Counsels on Self-Identity

Counsel #6 — Masculinity And Culture

Picture: Counsel #6 — Masculinity And Culture CI 79.1

Western culture often expects a man to enjoy adrenaline induced activities, improbable adventure movies, and sports. But real men can be soldiers, knitters, hunters, chefs, musicians, corporate leaders, poets, or sports heroes. Men can change diapers, build houses, race cars, decorate cakes or lead worship. They can be spider killers or arachnophobes. They can like pink checkered shirts or brown flannel shirts or white t-shirts. These types of externals do not make a man manly or unmanly. A person is a man because that’s how God created him — and his interests and preferences will range widely. Biblical masculinity doesn’t seek to emulate Jesus’ maleness, but rather His holiness.^[76] CI 79.2

“Having then gifts [talents, interests] differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.” Romans 12:6 NKJV CI 79.3

“The Lord does not desire that our individuality shall be destroyed; it is not His purpose that any two persons shall be exactly alike in tastes and dispositions. All have characteristics peculiar to themselves, and these are not to be destroyed, but to be trained, molded, fashioned, after the similitude of Christ. The Lord turns the natural aptitudes and capabilities into profitable channels.” Ellen White in Our High Calling, p. 90 CI 79.4

Reflect: Do you find it freeing to learn that biblical masculinity is not dependent on society’s stereotypes? CI 79.5