Carl Trueman, wrote an enlightening article about Phillip Rieff’s distinction between first, second and third worlds.  Rieff is know for his emphasis on the therapeutic self; a concept of happiness resulting from an inner, psychological happiness.  “Everything else,” notes Trueman, “must conform to my inward desires and pander to my personal needs.  There’s no need for me to fit into larger society and learn to behave in accordance with society norms.”   

Rieff is not interested in either geographics nor economics.  He rather is interested in the type of culture that societies embody.  Trueman believes Reiff’s paradigm helps us understand why the world seems so unstable and chaotic at this time. 

The first-world cultures, “are those in the past that build their moral orders on the basis of notions of fate or the gods.”  In this culture, fate is the controlling idea.  “It is not God as some transcendent being who is in charge, but it is still a force prior to the natural order and beyond the control of mere men and women, that make the rules.” 

The second-world cultures, “are those where the law has authority because it reflects the character of God.”  Second-world societies include Christendom and the world of Old Testament Judaism.  According to Rieff, “both first and second worlds justify their morality by appeal to something transcendent, beyond the material world.  But the second-world cultures appeal not only to supernatural power but to divine integrity.”  Our concepts of justice and mercy have been shaped by a biblical worldview.  “Rieff would say that in second-world cultures, the law has authority because it points beyond the culture and beyond fate to something sacred that grounds it.”

By the term third world, Rieff, “means that a society has moved into a completely secular mode.”  “In a secular society, law codes can only be justified and grounded in society itself.  There’s nothing beyond this society, and that makes law codes inherently unstable.”  When the sacred order is abandoned, cultures are left without any foundation at all.  A culture without a sacred order is left, “justifying itself only by reference to itself.”  This is what we see in our culture today.

As a result, society becomes incredibly unstable and in constant change.  We all sense this instability in our daily lives.  It is hard to live with second-world assumptions, while attempting to ground morality and ethics in higher divine authority in a third world setting.  The third world does not see the Bible as having any authority.  Trueman notes, “I think that’s where a lot of the communication breakdown” happens today. Living in the third world,  we are plagued by what Flannery O’Connor called “Christ-hauntedness.”

The goal of the second world was to help pagans see how Jesus was better than their dead idols.  But Trueman maintains, “While there’s still a place for exposing heart-idols in our own times, our goal in the third world must be to help our more secular friends see that their worldview lacks any firm foundation.”  While present day culture keeps shifting in its beliefs and values, Trueman challenges us to “model community life in the church that’s rooted in the Rock.”

All men who are followers of Jesus in our day, need the reminder that there are no “Lone Rangers.”  We witness to our secular culture  as a believing community.  Jesus who is the truth reminds us of the impact community has when He instructs us, “A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34-35) 

I have quoted Aaron Renn often in my blogs.  He has written some very thoughtful insights regarding masculinity.  He recently posted the following, about 10 healthy pillars for masculinity.  Renn describes these pillars as, “things on which life is built.”  He believes “America needs a new vision of a healthy masculinity fit for the 21st century.”  The 10 pillars are foundational pillars of the masculine life that a man needs to have as “part of is manhood repertoire.”  

See what you think of these pillars?  Are they part of your understanding as a man?  Do they fit into the lifestyle you have chosen for yourself?  What would you add or subtract from the list?  How are you challenged by this list?  Does it help clarify what are your foundational pillars in the present stage of your masculine journey?  Remember, there are a lot of voices telling men that we are toxic and have little relevance in our day.  Aaron Renn is a man to be respect as a spokesman for Christian men in our day. 

Here is his list.  I will make some personal observations from my life as one who has been on the journey for many years. 

1. Identity.  “If you don’t know who you are, you don’t know what to do.  ‘Who you are?’ is the most fundamental question of life.” – (One of my greatest insights has been simply this, “I  have a Father in heaven who delights in me.”  This has removed much of  my shame and guilt.)

2. Mission.  Each man should have a mission. – (I am thankful for receiving my “marching orders” at 18 to be a servant of the Lord Jesus.  It  still applies in my retirement years.  I simply want to be a humble, loving follower of Jesus.  It is more about being than doing.)

3. Agency.  “You have to believe that it is possible to take action to change you circumstances to the better, to take positive steps toward progress in your mission.” – (I thank God for his grace  and mercy enabling me to go through the dark times, where I grown the most as a man.)

4. Virtue.  This implies, “cultivating excellences across multiple dimensions of virtue” such as theological and cardinal virtues. – (I desire to continue in my character formation as a “godly man” in an unfriendly toxic culture.)

5. Knowledge.  “You need to know how the world works… not just how people tell you it works…. but how it actually does work.”- (I work daily at cultivating a “Christian worldview” that speaks to a negative culture.”)

6. Wisdom.  “You have to constantly grow in how to apply your virtue and knowledge in the right way in each situation.” – (With all my heart I want to be a faithful witness for the Lord no matter what the cost.  Darker days are coming for believers.)

7. Fraternity.  “Every man needs a band of brothers.” – (As of now I have two brother who I can absolutely trust. I need the voices of other men in my life.)

8. Family.  “Getting married and having kids is the normative path for men in life.”  – ( I am so thankful for prioritizing my family as being first in the earlier years of marriage and having three children.) 

9. Suffering   “Boxer Mike Tyson said, ‘Everybody’s got a plan till they get punched in the face.'”  – (I believe that the way to a man’s heart is through his pain. My humiliations have taught me the most.)

10.  Legacy.  “What are you going to leave behind when you are gone?  How will you have an impact in the world that extends beyond the span of your own life.”  – (I sincerely pray that my death will be a gift to my family.)