Uniquely Masculine

Introduction

Easy, a woman’s life and nature is rooted in and derived from the man (). The woman was not taken out of the ground (like the man). Instead, she was taken out of the man. Although she is not identical to the man, the woman is equal to the man. This means that there as aspects of manhood that are also a part of womanhood. It’s also true that there are aspects of womanhood that are distinct from manhood, and aspects of manhood that are uniquely masculine (for men). We are going to talk about those today.

What are some aspects of manhood that are uniquely masculine?

On last week we talked to you about the pathway to manhood, and we shared with you 3 essential aspects of that path (submission, strength and sacrifice). What I did not share with this congregation is the fact that many of these same things are also true concerning womanhood. In other words, there are essential aspects to manhood that are also common in womanhood. The reason there are aspects of a man’s development that are also common in a woman’s development is because a woman’s life is rooted in and derived from the man.

It seems that society has so latched on to the equality that exists between men and women that they have opted for more gender neutral terms that they have missed the important distinctions that exists between men and women. While God did intend to create male and female equal in nature, He also intended to make them different expressions of that nature. Our self identity is not just bound up in being human, but it is also bound up in being masculine or feminine. Our sexuality is closely tide to our personality and even our spirituality! It affects every facet of our personal and spiritual life.

Because the woman was taken from the man, and not from the ground, there are things concerning a man's life and development that are identical to that of a woman. Similarly, there are things concerning a man’s life and development that are distinct from that of a woman. Today, I want to look at those aspects that make men uniquely masculine.

The Bible teaches that men and women are expected to fulfill different roles, particularly in relation to each other. Moreover, these roles are not the result of sin. In other words, the roles and responsibilities of men and women were not created by sin, they were merely corrupted by sin. In particular, a man’s role in relation to his female counterpart can be traced back to the very beginning before the fall (, ).

It seems we have become so focused on gender equality that we have all but eliminated any distinctions that exist between men and women. We now live in a culture where people no longer identify as male or female. However, our personal identity is not just tied to being human. It is tied to being masculine or feminine. Personality, and even spirituality, is tied to our sexuality.

Maleness and femaleness (the way men and women express their sexuality) are equally good (fitting expressions of God’s nature). However, they are not identical expressions of God’s nature. Masculinity is not the same as femininity. What is unique about masculinity?

So, what is the meaning of masculinity? What makes men different from women? At the heart of masculinity is...

Masculinity Is Taking Responsibility

Unfortunately, most men do not understand that their masculinity has been entrusted to them by God. Moreover, this masculinity comes with a responsibility. The responsibility we have has men is not a right, but a duty and a reminder that they will one day be held accountable for this responsibility ().

A key aspect of masculinity is a willingness to take responsibility. Until a man fully embraces responsibility he has not matured in his masculinity.

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Sin has so distorted man’s masculinity that he either dodges responsibility or sees it as something that places him “in charge” or gives him an advantage over the rest of God’s creatures including the woman.

Every man needs to realize that the battle against sin is often fought in the arena of his masculinity. Moreover, one of the areas of his masculinity that is bound to come under attack is his sense of responsibility. Every man must fight to confront and own up to responsibility and not avoid it, AND fight not to see it as a means to gain an advantage over the woman!

Men, we must understand that our masculinity has come with responsibility, and that God will hold us accountable to this responsibility.

What is a man responsible for?

What responsibility has God given to men?

Masculinity Is Leading, Providing and Protecting

Men have a responsibility to lead.

To say that masculinity is feeling a sense of responsibility to provide doesn’t mean that men ought to be the sole breadwinner in the family, or even the primary breadwinner in the family. This is not about to dictating a particular pattern of labor in the home. It’s about men having a deep sense of responsibility to provide and understanding that God appointed the responsibility to labor in the field, or outside the home, to the man (, ).

Leading is not about being superior. It’s about order. In addition, leading doesn’t mean dominating, nor does it necessarily mean to command. It does mean to direct, inspire, initiate and, most importantly, serve.

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There are more ways to lead than by being vocal. You can lead by example. You are leading if you are helping people to move towards a specific goal. Any leadership that is not leading people towards a goal is not leadership!

The point of saying that men should feel a since of responsibility to provide for his wife and family is not women should not help in providing support. We live in a culture where women are not only a secondary breadwinner in the home, but in many cases they are the primary breadwinner in the home. To say that men should feel a sense a responsibility to provide means that that when there is no bread the man should feel the majority of the pressure to get it there. Remember it was God who first gave man the responsibility to till the ground (, ). Again, this is not intended to dictate a particular pattern of labor in the home. Instead, it is to suggest that men who are growing in their manhood should feel a deep sense of responsibility to provide for his family. If God was to hold someone accountable for a family’s provision, it would be the man.

Men also have a responsibility to provide. This doesn’t mean men must be the sole provider in the home, or even the primary provider. It does means that every man needs to have a deep sense of responsibility to provide for his family. The responsibility to provide is given primarily to the man.

Finally, every man has a God-given responsibility to protect (). The word “keep” means to protect. A man is maturing in his masculinity when he has a desire to protect. It is a distorted masculinity when a man refuses to accept danger for the purpose of protecting women and children.

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You don’t have to actively be providing for a wife and family to qualify as masculine. Circumstances can have you in a position where you are unable to provide (incarcerated, unemployed, sick, single, too young).

He doesn’t have to be actively protecting, providing and leading a woman (wife) to qualify as masculine. A man can be truly masculine even though circumstances do not have him in a position to lead or responsible for someone’s provision or protection. For example, the man may be incarcerated (prison), at war, unemployed, under employed, diseased, single or simply too young. None of this matters. What is needed is not a wife or a job, but a “sense” of responsibility. This sense will affect how “talks” about women, “relates” to them and even how he “respects” women ().

A man who is maturing in masculinity will (should) sense a God-given responsibility to protect.

You don’t need a wife or a job to be masculine. What you need is a sense of responsibility. You need to understand that as a man you are expected to stand in the place of leader and provider. You must be willing to accept this.

Finally, every man has a responsibility to protect.

Conclusion

The word “keep” means protect. A man is maturing in his masculinity when he has a deep sense of responsibility to protect. It’s a distorted masculinity when a man refuses to place himself in between the woman (his family) and danger, OR when he intentionally exposes them to danger. Any man who is causing or contributing to a woman’s feeling of insecurity or weakness is immature in his masculinity.

I want to point out that there are more ways to lead than simply being vocal or an organizer. You can lead by example. There are more ways to “provide” for a family than simply putting bread on the table. You can provide them with the “bread of life.” Also, there are more ways to protect a family than by standing between them and physical danger. You can protect them by standing (in intercession) between them and evil/Satan.

This “knowledge” (understanding) to accept responsibility to lead, provide and protect will affect how a man “talks” to women, “relates” to women and how he “treats” women!