Praise God, I was just on another podcast, Rejoicing in Motherhood with Kirsten Vossler. So thankful and excited to be on this podcast! Kirsten is AMAZING! Please give this a listen!
It’s been very encouraging to hear how more young men are going to church. Unfortunately I understand why there was a struggle for men to go in the first place. It seemed as if the church kept encouraging men to be nice and tone it down, while many schools reinforced this, forcing them to submit to feminist ideology since “masculinity is toxic.” But it’s encouraging to know they’re now coming. And what they’re seeking is someone to teach them the Truth of Scripture.
Is it true or is it good?
I can’t remember where, but I’ve heard it argued that in the recent past, people weren’t asking if God’s Word was true, but rather they were asking if it was good. You’d think the answer would be pretty much the same, but considering the current cultural moment we’re in, the answers given have been clearly starkly different. When the young adults asked if God’s Word was good, they were asking considering the standpoint of the socially, racially, and/or sexually marginalized.
I think that most churches knew that, and therefore had answers that would draw these young potential disciples to the pews. I’m certain that the best of intentions were meant. And of course, when we share the gospel, we should take into consideration our audience. But that’s only to a point. When it comes down to it, who cares what I think? Who cares what you think? The only thing that matters is what God thinks (for a fantastic sermon that touches on this, check out Matthew Maher’s last Sunday sermon at Landmark Church!)
The problem is that if we mainly focus on, for example, Micah 6:8 (…to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God), we can miss some important teaching. Additionally, when we decide to define justice to reflect a more modern, feminized slant (which is what we’ve done in the church and culture in general), we end up veering from the Word of God. It may be just a slight difference, but it’s a little like light beams. Two light beams can just be one degree off at their inception point. They may look like parallel lines but they’re just the teeniest bit off. But that tiny difference when taken out a little ways, will show those beams to be completely apart from one another.
Applying Scripture
My point is that these slight differences in applying Scripture in today’s world caused some men to walk away. They were not encouraged or affirmed to hate sin and fight against it. Rather they were encouraged to be nice, compassionate, and love mercy above everything else. So now that there are pastors who encourage men to embrace their masculinity, as well as leaning in to the Truth of Scripture, they are listening.
Driscoll red flags
The problem is that some of these masculine pastors are not the best men to look to. One of those that I can specifically think of is Mark Driscoll (I won’t even address Nick Fuentes because he may claim to be a Christian, but he’s the farthest thing to one). I used to think Driscoll was great, since he was speaking with such passion and conviction to young men. Many were flocking to hear him preach. And now, TP USA is platforming him.
The issue, however, is that he is an unrepentant man (see the The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast). It’d be one thing if he was just a flawed, enthusiastic preacher that had some faux pas or quirks. But it’s much, much more than that. Justin Peters did a thorough analysis of Mark Driscoll and I’m certain he’s not the only one. Although he’s a charismatic leader who has a lot of good things to say, he should not be the one leading these impressionable young men.
Godly men
Thankfully the LORD has provided us with fantastic leaders, and we need to be enthusiastically pointing our young men to these leaders in the faith. Just to name a few: Alex and Brett Harris are brothers who wrote the book, “Do Hard Things.” LORD, do we need that message for our young men today! Senator Josh Hawley wrote an incredibly important book called, “Manhood.” Voddie Baucham wrote several books and was a force to be reckoned with. Although the LORD took him away from us, we have his words that still speak powerfully. And of course, Charlie Kirk. He was not perfect, but he loved the LORD and His Word. He was unapologetic about his faith and loved Jesus, his family, and his country. Wow, do we need more of that.
If we don’t present godly leaders for our boys to follow, others will step in. Of course, the most important man in their life is their father. I’m so thankful for fathers (like my husband!) who sacrifice day in and day out for their families, and above all, love the LORD! However, our young men need other leaders as well. The Mark Driscoll’s of the world are loud and confident. And like I said, they may even have a few good things to say. But it’s like being presented with a delicious looking cake, only to find out there is some excrement baked into it as well. It’s just a little, I’m told. Would you eat it?
No one is perfect, but…
Obviously, there is no one who is perfect. We all know that. However, those that are in leadership positions must be held to a higher standard. And if those in leadership refuse to be corrected and repent for their sins, they should never be someone who we should send our loved ones to emulate or learn from.
I pray we all have more discernment. Our young men are hungry for truth and meaning. They have a bent to protect and provide. To a world that is telling them that their natural instincts are wrong, and having more feminine qualities is right, we need to teach our boys to firmly say “no.” As Allie Beth Stuckey said (it’s insane that this was controversial): “Men, we need you, and we need your masculinity, and we need your strength, and we need your boldness, and we need your courage, and we need those things to be harnessed for good.”
Pray for a Christ centered revival that is not focused on secular definitions of justice or masculinity. Guide us Father, and lift up men of God who will honor and follow You above all else.
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