Masculinity & Power

The theme of masculinity keeps coming back at the moment ... what does it mean to be a man after God's heart? This is a lifelong quest, but some recurring themes:

1. Humble ourselves before God and let him elevate us when we're ready. If we don't understand this we will probably try to force our way to prominence and status.
2. Don't be afraid of true spiritual power - the godly power that comes only through continually being broken and humbled before God (modelled perfectly by Jesus). As soon as we start to wield it away from that humble & broken place, the power becomes destructive.
3. Let others clamber onto the platforms and pedestals, but we must be willing to stand there ourselves if God elevates us.
4. There is a place, indeed an urgent need, for men to live and act with boldness and courage, but it begins, once again, with daily brokenness and true humility before God.

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up when the right moment comes." (1 Peter 5:7)

Men are often afraid to be powerful for a number of reasons ... perhaps including

1. Fear of our own strength. Many men have never been initiated into manhood and have not experienced their own strength, so when it begins to surface, it is like being handed a sword or a weapon for the first time - there is an instinctive desire to wield it, but a fear of doing damage. Maybe better not to wield it at all, we might think. There's got to be more to life than staying out of trouble!!
2. Fear of humiliation by other men, or by women. Sadly, just as there are ungodly forms of male power, there are also ungodly forms of female power.
3. Despair. Thoreau said "most men lead lives of quiet desperation". We fear we've come too far along the road to begin all over again and rediscover what has been lost by early life lack. NO! There is always a new beginning!

THERE'S GOT TO BE MORE!

Comments? Thoughts?

Comments

[Caroline]

Hmm

question one: why men?

question two: what's your evidence that men are fearful of power?

question three: is there, lurking somewhere, and assumption here that power is to be considered in terms of "power over"? Could we create, together, "power to"? and what would the difference be like?

[Richard L]

Caroline ... to take your questions in turn ...

1. There is a place to address and consider one's own gender, even if the insights gained apply to both. Maybe these questions have a particular weight for men, as men have often been holders and abusers of power.

2. In the church I see men being afraid to step into leadership positions, being afraid of strong women around them, of being afraid of their own strength.

3. Very good question ... and a helpful distinction. The pendulum has swung the other way to some degree and people are often afraid to talk of power as it has such a bad name and is so often abused.

[l. koons]

intriguing thoughts

[Ramone]

Have you read "Wild at Heart" or "The Sacred Romance" by John Eldredge?

[Richard L]

I've read "Wild at Heart" and have dipped into "The Sacred Romance" ... yes , they certainty stirred me up a lot!