I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap
Ezekiel
Ultimately, this blog aims to be both a defense and a celebration of all things Christian and masculine. It will focus more on the latter than the former, for the simple reason that I have many more years experience living the latter than the former. Though it’s an open question which one I’ve had more success with.
Indeed, there’s something very unmasculine about writing about masculinity. A friend once opined that anyone who talks too much about masculinity is rather missing the point, masculinity is expressed in action, in deeds and not in words. So why have I made this blog? Why ignore such sensible advice? Honestly, because I might not be the best man for the job, but I see almost no-one else doing it. At least not lately; Muscular Christianity was a movement in the 1800s, since then we have decided both in the church (whatever you take that word to identify) and the culture more generally, that such a movement would be improper, immoral even. To strive to be muscular is to strive for “toxicity”, likewise to strive to be Christian is to actively wish to be archaic. I hope in some small way to show that there is no shame in being archaic, and that the “toxic masculinity” stuff is, well.. bunkum.
Now, you might ask, what gives me the right to write on such a topic, why listen to my ramblings on masculinity? Am I a Navy Seal, an accomplished martial artist, or even a successful entrepreneur? Have I done some noteworthy deed? No. No, on all counts.
“I’ve wrestled with alligators,
I’ve tussled with a whale.
I done handcuffed lightning
And thrown thunder in jail.
You know I’m bad.
just last week, I murdered a rock,
Injured a stone, Hospitalized a brick.
I’m so mean, I make medicine sick.”
– Muhammad Ali, kindly listing all the manly things I have not done.
I’m writing this because I felt called to by God, because masculinity is under attack, both in definition and conception, because Christianity is too, and as of the time of writing this in 2021, it’s safe to say civilization itself isn’t looking too hot. So, I am writing this because what I have to say needs to be said. Now more than maybe ever before, it needs to be said.
Hopefully, if I have done my job well, then the message can be taken up by better ambassadors than me. It’s not my message anyway.