Four Scriptures for Men in a Culture Agnostic About Masculinity

“Timshel.” The final word of blessing from Adam Trask to his son in John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, that Great “Thou Mayest,” barely escapes the lips of the dying patriarch, leaving his once estranged and cursed son, and an entire audience of readers with the thing we didn’t know we were longing for: permission. Permission to transcend the sins of our fathers, permission to choose between life and death, between blessing and curse, permission to seek forgiveness of sins in the only One who could offer it, or permission to chase redemption in addiction, pleasure, romance, or work.

In a culture agnostic about what it wants its men to be, a “timshel” of sorts seems necessary. It seems timely to offer a blessing, rather than a curse, to a culture where men are chided, berated, accused, and parodied. Is there a word of blessing that remains for the masculine soul? A few come to mind from the Scriptures:

You are my son, whom I love, and in whom I am well pleased. When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan river, the Voice of affirmation came from heaven, initiating him into the mission for which he was sent. Every man longs for the blessing of their fathers. Even for men with failed fathers the search for affirmation, engagement, and presence continues their entire lives. We we hide ourselves in Jesus, trusting in him, surrendering to him, we can live in the perfect acceptance and approval of our heavenly Father. Such an acceptance has the power to reverse the curse of the shortcomings of our earthly fathers. Only when a man is fully rested in the love of God can he face all things with peace.

Stand firm, my beloved brothers. Let nothing move you. Cormac McCarthy, a favorite author of mine wrote that “it is himself that a coward abandons first. After this, all other betrayals come easily.” Part of the masculine journey is learning what your core values are and being unafraid at expressing those, even when unpopular. Too many men have given up what is most important to them in order to get a promotion, impress women, get sex, or win approval in some form. Paul commands the Corinthians to give themselves fully to the work of the Lord -to fully press in to what they most valued. The world needs what YOU bring. Yes, stay curious, humble, and willing to listen, but do not be afraid to stand your ground as the tidal wave of culture crashes against you.

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished. And they recognized them as having been with Jesus. The men Jesus chose to carry on his message and movement were described by the Sanhedrin of Jerusalem as “unschooled” and “ordinary.” The Greek word used here is agrammatikos. Without grammar. In a world that consistently pressures men to be ‘competent’ at everything that they do, it is profound that these fisherman that Jesus chose experienced such a dramatic transformation in their lives that they were able to stand before some of most learned men in the world and speak with such ‘boldness.’ That courage, of course, came not from their own COMPETENCE, but from their COMPANION; it had nothing to do with their ABILITY and everything to do with their AVAILABILITY to Jesus. If you’re a Christian, remember that your confidence does not come from your PERFORMANCE, but from your PROXIMITY to the Savior.

God’s power is made perfect in human weakness. Even if you’re not a Christian, there is still a lesson here: you are at your strongest when you are able to admit your weakness. These guys stood before this highly educated audience, and spoke with simple language, not trying to hide themselves or pretend to be someone they were not. They simply came in all their weakness and unsophistication, and their honesty amazed their hearers. In a world with conceptions of masculinity that do not allow for tenderness, emotion, or vulnerability, let’s remember that Jesus was both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God, the Aslan who is both dangerous and good. He is full of what Brennan Manning calls “relentless tenderness.” Jesus never shrank from a confrontation when it needed to happen, but he also cried with people, delicately consoled his friends, and made himself vulnerable unto death on a cross. We would do well to remember that there is a power in vulnerability and gentleness. Later, Paul the Apostle would write that “God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.” When we admit our faults we demonstrate true strength that turns heads.

Which Scriptures would you add to the list?