One of the most needed and counter-cultural conversations in the church today is biblical masculinity. The world gives us distorted extremes of what a man is, but the Bible gives us a much more compelling and complete picture of a man who leads with humility, loves with strength, and finds his identity in God and not culture.
What do you think when you think of a man? A real man? You immediately see a clumsy, effeminate, helpless idiot? Or maybe you see a tough and vicious gunslinging cowboy. Strangely, neither of the above examples has godly, manly guys.
God has called man to be part of His family and man is therefore the center of His plan! This amazing calling involves a role for both men and women that is unique and important. Ephesians 5:22–24 tells us that men are to lead and care for their families just as Christ leads the Church. Gen. 2:24. This family has a structure.
Thus, Satan has relentlessly attacked biblical masculinity in an effort to undermine the family structure God established at creation. In modern culture masculinity is often viewed as either predatory, nasty and manipulative, or weak, overly emotional and submissive.
Many families do not have a father, and children do not always have positive examples of God’s idea of “masculinity.” But some families do have a father figure but he does not fulfill his biblical duty as God intended and ignores his responsibilities. Men have a special part to play in God’s design, as do women and children. Men, we must meet that obligation! How do we become menly, godly men? But still, what does that mean? What is it that God expects of Christian males? What does God think about masculinity?
Relationship With God
First of all, we have to realize that in order to become the man that God intended us to be, we have to have a close relationship with God and maintain that relationship. Proverbs 20:7 The just man walketh in his integrity; his children are blessed after him. If we closely follow him and the examples of godly men, God’s expectations of our masculinity will be firmly established. When that connection with God is established, the other aspects of biblical masculinity naturally start to form and manifest in every area of a man’s life.
To keep good company is one mark of a manly Christian. “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools will be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20). Proverbs 27:17 tells us, “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. “We should be lifting each other up daily and encouraging friends and edifying company around us. 1 Thessalonians 5:11, the Bible is rich with scriptures about friends that emphasize the importance of having a support system to uplift and edify.
Physical and Emotional Stewardship
Then godly manly men know how to care for their bodies. Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit [which] is in you, [which] you have from God, and you are not your own? You were purchased at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” In fact, you may remember Daniel and his friends—probably older teens or young men—refusing to eat dirty, unhealthy food, and asking for water and healthy food. They knew the value of caring for their bodies, especially during their developmental years (Daniel 1:5-16). God created our bodies with great skill and complexity (Ps. 139:14).
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The strength of young men is their glory” (Proverbs 20:29). The New Testament refers to Jesus Christ as a carpenter (Mark 6:3). To do this occupation Jesus would have had to be physically fit, constantly shifting stones and timbers. Unfortunately, crippling diseases and injuries are becoming more and more common in today’s world. We need to see how important it is to preserve as much as we can those wonderful systems that God built into our bodies and that are such a testimony to His strength and artistry. They’re just another one of Satan’s tactics to discourage and hinder us.
A manly, holy guy is emotional, perhaps unexpectedly. This is just another myth about men. Men should be emotional but still able to control their feelings. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:4-5 “There is a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.” Galatians 5:22-23 says that a godly man who allows God’s Spirit to lead him has self-control, especially when it comes to our emotions! But there are times when it’s okay to show emotion and it’s important to have a healthy balance in our lives.
Jesus expresses emotion in many situations. One example is in Matthew 21:12–13. Jesus was merciful in many situations . But in this case , His actions were driven by righteous rage over the pollution of God ‘s sanctuary . God gave us feelings but it is how we handle and use them that makes us godly manly men or not.
Leadership Section
One of the most clear expressions of biblical masculinity is servant leadership, which commands respect not through domination, but through humility, integrity and selfless example. Men were supposed to be the head of the household, but it’s a responsibility. When we are in that position we have to lead godly. That is to say respect all people including women, children and other men. “We have a responsibility to be a good role model for our family and we should. In Luke 6:31 Jesus said “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself,” Paul added in Philippians 2:3. We serve and lead through humility. To be a man does not mean to be effeminate or wimpy or lazy, but it does not mean you try to make people feel inferior to you. A holy manly guy is respectful to all, helpful to others, and an example to follow.
Finally, there’s always a godly, manly guy trying to better himself. No matter how respectful, fit, in control of our emotions, reverent we are, we can’t be perfect. “We have to remain humble all the time and try to get better.” This was important and something that Paul reminded the Church of God in Phillipi of in Philippians 3:12-14 where he wrote “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
What defines biblical masculinity is the standards of God’s Word, not the changing social norms. And in a world where Satan is still distorting mankind’s understanding of manhood, that difference has never been more important. With the foundation of a solid relationship with God, we should be able to show some of the key traits of godly, masculine men. These include caring for our bodies and minds, setting a godly example, keeping good company, and realizing that there are always more steps we can take on the road to maturity and perfection as sons of God.
