responsibility
Nor is it; making decisions, speaking before thinking, acting before speaking or thinking and eating chili
It may involve some of the above but it can never equate to them. There is a real risk of ‘christianizing’ secular ideas of machoism and calling it masculinity…
Just some thoughts brother
Derekal says:
October 5, 2008 at 7:49 am (UTC 10 )
One) Male
Two) Lead and provide. STRENGTH.
Three) Media. Men are caught up in such superficial pursuits as money, materialism, and developing deep emotional awareness to attract a spouse, as opposed to working on core values. Hence the metrosexual and the return of the androgenous man. Do those buttons up kids. It all comes back to sex, just guys are confused how to get there at the minute.