Two recent surveys show a nation that is trending downward when it comes to optimism. The first is the American Psychological Association’s (APA) annual Stress in America survey.  Lynn Bufka, a clinical psychologist with the APA, called the level of shared stress among Americans “startling.”  ”A full 87% say that the rise of prices on everyday items due to inflation is a significant source of stress.”  Beyond this, 84% of respondents felt the Russian invasion of the Ukraine is “terrifying to watch.”

Further, a Marist College Poll survey showed a majority of Americans are “concerned that America’s moral compass is pointed in the wrong direction.”  “Some 72% of Americans say the nation’s moral compass is pointed in the wrong direction, while only 22% say it’s pointed the right way.” Among Christians, 74% agree that the nation is moving in the wrong direction morally, while 69% of those who don’t practice a religion agree.

The APA believes that “living through historic threats like these often has a lasting, traumatic impact on generations.” They feel it is important to “provide help to everyone who needs it” and suggest “evidence-based treatment.”  However, the Marist Poll also found that “some 79% of Americans reported turning to their family for moral guidance, including 83% of Christians.  The report notes that “Americans actually find themselves looking to family more often than religious teachings when looking for sources of moral guidance.”

My interpretation of these conclusions suggests help comes from two primary sources: “healthcare professionals” and family.  Family points in the direction of trusted relationships and community. My contention is that in the days to come, those committed to Jesus and his kingdom will need strong communities of faith to remain strong in their convictions and witness.

I cannot stress how important it is for any man who is still living a “lone ranger” spirituality to realize how much he needs a believing community.  It is vital for your family as well.  You will need to band together with other believing families to withstand the opposition you will be facing.  It is going to get darker.  We will need to be surrounded by “children of light.” “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Live as children of light…” (see Eph. 5:8-10). 

I personally sense the stress level rising in our nation.  Anxiety increases as people realize they are being lied to by the dominant cultural narrative.   People are confused by “misinformation.”  “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness” (Is. 5:20).   The Lord is saying, “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Eph. 5:14).

Sleepwalkers avoid the truth, while being swayed by deception.  Jesus said, “whoever lives by the truth comes into the light” (John 3:21).  Those asleep are being influenced by false prophets, who say all the right things to enhance a false narrative of unreality.  Jesus warned us of this danger: “Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity.  Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other.  Don’t be impressed with charisma: look for character” (Matt. 7:15-16 – Message).  

“Walk by the light you have,” Jesus reminds us, “so darkness doesn’t destroy you.  If you walk in darkness, you don’t know where you’re going.  As you have the light, believe in the light.  Then the light will be within you and shining through your lives.  You’ll be children of light” (John 12:35-36 – Message).  My advice, surround yourself with “children of light.”

Recently, I ran across an article that prompted me to say, “This author expresses my very sentiments about masculinity and femininity.”  “Endangered Words” by Diane Woerner is such an article. She writes about “the price we’re paying for vanishing masculinity and femininity.”  What a joy to find a relatively unknown author expressing so clearly and passionately the importance of masculinity and femininity.  Her words are a breath of fresh air for my male soul.  You can read them at www.salvomag.com. 

Woerner writes, “We live in a bizarre world where we’re told that we can choose whatever sexual identity we like…but behind this, there is the quiet but insistent message that classical masculinity is toxic and classical femininity is really masculinity restrained.”  She has come to believe that “few words are as maligned and yet as precious as masculinity and femininity…we are being deceived into thinking these words are ours to refashion however we will.”

Woerner write that she wants to shout from the mountaintops, “These words don’t belong to us!  They belong to our Creator!” But in our day these very words are “being dismantled.” “Human sexuality needs to be viewed with God at the center, not ourselves. How does God view sexuality, not how we would want to redefine it in our own terms.”  She expresses a profound truth in simple terms when she says, “men can actually be both masculine and feminine” – the same for women.  “Masculinity and femininity are essentially defined “by their roles or assignments.” Both find their “fullest sense” in each other.  

Going deeper, Woerner writes, “The Bible clearly describes Christ as masculine, [but] his church as feminine…God intends the proper relationship between human husbands and wives to serve as a visible representation of the divine/human relationship.”  She gives the following example: “Men are masculine in their relationship with their wives but feminine in their relationship with Christ.  Women are feminine in relationship to both their husbands and Christ, but masculine in their relationship with their young children.” 

Woerner’s hope is that her “thoughts and ideas might seep deeply into your mind and heart, not only to give you some defense against the lies, but also to provide a more solid grounding as you…accept your assignment as a man and woman and thereby discover the joy of becoming aligned with the amazing design of our wise and good Creator.”   

C.S. Lewis has reminded us that “gender is a reality and a more fundamental reality than sex.  Sex is, in fact, merely the adaptation to organic life of a fundamental polarity which divides all created beings.”  Gender, masculine and feminine, have a transcendent nature that points to God, who (as Leanne Payne wrote) is so masculine that we are all feminine in relation to Him.  

I intend to fight for the biblical validity of these words (masculine and feminine).  My masculine soul began to be renewed and restored when I first began to digest Payne’s teaching on the masculine soul.  

Two observations from Woerner’s article continue to motivate me to be a voice crying out in our dysfunctional culture wilderness.  The first is that every man has both masculine and feminine tendencies within himself.  While the masculine, being proactive is more prominent, each man also needs to learn how to respond (feminine) to the voice of God, that is, being tough and tender, or being a lion and lamb.  

Secondly, husbands and wives serve “as a visible representation of the divine/human relationship” (see Eph. 5:31-32).  Men, this is where the real spiritual work takes place.  May God help us to live out this relationship with our wives.