While not shocking, Mark Driscoll riled up the social media world asking for stories about ‘effeminate’ anatomically male worship leaders. This lead to a ‘stop the bullying campaign’. Here are some thoughts. (This is a mobile post, so not very polished.)
1) You need to take comments in context of the person. Mark has praised the arts, promotes them, etc. Some rebutting (attacking?) Mark say I’m a man who likes art… He is not dissing that.
2) It is common practice in our culture to use a stereotype in pointing out truth. We also use sarcasm. We also ask questions like Mark did when we see something that aggravates us. And yes, the stop the bullying campaign folks (who do make some good points) do the same things.
3) Men follow men. You can call it what you want, label it what you want, condemn it all you want, but it is arrogant to think thousands of years of human history can be turned on a dime, told to change now, and expected to be extinct in a couple of decades. This is a major problem with the egalitarian movement, it’s arrogant. It further leads egalitarian types to blow out of proportion Mark’s statement.
4) MAN UP! (To the males rebutting Mark.) If you’re a man like you say you are, then relax! If the question makes you feel uncomfortable, good. As a man, ponder it. I find the highest mark of a man is when he doesn’t have to defend himself and let’s his record stand on it’s own. But, as a man, examine every criticism whether warranted or not and learn from it.
5) It’s a man thing. (To the females rebutting Mark.) There is an element to manhood where to be a man takes a blunt, harsh, in your face call to man up. I don’t think a female can understand this. I unapologetically think culture robs our boys from this. Yes, it is mean. Yes, it is often caustic. Yes, it hurts. BUT, it is the most sincere, most caring, most endearing thing a man does for a future man! (‘The Man From Snowy River’ portrays this well.) How can this be? Life is not fair. So, while you may not like this, I say with respect and sympathy, calm down, it’s a man thing.
6) Gender discussions always seem to run to stereotypes, equality under the cross, and debate about words such as effeminate. The curse in Genesis 3 pretty much points to these discussions happening. Have men abused their God given role? Yes. But neglect is just as bad as abuse. Our culture in large measure is dealing with neglecting manhood, not abusing it. This is why I agree with Mark. Am I always comfortable about his methods? No. Am I glad he is leading a charge to restore manhood? YES! It’s been neglected far too long.
7) I agree with those who think church is too effeminate, and our portrayal of Jesus is too effeminate. I disagree with the common thought that Jesus was starting a social justice trend. The pattern in the Bible is one of restoring people to the truth. Genesis 1&2 is the picture Jesus frequents and the New Testament frequents. It is a perfect picture of man leading, woman helping in harmony and without shame. Abuse of that portrait is error. In the sin cursed world we live, that portrait is elusive. Churches need to point to the truth. Truth is not prejudice, it hates all error. And all of us are in error in some way. The portrait in Genesis 1&2 will be back as Jesus will one day make all things new.
I often wondered how Paul carefronting Peter to his face would look like today. I suppose Paul would be called a bully. others would say this is why the world hates us. Sigh. I hear this coming from thus debate: “You can be open and authentic unless you say something like Mark Driscoll. BUT, to bash someone who talks like Mark is ok.” That is hypocrisy.
Well, using our cultures concept of effeminate, which I understand as having unsuitable feminine qualities, then based on our culture alone and not dealing with 1 Cor 6, Mark is right. And if Mark is wrong in his public calling out, then the stop the bullying campaign is equally wrong.
The bottom line:
We need males to man up! This is a major need in our culture and it’s been neglected. I say with compassion and sensitivity, the stop the bullying campaign is part of the problem and not the solution.
