Biblical Masculinity - Part 1

Brining out the masculinity in the church is something we are going to begin tackling in less than a month in the mens ministry at my church. While, both men and women have things God has called us to do that are the same He has, also, called us to do many things differently. These are things that, I think, need to be cultivated and encouraged that are specific to men and women. Before we dive into cultivating and encouraging the men of the church we need to ask, what is biblical masculinity?

Men Are To Work

After God created Adam he put him in the garden to work. Right from the beginning there was work and with man working God called his creation very good. But, when the fall came work became difficult as a result of our sin.

What does this mean? It means that men are to work and the idea of laziness or retiring in a manner where a man lays around isn't good. God made man to work. It, also, means that work is not going to be easy and there will be struggles. The perfect job where there is not struggle doesn't exist. Men need encouragement to not stop working (which is the exact opposite of what society preaches via early retirement) and to do good and live through the struggles. Now, I'm not saying that men shouldn't retire from their jobs. It's the idea of retiring from work and not their jobs I am talking about. And, yeah work will change as a man gets older. He can't do the things he used to but is also able to do things he never could do before.

Men And The Headship Role

This is one of those very un-PC topics. The idea of men having a headship role is enough to make the blood of many boil. But, it is biblical and something that, in this day and age, needs a lot of cultivating and encouragement. The bible clearly says that women will desire for her husband and he will rule over her. This isn't just something written about in Genesis but something that is throughout the bible. For example, Paul wrote about this in Ephesians.

Now, I am not going to get into a debate over whether this is the case or not because I think the bigger issue is what does this mean to men? Paul writes a good start in Ephesians 5:25-33:

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

In this position of headship the bible gives men a great responsibility that isn't to be taken lightly. We are to love our wives. Paul writes that we are to love them like we love ourselves. And, like Christ loved the church whom he gave his life for.

The idea is to be a benevolent head. To put the needs of those under you above your own. To take care of them. This isn't about controlling, getting your own way, or treating others like they are there to serve you. The head is the ultimate servant, so to speak. Look at Christ. He is head of the church yet the greatest servant.

This headship role isn't just one over a spouse but one that goes beyond that. Take children, for example. To lead them, teach them, and raise them to live a life for Christ and be what God has called them to be. This means raising them in scripture, raising them in the church, and living a good example they can follow.

See what I mean by responsibility? These two roles fall on men and I think need to be targeted and cultivated in men.