Canaan's Rest

Helen Andrews had a very insightful article in Compact entitled, “The Great Feminization.” She theorizes, “Cancel culture is simply what women do whenever there are enough of them in a given organization or field.” She is applying feminine patterns of behavior in institutions where women were few in number until recently.  Andrews observes, “Everything you think of as wokeness involves prioritizing the feminine over the masculine: empathy over rationality, safety over risk, cohesion over competition.” 

Could this be overstated.  Maybe!  According to Joy Pullmann we are experiencing a “swap.”  “We have feminization where there should be masculinity, and masculinization where there should be femininity.”  Women are pushed to act like men and men to act like women. The result suggests Pullmann is, “social transgenderism,” making men and women dysfunctional.  Instead of being too feminine, “women are not feminine enough, and men are not masculine enough.”  I agree with Pullmann that men have violated, “their natural male duty to protect the weak.”  “Men need” notes Pullman, “to shed their internalized transgender roles just as much as women do.”

Andrews goes on to state, “Female group dynamics favor consensus and cooperation.  Men order each other around; but women can only suggest and persuade.  Any criticism or negative sentiment……needs to be buried in layers of compliments.  The outcome of a discussion is less important than the fact that a discussion was held and everyone participated in it.  The most important sex difference in group dynamics is the attitude to conflict…..men wage conflict openly while women covertly undermine or ostracize their enemies.” 

“Men” according  Andrews, “tend to be better at compartmentalizing than women, and wokeness was in many ways a society-wide failure to compartmentalize.” Men tend to reconcile more readily with opponents and learn to live in peace, while women are slower to reconcile in conflict. 

Andrews goes so far as to believe the Great Feminization is a threat to civilization. Others, of course, believe it is more “an organic result of women outcompeting men.” But could it be more the artificial result of social engineering.  Andrews wonder if the window to do something about the Great Feminization is closing.  If wokeness is the result of demographic feminization, then it will never be over as long as the demographics remain unchanged. 

I have written about the feminizing of men since the early days of this blog.  I credit Leanne Payne for opening my eyes.  When  men do not lead, take responsibility, and initiate, they surrender their position in family and society.  Women who were not meant to lead or initiate will fill the void.  The result will be women being in the wrong place not able to give proper leadership.

Part of the solution for wokeness in our culture is  godly men receiving their affirmation as men from their heavenly Father.  There is a hole in the soul; an ache that is always felt, when men live as orphans away from home.  We all are prodigals  until we come home and hear the voice of our heavenly Father say, “You are my son in whom I delight.” 

The result will be affirmed men. They are secure in their gender identity and role.  In the tension  between the genders men can express “fairness” rather than harden resolve on positions. They appreciate the opposite in the feminine, celebrating equally gifted and empowered women who complement their masculine.  They see women as their equal, being fulfilled their femininity.  Rather than scapegoating, men will assume their leadership responsibilities.  Affirmed men are able to navigate “the gender wars” because they are submitted to the God who made male and female.    

In Isaiah 48, the prophet confronts the exiles of Judah with their unbelief in God’s intentions for their future.   The Lord questions the exiles’ unenthusiastic response to his message.  “For a long time now, I’ve let you in on the way I work” (Is. 48:3 MGS).  He called them “stubborn” having neck muscles of iron and foreheads of bronze. They seemed to have more faith in their idols’ assumptions. “You have my predictions and seen them fulfilled, but you refuse to admit it (Is. 48:6).

God, knew their history of unbelief.  God reminded them of the past, when he had made them aware of his divine plan. “That is why I told you what would happen; I told you beforehand what I was going to do. Then you could never say, ‘My idols did it. My wooden image and metal god commanded it to happen'” (Is.48:5).  The people had  attributed the course of events to some agent other than God.  But Isaiah reminds them  that God moves sovereignly through history according to his divine purpose. 

In verse 6 God tells of a “new thing.”  As the Message puts it, “I have a lot more to tell you, things you never knew existed.  This isn’t a variation on the same old thing.  This is new, brand-new, something you’ve never guess or dream up.” (Is. 48:7-8 MSG).  God was in control, as He moved in new ways.  But the prophet was accusing them of being poor listeners.  They had a history of ignoring what God was telling them, while assuming they knew better.  

But God had been patient with his people even though they had been poor listeners.  He told them, “For my own name’s sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to destroy you completely.” (v 9).  Instead of putting their trust in almighty God, the people of God trusted more in their own assumptions about the future.   God wanted his people to trust him with their future.

 Gaven Ortland, points out in his commentary on Isaiah, “God is never defeated. He has a purpose even in the painful upheavals of history.  He has resolved not to punish us as we deserve, but to bring his glory to triumphant finality in human history.  It is God’s glory alone  that guarantees our future.” 

The prophet declares God is using their present situation to refine the people.  He asks, “Do you see what I’ve done?  I’ve refined you, but not without fire.  I’ve tested you like silver in the furnace of affliction.  Out of myself, simply because of who I am, I do what I do.  I have my reputation to keep up.  I’m not playing second fiddle to either gods or people” (Is 40:10-11 MSG). The punishment of invasion and exile is compared to the smelting process designed to remove impurities from fine metals like silver. 

As followers of Jesus, during this confused time, followers of Jesus need to cultivate a “listening ear” to what God is saying, rather then voices generated by unbelief, due to the idols of our day.  God has been patient with us.  He has held back his anger, for the sake and honor of his name.  He knows the rebellious nature of our response to his Word.  

Our heavenly Father is up to something new.  It is beyond our comprehension at this time.  Part of the process is our being refined.  But God promises to rescue us for his sake.  He states, “I have my reputation to keep.  I’m not playing second fiddle to either gods or people” (Is 48:11 MSG).