Men’s Conference Session Four (Phil Johnson)
April 14th, 2007
(Notes by Nathan Busenitz)
Phil will speak today on acting like men in the church.
There has been an enormous amount of activity in evangelicalism in recent years to address the gender gap in the church. If we look at evangelicalism today, it seems that evangelicalism today is committed to feminine truths. If men will embrace a feminine approach to relationships and spirituality then they are welcome in the church. Everything, even the tone of the preacher, is expected to be soft—more-suited to the sewing circle than anything else. Accuracy and plain speaking has been devalued, and replaced with a love affair for things like the seeker-sensitive movement.
Where does the “seeker-sensitive” movement fit into the biblical description of what the church should be? It doesn’t. It is an effeminate approach to Christianity and the biblical depiction of the church. And it is about to get worse with the emerging church — where truth is not held with courage and conviction. What we see today, instead of reflecting biblical Christianity, is a movement toward ear-tickling, truth-softening, and effeminization.
By every statistic that you could use to measure the evangelical church today, churches are becoming more and more dominated by feminine themes: personal relationships, emotional hurts, etc. As these trends have grown over the last two to three decades, real men are becoming less likely to become part of the church. Of course, the problem is far worse in liberal churches than in evangelical churches, but that should tell us what the end result of this trend will be. The problem is also worse in Europe. And this tells us where the American church is headed.
The involvement of men in the church is decreasing (within evangelical circles). Ministries like the Promise Keepers and books like Wild at Heart and The Five Love Languages, Men’s Edition do exist, but most of these (even in addressing manhood) are either effeminate or childish (promoting boyhood fantasies, not biblical masculinity).
Evangelical publishers are some of the worse culprits in keeping this trend going. Since women buy some 75% of the evangelical books published in America, publishers are primarily interested in publishing books that appeal to women. Thus the push to feminize everything in the church is a driving force in the Christian publishing industry.
At this point, Phil shared several anecdotes from his experiences in publishing to validate his point regarding evangelical publishers. He continued by noting that the problem is getting worse. In fact, it is so bad that publishers have recognized the problem and are beginning to publish books for men like Why Men Hate the Church.
It is clear that there is a problem, and it is primarily the church’s problem.
A few clarifications:
(1) This is not a rant against women, or against feminine values (in the sense of biblical femininity). The crisis in the church is not primarily the fault of women, who have somehow moved the focus of the church away from men. Rather, the fault lies at the feet of men who have turned the church over to women. The problem is with Christian men who are not manly enough to balance the equation.
(2) The solution to all of these problems cannot come from the top down – it needs to come from laymen. It is the duty of every Christian man to be fervent in his devotion to Christ. If this were to happen, the tide would change, and the trends would reverse. Moreover, there is a serious problem in the leadership of many evangelical churches – as seen recently when the leader of the largest coalition of evangelicals in our nation was caught in an adulterous homosexual relationship. So this has to be a movement that begins at the grass roots level.
(3) The problem we are talking about is not brand new. It is an age-old problem. But what we are seeing today is especially significant, and we’ve seen it coming. This movement has been in the works since soon after the end of the Puritan age. Since then, men have been more “refined” and “sophisticated” than the Scripture itself. So, instead of taking firm stands and preaching to one another about error, they had “dialogues” about truth – such that pulpits became soft and the truth watered-down.
Charles Spurgeon exemplified the convicting, manly approach to Christian living that is in keeping with biblical masculinity. Spurgeon was thought to be too harsh even in his own day. And yet, 150 years later, we are still reading Spurgeon. He still speaks to our generation. But all of the soft, wishy-washy, relativistic preachers of Spurgeon’s day have been forgotten.
Spurgeon urged the men in his congregation to pattern themselves after the perfect Man, Jesus Christ.
Biblically, when we are talking about manliness, we are talking about character. We are not talking about bravado, or boyishness. It’s not about style at all. Going out into the woods and getting in touch with nature has nothing to do with real, biblical manliness. Real manliness is defined by Christlike character.
In Ephesians 4:11–12, we find that when Christ ascended to heaven He gave gifts to His church. And the gifts that He gave are men. This passage is not just speaking of the offices, but of the specific individuals, the men, who fill those offices. It is clear from this text that Christ gave these men to the church. That is the point of the passage.
Verse 12 is saying that God gave these gifts to the church for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ. That is not three separate ideas (expressed in those results). Rather, it is the long progression of a single idea. The saints are equipped so that they can do the work of the ministry so that the church can be built up.
It is the saints, not the clergy, who are tasked with the edification of the church. It is not the job of the clergy to do all the work of the ministry. Their job is to equip lay-people who will then go forward and do the work of the ministry.
Notice in verse 13 the emphasis on the “perfect man.” Paul deliberately uses the word for “man” in this verse. He is talking about manhood here, in this case perfect manhood. And he describes perfect manhood in verse 14 and 15.
Verse 13 tells us what perfect manliness is.
Verse 14 tells us what perfect manliness does.
Verse 15 tells us how perfect manliness works.
Following these three points…
1. What perfect manliness is (v. 13).
Perfect manliness is summed up in Christ. The phrases in this verse are parallel and synonymous, meaning that they all reiterate the same thing in quick succession. Thus, Christ Himself is the incarnation of perfect manhood and masculinity. We as men need to be conformed to His likeness, which is what sanctification is all about.
We could spend hours, maybe weeks, unpacking Christ’s masculinity. Since we do not have time to do that, we can begin by noting that the effeminate, “meek and mild” picture of Jesus that is often portrayed by the modern church does not fit the picture presented in the four gospels. In Scripture, when Jesus speaks, He is deliberately provocative. When He speaks to those who oppose Him, He is always blunt, confrontational, and very bold. He attacks lies and insincerity without any kind of velvet gloves.
This is not to say He is not gracious. But He responds to hypocrites and deliberate sinners with clarity and zeal. He even cleansed the Temple on two separate occasions. He showed righteous indignation. The point is: no one who knew Jesus would have never confused Him for a wimp. He was not, of course, some type of ruffian. But His character was in perfect balance — both gracious and courageous.
This is what men in the church, meaning every man in the church, must be pursuing.
2. What perfect manliness does (v. 14).
In verse 14, Paul focuses in on one specific characteristic that he believes marks true manliness – being anchored in the truth. Those who are spiritually immature are tossed to and fro by every kind of doctrine. Spiritual men, on the other hand, stand firm in truth. They are doctrinally stable.
If we are going to be stable doctrinally, we need to be certain about what we believe. We have to be able to stand firm against the cunning trickery of every fad, and also against the wiles and snares of the devil. Satan may tempt us to put aside biblical and doctrinal clarity, but we must be able to make wise and careful evaluations of such things. We must be true men in the sense that counts the most—our grasp of the truth.
Many of the metaphors in Scriptures involve manly figures: warriors, athletes, farmers. These are intentionally manly figures, especially in Bible times when there were no female warriors or athletes. These picture the protection of the truth, and they illustrate the essence of true manliness.
We need to quit buying into little boyish fantasies (like thinking that masculinity is defined as a battle to fight, an adventure to go on, or a beauty to win). Instead we need to focus on true manliness: contending earnestly for the truth and exposing doctrinal error. Real men are steadfast and sure, confident in what they believe. Real men stand against popular opinion for the sake of the truth, and they do it whenever the need arises.
Real men understand the truth well and they are devoted to it. This does not happen to lazy people. It requires diligence to move out of adolescence into this type of mature manhood.
3. How perfect manliness works (v. 15).
Paul puts the stress in this verse on “speaking the truth in love.” In the pastoral epistles, Paul continually exhorts Timothy to be courageous and be a man. Timothy, apparently, had a proclivity not to be as courageous as he should be. But, even in his strong challenge to Timothy, Paul cautioned Timothy not to pick fights unnecessarily (cf. 2 Tim. 2:22ff).
We are to fight for the truth. But we are to do it, as much as possible, with humility and love. Always speak the truth in love. To be able to do this, even in the midst of contending boldly for the truth, is the pinnacle of perfect manliness. Yet, the emphasis on love is in perfect balance with the imperative “speak the truth.” There is nothing right or manly about stifling the truth (or toning it down), even though we are to speak the truth in love.
When we do this faithfully, even in a loving way, we will encounter opposition. Those whom we confront will sometimes respond with anger and hatred. But that’s okay, the world hated Jesus too.
To be bold for the truth, in the pattern of Christ Himself, that is the measure of true masculinity.
Overall, a good set of notes and I hope and pray that genuine Christian men will appropriate Biblical Truth to their lives. To me, they are the examples because they ARE the leaders (women are not called to be leaders in the church or the home, but that does not mean that women do not possess leadership skills). It’s unfortunate that I have witnessed to many Christian men not care at all about how their example effects their leadership. And perhaps that is why some women rebell. I have been turned off towards marriage because of the treatment I have received from plenty of Christian men starting with my own Christian family in which I have 2 older brothers and my dad. I endured constant criticism growing up and hardly witnessed a man loving a woman and respecting her.
When I was slandered grossly and harrassed by a so-called Christian man that I met at a Southern Baptist Church (because I rejected him romantically), my “lack of forgiveness” was highlighted rather than his gross, filthy slanderous words in several letters that he sent me. In other words, what he did was swept under the carpet, but my “sin” (lack of forgiveness) was put up in neon signs. That is what you call a serious lack of accountability. No wonder we have bad leadership. I was in communication with the church but to no avail. So it’s not just Christian men who hate church. I don’t care for it either if this is the nonsense I encounter. To bring balance to this, I will say I have met some very Godly men who have set a wonderful example, so I am not trying to bash men here only what I have personally experienced and this is why we have problems everywhere……….it is a lack of accountablity and responsibility for one’s behavior. Too many people (men and women) pass the buck or cast blame to excuse their actions forgetting that all of us are responsible to God for our own actions.
“Wild at Heart” is a ridiculous book and a waste of time. Although I have never read the book, the whole focus of the book (from what I have heard)is wrong. Today what men need is strength and courage to confront error like you said Phil. But that all important strength and courage MUST be balanced with tenderness and compassion unless you are confronting hypocrites like those in Matt. 23. I agree that we need more and more men who care deeply for the Truth because they are passionately convicted by it and have the courage to wholeheartedly stand up for it. Today we obviously live in a politically correct world filled with tolerance. But Chrisitans are not to compromise the Truth and yet too many do because I suppose it’s more convenient or it’s easier to just get along than to make enemies. The truth divides and it’s naturally offensive because it attacks the biggest enemy of God………..PRIDE!!!
This ecumenical movement is straight from the pit of Hell and it must be confronted with boldness and courage. So is the seeker-sensitive and emergent as well. I don’t have a whole lot of experience with the emergent church…….in fact I have never even heard of the men who lead the emergent church because my focus has been compromise with Rome which is happening all around us and that is Satanic.
I hope that we will encourage one another daily to live as we should live for I know how much I need it and that we will remember to walk in love always and that definitely is a challenge. The flesh is no good, and we have so much to battle and the task of living out our faith and walking in obedience is a task for all authentic Christians, men and women.
Possibly one of the most insightful, pertinent articles I have ever read. However, I do think you left one thing out in this analysis – the feminisation of worship music.
I’m mainly thinking of Hillsong here, and its countless imitators. I do like Hillsong on the whole, but sometimes it seems like their songs ask us to sing about Jesus as though he was your boyfriend. A tad wrong, really.
Hillsong is basically worship by middle-aged women for middle-aged women. Nothing wrong with that, but there isn’t much out there for the rest of us.
Am I the only one who sees this constant focus on our walk with Jesus as a romance, as off-kilter?
I attended a women’s retreat this weekend. During one conversation over lunch the ladies at my table all agreed that we desired to encourage and support our husbands (and sons) in Godly masculine thinking, behavior, and leadership.
It was interesting to note that each of the women in this conversation attended college and have in the past successfully worked outside of the home. They aren’t–as some might imagine or hope–women who would be considered “weak” or “doormats”.
They are women who understand and agree with God’s design for men. Thanks for posting this!
Just wanted to add that we women can/should play a HUGE part in supporting our men (husband, father, son, brother, etc.) who are “acting like men in the church”. Too many times we are guilty of tempering their desire to stand for the truth, or their need to defend–and possibly offend. As women we must not sacrifice the eternal for our immediate comfort or superficial relationships.
“It is the saints, not the clergy, who are tasked with the edification of the church. It is not the job of the clergy to do all the work of the ministry. Their job is to equip lay-people who will then go forward and do the work of the ministry.”
Such a simple principle of the Bible, and yet so very missed by so many.
If the Church could learn this, then the Church woud be much, much healthier, in my thinking.
A lot of well spoken thoughts here. Very good teaching.
My friend, a terrific exposition of scripture. And you don’t see how Wild at Heart applies these truths?
I don’t believe that pursuing Christ’s nature and sanctification is only for men. Women and children are also to do this. Very sanctified men will not lead to very sanctified women and children. Men lead the household and church but they cannot change the hearts of women and children only Christ and do that. We are all accountable to Christ for our behavior and cannot put the blame for our own rebellion on our husbands if they are bad leaders. To equate being like Christ is manly is to then give leaniancy to woman and children to live below this standard. We are all to come out and be separated unto Christ in full obedience to Him and being servants to one another, renewing our minds through Scripture and prayer(giving up the tv which takes away every moral fiber). If we do this, we all will find our right places in the home and church. Paul Washer has a wonderful sermon that he preached on families and their roles and functions. I’m sorry that your women were not invited to hear these sermons. They need to know what to expect from their husbands and help keep them(their husbands) accountable in being good leaders.
Markk,
I just read this you wrote: “Hillsong is basically worship by middle-aged women for middle-aged women. Nothing wrong with that, but there isn’t much out there for the rest of us.” There is something terribly wrong with Christian music when it is for mankind. We are then singing to hear ourselves sing and to satisfy ourselves. Our worship should always be about God and for God otherwise it is humanistic and from the pit. So feel comfortable calling that sort of music for what it is…humanistic. This type of humanistic music doesn’t just come from women, however, men are just as guilty of lifting up mankind…it’s all about pride.
I can’t even relate how my stomach just twisted while reading this article.
“Feminine” equals “wishy-washy.” Bad preaching is “effeminate.”
A “feminine” approach means “a bad, compromising approach.”
“By every statistic that you could use to measure the evangelical church today, churches are becoming more and more dominated by feminine themes: personal relationships, emotional hurts, etc. As these trends have grown over the last two to three decades, real men are becoming less likely to become part of the church.”
So, if men are attending a church at is dominated by these feminine themes, they’re instantly ruled out as being a “real” men? I thought that real men wouldn’t be intimidated by anything, including those ghastly feminine churches.
I’m sure that many people will come to defend the article, and I have no problem with saying that churches are compromising and weak in many areas. But to call this a “feminization” of the church, as though female values are somehow wreaking the church is purely and utterly sexist.
Good, firm doctrine is “manly”? What? What? So, good firm doctrine is manly, but compromise is female and womanly?
I don’t even know how to express fully what I felt about this article.
Grace,
Thanks for your comment. Since I was the note-taker here, perhaps I can respond on a couple levels.
First, Phil took pains to clarify the fact that his message was not attacking biblical femininity. His first point of clarification made this very clear (more clear than even my notes reflect). Phil would never devalue what God Himself sets forward as the high calling of women (in passages like Proverbs 31 and Ephesians 5).
Second, it must be remembered that Phil was addressing a group of men. Biblically, men are called to be masculine, not feminine. Phil’s words were intended not as an attack on femininity, per say, but as an attack on men who abandon their masculine role for a feminine one. (Phil clearly said the primary fault here lies not with women, but with men who have abandoned their God-given responsibilities.) Since God has given men and women distinct roles, it is inappropriate for either gender to abandon the role God has given to them or to usurp the role of the other.
Third, Phil was correct in noting that God designed the church to be lead by men, not women (cf. 1 Cor. 14:34; 1 Tim. 2:8–14). This may run counter to the thinking of our culture. But biblically it is in keeping with the way in which God designed the roles of men and women (cf. Gen. 2:18; Eph. 5:22–33). Ontalogically, women are absolutely equal to men (in terms of essence, worth, and value), but functionally they have different roles. By God’s design, men and women complement one another perfectly when they embrace the different roles that God has given to them.
Thus, when the church becomes characterized by culturally effeminate themes, to the exclusion of biblical masculinity, it indicates that something is very out-of-balance. This is the problem Phil was pointing out. And the solution is for men to start fulfilling their God-given responsibilities–to start acting like men.
Anyway, I hope that helps clarify Phil’s point. I can assure you he was not being prejudicial against women. And I do apologize to Phil if my notes conveyed something other than what he was truly saying.
Thanks,
NB
Nathan,
Your clarification, while excellent, was really unnecessary. Your initial post was very clear. If anyone truly misunderstood, it’s due to them reading into the text rather than out of it.
Also, those of who listen to or read Phil regularly know he would never insult women or biblical feminity as Grace alleges.
Thanks for covering this topic. As a woman, I see this as a huge problem in today’s churches.
Regards,
Pam
There are many good points in this article. There are many points that concern me. I went to Grace Community Church for a long time. Some of the treatment towards others was appalling. The way some leaders dealt with other leaders was far from loving. There seems to be a, “lump everyone into one mold” style of understanding people. Any deeper reflection seems to be seen as having a psychological influence.
My real question to the leadership at GCC is what position do “feelings” have in the church for men? Most men I run into seem emotionally illiterate. This significantly impacts personal relationships. How can one deeply love God and others as we should in ALL forms of Christian truth communication when a man has not confronted his heart issues in Christ?
Does God take away all past personal issues when coming to a saving knowledge of Christ? If a man had a father who was an alcoholic and beat him with a tire rod, will he not have troubling issues relating to God and others? Does this experience magically go away at salvation? Why is it that so many “men” I’ve encountered in ministry at GCC seem scared to death to deal with what’s inside their heart relating to emotions? How many secrets are swept under the carpet with wives who have ulcers and children who act unloving towards others in a self-righteous manner?
I went to Grace Theological Seminary and saw many of these same traits as well. What’s the deal with all of this? It seems to me that it takes real courage to deal with inner pains and emotions rather than to pretend they don’t exist, or worse cast them onto others in the name of leadership.
Just my take.
Does anyone have a good book recommendation for me to lead the men in our church towards a biblical understanding of a man’s role in the church and towards biblical masculinity?
Does anyone have a good book recommendation for me to lead the men in our church towards a biblical understanding of a man’s role in the church and towards biblical masculinity?
Manly Dominion, by Mark Chanski published by Calvary Press
Wyatt and Wayne,
I reccomend “The Goldy Man’s Picture, Drawn with a Scripture Pencil” by Thomas Watson…..
great book on Manhood….
shaan
I second the recommendation of Chanski’s book. Mark is not only well qualified to write on the topic but his life explifies biblical masulinity (and, yes, he is still a sensitive guy
I carry “The Godly Man’s Picture” with me when I travel on business and can’t wait until my boys are old enough to read it.
-Bryan