Fallen Masculinity
“...and he shall rule over you.” Genesis 3:16b
Fallen Masculinity
God had a design for masculinity and, as we explored last week, it is for the man to be the head – to lead and protect. Genesis 3 is not a reiteration of this design. Genesis 3:16 is outlining a curse on the woman after man failed to lead and abdicated his responsibility of protecting his wife.
The curse is that a man will be tempted to abuse his position to rule over his wife. “He shall rule over you” is not suggesting rightly ordered, biblical masculinity and headship. It characterizes a fallen masculinity now that sin has entered the picture.
Cunningham elaborates, “Sin has corrupted and twisted God’s design for masculinity and the bottom line difference is that male glory and strength is no longer selfless, but selfish. Masculine strength designed to be the selfless foundation of God’s created order is now misused for the selfish domination of the created order.”
History is no stranger to the ills of fallen masculinity and man’s selfish use of his strength. Story after story inside the Bible and out, demonstrate the abusive use of this strength; and we can all think of other abuses we’ve observed. But there’s hope.
You need Jesus to make you the man you are made to be
As you consider how you have participated in this fallen masculinity and your own battle with sin in these areas, Cunningham offers us men a great reminder and cause for hope in Jesus, our Redeemer:
“He has come not just to forgive men for what they have done, but to change men, to redeem men, dare I say, to reclaim men for their God ordained destiny.”
He goes on to say:
“I know you know you were made for more. There is a restlessness that you feel. There is a discontentment that you cannot quiet. There is a guilt over what you have done and shame over what you have become. There is yearning that no amount of porn or partying, gaming or gambling, popularity or power, fitness or finances. There is a yearning that nothing can silence or shake. There is something that simply won’t leave you alone, and that something is your design, your destiny. What you cannot escape is the troubling truth that you are not the man you ought to be.”
And he reminds us that there is only one way:
“What all of that self help stuff can do is clean you up, but it can’t fix you. Only a Redeemer can redeem you. You need Jesus. You need his grace to cleanse you. You need his love to heal you. You need his promises to embolden you. You need his blessing to commission you. You need Jesus to make you the man you are made to be.”
Episode: The Mighty Meekness of Masculinity: Part 6 - Fallen Masculinity
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Reflection
- In what ways have you pursued a fallen version of masculinity, mistaking it for “this is what it means to be a man”?
- Where are you most restless right now? What is driving that?
- Where have you turned to self help “gurus” instead of Christ who redeems you?