Month: June 2025 (Page 3 of 3)

Ralph Martin is president of Renewal Ministries, a movement among conservative Catholics.  I have followed Ralph since the early days of the Charismatic Movement in the early 70’s.  I call Ralph a “prophetic straight shooter.”  He is a catholic theologian, who is a faithful orthodox author.  He dares to say things that many evangelical authors would not dare say and with conviction.  He wrote an article recently entitled “The Four Last Things.”  I want to summarize his article because of its blunt clarity.

He begins by quoting Pope John Paul II.  “The Church cannot omit, without serious mutilation of her essential message, a constant catechesis of man’s Four Last Things: death, judgment, hell and heaven.  Knowing what comes after this earthly life can guide us in it.  Beyond the mysterious gates of death and eternity, we will arrive at either joy and communion with God or separation from Him.  Only by understanding these Last Things can one realize the nature of sin and move toward penance and reconciliation.”

First, Death – Why do we die?  Death is the result of the fall in the Garden.  The fruit was forbidden because it was harmful; it meant death.  The lie told in the garden is being offered today. “You shall be like God.  Create yourself, choose your own identity, declare your independence from Him.”  But the gospel  invites people to be saved, forgiven and transformed.  This implies believing in the Word of God and turning from sin.  Martin declares, “Jesus is the antidote to death.  He paid a price for our sins. He perfectly obeyed and loved the Father as we never could.  By dying and rising again, He established freedom, immortality, and eternal life.  And he gives it freely to whoever wants it.

Second, Judgment.    Hebrews 9:27 declares, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.”  Jesus will return in the fullness of his glory to judge the living and the dead.   Martin boldly points out, “We scarcely hear about God’s severity, holiness, justice, and judgment.  There should be a constant catechesis on these things.  Christianity isn’t a game; everyone doesn’t get a trophy.  Being a disciple is hard.”

Third, Hell.  Those who won’t be welcomed into God’s kingdom face “the second death.”  This is eternal separation from God. We are given what we’ve chosen, awful isolation, rebellion, anger, hatred, lust and greed.   Martin says “This is not a game, this is life and death.  The Son of God wants to save us, but we need to pay attention to what He is saying.”  Then, even more bluntly, “Do whatever you need to do to get free of serious sin, because it will kill you.  Serious sin will send you to hell unless you repent.”

Fourth , Heaven.  Those who have their names written in the book of life, will hear, “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them. and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:2-4).  Relationships in heaven will far surpass our earthly relationships.  In heaven, there is perfect love and union 

I was struck by the candid manner of Martin, who I respect greatly.  It makes me ponder how candid my witness has been.  Reality for all who live here below, involve these last four things.  For me, I have been reluctant  to speak of hell.  Yet hell is a reality for all who have not been  saved by Jesus.    

Luke Simon had an interesting article about masculinity in Mere Orthodoxy.  He ponders the question, asked by Barb Weiss, “How do we bring back heroic masculinity without bringing back toxic masculinity?” Weiss was in discussion with Louise Perry, author of “The Case Against the Sexual Revolution,” in which Perry suggests, “the sexual revolution has largely benefited men while leaving women more vulnerable and unhappy.  She acknowledged that a return to a Christian sexual ethic offers women greater protection and security. “

But there is no need to reinvent masculinity.  “What we need”, suggests Simon, “is a return to cruciform masculinity – a strength that serves, a power that protects, and a leadership that sacrifices.” Today, our culture seems to offer two extreme versions of masculinities.  On one hand, a masculinity that is toxic, which needs to be softened or even erased.  On the other hand, a masculinity that is brutal, aggressive, and dominant, in which masculinity is weaponized.  Each extreme can leave men confused.    

Jesus’ example offers men a different vision.  Simon gives this description of Jesus: “He was neither passive nor oppressive.   He was fierce yet gentle, authoritative yet humble.  He protected the weak, challenged corruption and served the outcast.  His strength was not wielded for his own gain but for the good of others.  And he ultimately laid down his life – not out of weakness, but out of the greatest strength of all: the strength to love sacrificially.”  

A desire for “heroic” masculinity can be seen as a longing for cruciform masculinity, “because true heroism has always been about sacrifice, and there is no greater sacrifice than the cross.”  If women in our culture are looking for a heroic masculinity, there is no need to look to self-proclaimed alpha males.  We need men who are shaped by Christ.  “Their strength is not for power, but for service.  Not for control, but for love.  Not for status, but for sacrifice.”  

So, the question of how to bring back heroic masculinity without bringing back toxic masculinity is for men being formed in the image of Christ.  Simon wonder, “maybe the problem isn’t that we have too much masculinity.  Maybe we don’t have enough of the right kind.  We need more men shaped by the sacrificial love of Christ, more men who know their power is for protecting, not exploiting.  More men called to a greater story than their own success.”  

Then as a younger male, Simon makes this statement that is a challenge to me as an “old guy.”  “Maybe that’s why Gen. Z men like me are staying in church.  In a culture that is confused about our purpose, the church tells us, we are responsible, needed, and called to something higher.  We are looking for purpose, direction and identity – and we are finding it in the example of Jesus.”  

As an “old guy” who has been blogging on “the wildman journey,” I sense a move of God among young men, who are seeking a “safe place” where they can “rub shoulders” with older seasoned men who have walked with the Lord through the “thick and thin” of modern life, and still have a confident, humble, winsome walk with the Lord.  I sense that the author of this article, Luke Simon is such an individual.  

Peter seemed to be addressing such a “safe place” among men when he said, “You who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another.” ( I Peter 5:5). Peter is speaking to a right order of mutual sharing among men expressed in humility.  Gen. Z hungers for such a space among men.