There are a lot of bad ideas out there on what it means to be a man. Our culture sends us all kinds of mixed and harmful messages about what manhood is. Unfortunately, many Christian books on manhood are equally flawed and yet disturbingly popular (Wild At Heart would be a prime example of this!). Thankfully there are some excellent, challenging and most importantly, Biblical, books available out there on manhood. One classic that I recommend is Kent Hughes, Disciplines of A Godly Man. Dan Doriani's Life of a God-Made Man is another excellent, grace-centered book that will profit any man who reads it. Now I am thankful that I can add a third book to that list, Richard Phillips' new book, The Masculine Mandate: God's Calling for Men.
Richard Phillips is a pastor, a husband & father, and a former military officer who cares about the church, and the way the church is weakened when men don't follow God's calling. He writes that "the purpose of this book is to provide straight, clear, and pointed teaching on what the Bible says to men as men. I write this, not looking down on today's guy--thankfully, I am neither old enough nor grumpy enough for that yet! - but as a brother in Christ who believes the Bible and has had reason (both personal and pastoral) to search God's Word for guidance on manhood. This is a journey I have been on for quite a while." (pp. xiv).
Phillips divides the book into two sections. The first section is called, "Understanding Our Mandate". In this section, he takes us back to the account in Genesis of the creation of man in order to see what we can learn from the design and calling of man in that narrative. He argues that from Adam's calling, we see the calling for all godly men - to work and keep the `garden' that God has place us in. Does that sound boring? The author would argue, "No"! "For it is in obedience to Scripture that the adventure of a man's life truly begins. God calls us to bear His image in the real world, in this garden that has become corrupted by sin but is being redeemed by the power of God's grace in Christ. He calls us to do this by being leaders and servants in the ultimate cause of displaying God's glory and bearing the fruit of God's love in real relationships. That is the Masculine Mandate: to be spiritual men placed in real-world, God-defined relationships, as lords and servants under God, to bear God's fruit by serving and leading." (pp. 9).
For most men, their identity is tied up in their work. Phillips also establishes the idea, again from Scripture, that men are designed and called to work. "God placed Adam in the garden and put him to work. Therefore, because God is good and has chosen to be glorified through our labor, we are able to enjoy work and find a significant part of our identity in it. In fact, as we keep work in proper balance, retaining our primary identity in Christ, God wants us to invest significant passion in our work and find true meaning in it." (pp. 18). Phillips recognizes that from the Fall, work is now a challenge due to sin and the other effects of the Fall, as promised in Gen. 3:17-19. And he lists some considerations that men must have as they approach, choose, and evaluate their work, broadly categorized as: Glorify God, Serve Others, Calling and Enjoyment, Material Needs, and Godly and Balanced Life. (pp. 22-23). The first section winds down with a chapter on how being made in the image of God determines our calling and concludes with a chapter comparing our calling as men, to be leaders in the model Scripture uses most, that of a shepherd-lord. I especially appreciated this chapter, with it's focus on David as a Shepherd-King, and of course, how our Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, led by sacrifice for the good of those he loved! If you currently base your idea of what a leader should be by reading many of the leadership bestsellers out there (Christian and secular), then you really need to read this chapter!
After establishing the Biblical and theological basis for this Masculine Mandate in the first half of the book, the second section, "Living Our Mandate", fleshes out what this should look like for us in our marriages, in fatherhood, in our friendships and in the church. These chapters are both convicting, and yet very encouraging and very hopeful. His three chapters on marriage give the design for marriage, the reason marriage is so hard (hint - sin is involved!), and how God redeems marriage, and how a man who desires to follow God, can lead and love His wife. One very powerful illustration he gave hit me hard: "When Paul says that a husband must embrace self-sacrifice for the sake of his wife's well-being, this of course includes her physical safety. But the main threat against which a man must protect his wife is his own sin. A friend once expressed his awakening to this truth in these words: `I used to think that if a man came into my home to attack my wife, I would certainly stand up to him. But then I came to realize that the man who enters my house and assaults my wife every day is me, through my anger, my harsh words, my complaints and my indifference. As a Christian, I came to realize that the man I needed to kill in order to protect my wife is myself as a sinner.' This is exactly right." (pp. 87).
If you really want to learn and follow what God has called you to be as a man in this fallen world, this book would be a great place to start. And if enough men read something like this, and seek God's strength, mercy and grace to follow it's teaching, we might see our churches renewed, our families and marriages strengthened, and our witness magnified before a watching world. Are you man enough to read it? (Sorry, couldn't resist!)
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Am Christian Man, How Does That Look in a Culture Talking About Toxic Masculinity?
This book works well in todays culture that is becoming more against men and raising up women. Constantly we are told how terrible men are in political arenas, that we are problem dad's, TV shows that make men look stupid, and so on. This book shows how God designed men to operate in all areas of life. Included the table of contents and recommend this book to people that have a heart all in for Jesus Christ. To the male at any age above mid teens, to women's that want to learn the male role and how that compliments their roles. This is an excellent book if you are young, but no matter what age you are at, this will speak volumes to you and done so with scripture taught in context of His Word that must be held to the highest standard, if we are truly seeking His ways above our desires and wants. Lastly, I recommend this book to the person who does not consider themselves a Christian yet. See how the Creator God has designed things to operate. So often the scripture you hear is for women to submit to their husbands. This book will show you the great responsibility put on the man's shoulders and submission is to a Godly man that submits to God's ways, even to death for his wife. That a husband that lives in Godly marriage is sacrifice to his wife, not demanding of his wife, then the understanding will start to seep in.
Top reviews from other countries
Amazon Customer
simply life changing!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 7, 2014althusian
A good shot at the topic
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 25, 2018