I was recently reading a few articles on biblical manhood and thinking about some recent events in my ministry context. To make a long story short, it often feels like men are generally labelled as abrasive and lack care and understanding. I don't want to get into a Wild at Heart debate, but i would like to hear your thoughts on masculinity in ministry:
How did God make men in particular suited for ministry and leadership?
What aspects of manliness can be "redeemed" and what aspects must be subdued?
What does manly ministry look like?
That should give us some good food for thought.
I think that Ephesians 5:22-25 helps a lot with understanding mens roles in ministry. Men are called to lead and excersize authority in a way that women aren't. Also, 1 Timothy 2:11-12 makes it clear that men are the ones that are to teach and excersize authority in the church. I think, however, that many men try to lead and act in a way that is authoritative in order to prove themselves men. It must be remembered that leading and teaching and excersizing authority is for people that are men, not for people trying to prove themselves. Is authority that we give ourselves true authority? Also, there are many other teachings and instructions for men that are either ignored or overlooked. Two examples: Ephesians 5:25 We must remember to love and remember what true love looks like. 1 Timothy 6:11 Without the pursuit of gentleness and love we are not fully men of God.
ReplyDeleteThanks David. I see two thoughts that are both important- 1. Men need to lead because God has called us to lead, not because we need to prove ourselves. 2. Men in leadership cannot forsake love and gentleness in pursuit of a "manly" ministry.
ReplyDeleteThat's good stuff! I think it is important to realize that any and all authority we have is from God. We earn respect and rapport, but authority is from God.
Here's something i was talking to my wife about earlier today for further discussion: 1 Peter 3:4 states "but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." While this is is talking specifically about a marriage relationship and is not the entire scope of what it means to be a woman, I am of the opinion that there are reasons Peter wrote thse words to women and not to men. Men are not always called to have a "gentle and quiet spirit," are we? I think that is part of Peter's point here- and this is a difference between men and women- men are to be lion-hearted leaders who stand up for justice and sound the battle cry loudly when they have to. Yes we must remember love and gentleness, but we can't forget to be bold and thick-skinned and even take some big risks at times.
"Men are to be lion-hearted leaders who stand up for justice and sound the battle cry loudly when they have to. Yes we must remember love and gentleness, but we can't forget to be bold and thick-skinned and even take some big risks at times."
ReplyDeleteThat's what you stated, Andy. I think sometimes men get mixed up as to what to fight against. They can get confused as to what "justice" really means. I think that this is why there is absolutely no way to talk about fulfilling God's design as a male unless being held to the light of scripture. In scripture "justice" and "the enemy" are clearly seen, and if men stand for the first and make war against the second, then they are acting as men should - in light of God's design.