America's Crisis: The Death of Masculinity (Part 4)

This article marks the conclusion of the series directed at the tragic loss of real masculinity within out current society. This loss has become so extensive and has exacted such an enormous toll that we can scarcely envision what the revival of true masculinity according to God's criteria in Scripture would mean. However, as difficult as it might be, in this article I want to trace out just a few of the marvelous consequences of a restored manliness to the American male.

Generally, such a restoration would bring the establishment of order, righteousness, and a pervasive sense of well-being. This would not occur immediately nor would it happen apart from serious conflict. There would be considerable resistance to the insistence that standards be implemented and followed. But real masculinity would not be daunted by opposition. Rather, right is right and wrong is wrong - true masculinity insists that right be honored and wrong be banished and that those who attach themselves to wrong suffer the legitimate consequences of that attachment. By God's blessing, genuine men would persevere through difficulty to see righteousness and order restored. And great blessing would result.

But now to speak more specifically of what would transpire in our world should men begin to behave as true men and demand that other men do the same. Space forbids thoroughness, however, please consider four concrete areas of change:

1. True masculinity would compassionately, yet definitely, assume control over their families. Wives would be loved and treasured and nurtured and protected. They would be caused to know how critical their place is as manager of the household (1 Tim. 5:14; Titus 2:4,5). Husbands after the biblical model would strive with all diligence to have their wives laboring at home to oversee the household and especially to minister hands-on guidance to the growth and development of their children. Yet, men would not abandon their own personal involvement in this task. Faithful fathers assume responsibility for the character development and behavior of their own children with loving firmness.

2. True masculinity would bring honesty, fairness, dependability, and productivity back to the workplace and the marketplace. Management would demand honest labor but also compensate such labor with fair, even liberal, remuneration. Workers would produce honest, dependable labor with jealousy for the success of their employers. Loyalty would bind each to the other. Men would once again be bound to comply with their verbal commitments. Trust would be restored to commerce.

3. True masculinity would make compassionate provision for the genuinely poor and helpless. Voluntary charity would eliminate the need for government welfare except in the most extreme cases. Yet those too lazy to work would be left to suffer the very real consequences of their laziness. Help would be limited to opportunities for training and work.

4. True masculinity would demand the maintenance of civil justice and public decency. Supposed personal rights to deviate and immoral behavior would be made subordinate to the necessity of public peace, safety, and righteousness in keeping with God's absolute standard of righteousness (Ex. 20:1-17).

The point is that the revival of true masculinity would result in men becoming earnest about learning their place and their responsibilities, then applying themselves to do their duty with diligence. If men do not become earnest and assertive in these matters, who will fill their shoes? Our chaotic and collapsing society demonstrates the answer.