Many argue that there is a crisis of masculinity in general western culture but also even in Church.
Perhaps...
What models of masculinity are we offered?
Jesus of Nazareth - who refuses to fight against the armed mob?
Peter, who had to learn to put away his sword and find out how to walk towards martyrdom?
James and John who had to turn away from being the "sons of thunder" and become "sons of love"?
The Bible does not define masculinity in the way that the "flesh" does.
If we judge by the flesh, then a "real" man may well need to have big muscles, a big beard and perhaps even a big armoury of weapons!
Some Christian men have started to fantasise about being Crusader knights - ignorant of how the Crusades were not private vigilantes, but national armies.
The Crusades were an authorized work of international liberation and defence; they were not just private individuals taking matters into their own hands.
Join the army if you want to fight for the country under proper government authority - but don't talk about taking up arms for "Christianity" as individuals.
We will never change this nation with the wisdom or weapons of the flesh, the muscle or mentality of mere human strength.
That just leads to ever greater alienation from the Living God.
There is a tragic naivety about those who look to human strength to bring about true spiritual transformation.
True power flows DOWN from the Divine Emperor, NOT up from people power.
Real power to change comes when we are close to Heavenly power, NOT by trying to get close to earthly power.
In the Bible, there is only condemnation of cultural judgements of the flesh.
We need to be warriors besieging fortresses - but these fortresses are arguments, lifestyles and attitudes that are against the LORD Jesus.
We need to take many prisoners of war captive - but these are not human beings, but our wandering thoughts, deceitful desires and fleshly judgements.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - "Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
The weapons we fight with are NOT the weapons of the world.
On the contrary, our weapons have divine power to demolish strongholds.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.
We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
John writes to fathers and young men in 1 John 2.
How does he define "true masculinity" to these men?
"I am writing to you, fathers, because you know HIM who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one...
I write to you, fathers, because you know HIM who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one."
For the Apostle John, the strength of true masculinity is in knowing the LORD Jesus and resisting the temptations of the devil.
This strength comes because "the word of God lives in you".
Masculine power comes from hiding the word of God within our hearts and minds.
Psalm 119:9-11
"How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek YOU;
let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you."
I remember a minister who boasted about spending two hours a day in the gym - BUT, he spent hardly ten minutes a day in the Word.
He was strong in the flesh (perhaps) but he was weak as water in true masculinity.
His cries of effort in the gym were not at all matched by his cries and tears in prayer.
1 Timothy 4:8 - "Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 includes an appeal to "be a man!" - and it has nothing to do with building muscles or fighting people.
"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
Let all that you do be done in love."
Think of these words in the light of all that Paul has been teaching throughout 1 Corinthians.
To act "like a man" means:
Be watchful - Be alert to the temptations of the flesh; of pride; of human wisdom; of sexual immorality; of arguments and division.
Stand firm in the faith - Do not be moved around by false teaching; do not wobble with worldly wisdom. Endure and persevere in the way of Jesus Christ rather than following deceitful desires into barren, selfish ways.
Be strong - Carry one another's burdens; Lift up those who are down; Tirelessly serve the Church family without grumbling.
Do everything in love - stop thinking of yourself and put the interests of others first.
Real masculinity begins by hiding the Word of God in your heart and mind.
Real masculinity is fixated on knowing the LORD Jesus - He who is from the beginning of all things.
Real masculinity puts all its power into serious combat - fighting against the temptations and deceptions of the devil.
Real masculinity stands on watchful guard - against pride; human wisdom; division and deceitful desires.
Real masculinity does not wobble with worldly wisdom but is reliable and faithful.
Real masculinity stands firm in the strength of the LORD God, not in the failing, fleeting, feeble strength of flesh.
Real masculinity does everything with love.