As expected there has been a great deal of discussion regarding the results of the election.  Personally the results have confirmed views I have expressed on masculinity.  Of special interest to me are the voting trends of young men and male minorities.  While I have remained steadfast in my neutrality, due to the deep political divide in our culture, and my commitment to Jesus and his Kingdom as the ultimate answer, I find the “gender gap” phenomenon of great interest.  There is much that is insightful for the “wild man” journey.

I must confess, bringing clarity to the discussion is not my strength.  However, there is so much which is obvious that I feel I can share.  Much of what I have absorbed, as a elderly, white, Christian male has been reinforced by my wonderful wife of 59 years.  I consider our deep discussion on gender roles a valuable point of reference for younger men, trying to make sense of “the gender wars” of our day.  So this could lead into a series of blogs. 

First, Aaron Renn’s observations.  He observes, “As had been said by others, there’s a difference between being a good man and being good at being a man.  Masculine virtues and expectations are not exactly amoral, but can often be expressed in both good and bad ways.”  Using the attempted assassination of Trump and his now iconic shout of “fight, fight,”  Renn believes “Trump’s courage under actual fire helps to explain his appeal to men, especially young men.”  For me personally, while acknowledging Mr. Trump’s moral flaws and lack of Christian character, I raise up in admiration when He want to fight for “the little, forgotten guy” and the neglected American.

Renn, using anthropologist David Gilmore’s work, notes, “Trump, for all his flaws, models many traditional masculine attributes that young men would do well to adopt.”  The former president is “high energy” and competitive, challenging young men who are getting launched.  He is “in the arena” willing to take substantial public risks.  He is capable of what Gilmore calls “absolute freedom of movement,” that is, he will press on despite overwhelming opposition.  And as Renn notes, “He even went back to hold another rally at the place where he was shot.”  Older and younger men, who are followers of Jesus need to be “engaged,” “in the arena” and willing to “press on” no matter what the cost.  As a man I admire Trump for this tough-nosed qualities.

Here is some sound advise from Renn.  “Young men must wed Trump’s masculine attributes to greater moral integrity and a mature style…. assertive manhood is not inherently toxic.  Even conservatives have too often equated being a good man with being a dutiful doormat.  Healthy masculinity is agentic, aggressive, competitive, courageous, and generous, productive,  moral and dignified.  Men need not consider these values to be in conflict.”

As a senior, who has lived through the cultural wars of the 60’s down through the present age, I know from personal experience of Gilmore’s conclusion that “cultures generally define manhood as an earned status.”  My favorite way of expressing masculinity in our day, is for men to see themselves as both “the lion” and “the lamb” (that is, tough and tender).  Jesus was the perfect lamb sacrificed for our sin, yet he is “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Rev. 5:5). The Revelation declares the Lamb as overcoming. “They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of Lords and King of King” (Rev. 17:14).  We are his followers are learning to tough and tender.

Chapter 12 of Ezekiel records two dramatic prophecies.  The first (3-16) is an enactment of God’s people going into exile.  The second (17-28) dramatizes the stress that is experienced by the impending disaster.   In verse 18 the Lord informs Ezekiel, “Son of man, tremble as you eat your food.  Drink your water with fear, as if it were your last.”  Ezekiel was to give this message to the people because, “they will eat their food with trembling and sip their tiny portions of water in utter despair, because their land will be stripped bare on account of their violence” ( 19).  God was asking Ezekiel to roleplay a captive in Jerusalem at the time of the siege on the city.  God was giving fair warning regarding the stress and anxious in the days ahead.  Could this apply to our nation?  Will we experience a collective collapse emotionally and spiritually?    

Then in verses 21-28 the prophet warns the people that judgment was about to come.  Less than six years after these warnings were given, Jerusalem would be captured.  The people had come to believe an often-quoted proverb, “Times passes, making a lair of every prophet” (22).  But Ezekiel was to give a new meaning to the proverb, replacing the contemporary proverb. “The time has come for every prophecy to be fulfilled” (23).  God does not favor all “the false visions and misleading predictions about peace in Israel. (12:24).  The Lord declares, “For I am the Lord!  What I threaten always happens.  There will be no more delays, you rebels of Israel!  I will fulfill my threat of destruction in your own lifetime” (25).

The Lord spoke further about the apathy of the people.  “Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, ‘His visions won’t come true for a long, long time'” (27).   But God wants them to know there will be, “No more delay! I will now do everything I have threatened! I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken.” (28). There was a dismissive attitude about the words of Ezekiel, in which the people acknowledged the prophet’s words, but really wondering if his timing was off.  The people could not fathom the fall of Jerusalem.  In effect, they were saying “Right word, but wrong timing, Ezekiel.  Good try!” But the Lord who gives the word will also bring it to pass, without fail.   

Recently my wife and I were on a spiritual retreat with another couple we have known for many years.  We had plenty time alone. During one of those times, I felt I was being asked to answer three questions.  Each of these relate to this passage in Ezekiel.  1) Are you ready? 2) How are you preparing? and 3) Are you willing to suffer?  I would like to reflect on each three questions for men in the light of our cultural propensity to avoid the thought of God’s eminent judgment on our nation.

First, are we ready.  Jesus warns us, “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” ( Matt. 24:44).  We are not the follow Jesus as “part-timers.”  We need to be all in for the long haul.

Secondly, are we prepared?  Remember the story of the ten virgins?  Only the virgins who had enough oil in their lamps were able to meet the bridegroom.  Men, do we have enough “oil” in our spiritual lamps for the days to come?

Thirdly, are we willing to stand and suffer.  Jesus warned, “All men will hate you because of me.  But not a hair of your head will perish.  By standing firm you will gain life” (Luke 21:17-19). Our confidence is in Jesus, but the coming days will bring stormy weather.