I always find it interesting to pay attention to trends within Christian publishing. As certain ideologies appear within wider society or as certain questions are brought to the surface, the publishing industry inevitably responds with books on the subject. In the past couple of years, we have seen a good number of titles dealing with masculinity. And no wonder, for masculinity is now hotly debated. What does it mean to be a man? What does it mean to be masculine? And is it possible to embrace any form of masculinity without it becoming toxic? This is the subject Matt Fuller turns to in Reclaiming Masculinity: Seven Biblical Principles for Being the Man God Wants You To Be.

Fuller begins by pointing out that where Western society used to have a widely accepted idea of what it means to be a man, this is no longer the case. “In the 21st-century West, there simply isn’t, and our culture is far more likely to ask ‘Why can’t a man be more like a woman?’ ‘Traditional’ male attributes such as competitiveness, stoicism (that is, bearing difficulties without complaint or displaying much emotion) and risk-taking are discouraged in classrooms and derided in sitcoms and films. The language of business management has shifted to emphasize ‘traditional’ feminine virtues of empathy, co-operation and emotional intelligence. Women do better at school and a higher percentage go to university. Men are far more likely (to an alarming extent) to go to prison, become homeless or commit suicide. Perhaps really we need to ask, ‘Why can’t a man be more like a woman?’”
Of course, society also tends to make the claim that there is no intrinsic difference between men and women and that anything men are doing women ought to be doing as well. “I keep hearing these two opinions, expressed in a variety of ways but basically boiling down to ‘Men and women are the same’ and ‘Men should be more like women.’ The upshot is that we’re getting a bit confused about what it means to be a man.”
Fuller’s burden in this book is to provide a positive vision of masculinity—to offer an answer to the question “What kind of man does God want you to be?” A good answer will necessitate setting aside the cultural assumptions of the 20th century as much as the 21st and instead allowing the Bible to guide us in its timeless way. And Fuller does this through seven principles “that describe a biblical, healthy, confident, helpful masculinity.”
The first of these is “men and women are different (but don’t exaggerate).” From the inner person to the outer, it is clear that God has created men and women to be different from one another, even as they share a common humanity. Where some societies have been prone to exaggerate the differences others have been prone to minimize them. Here he describes some of the differences and explains how these then work themselves out in ways that are bound by culture. He distinguishes between timeless truths and cultural manifestations of distinctions.
The second principle is “take responsibility.” Though men and women have much in common, God has assigned certain responsibilities to men and he means for them to embrace these. Though this is most often displayed in marriage, there are other ways in which men need to grab hold of their God-given responsibilities.
Next is “be ambitious for God.” Men are tempted to aim their God-given ambition at power or video games or sexual conquests, but God has something better for them. Men are to be ambitious in life, ambitious in work, and ambitious in godliness.
From here Fuller advances to “use your strength to protect,” “display thoughtful chivalry,” “invest in friendships” and “raise healthy ‘sons’.” The word “sons” is in quotation marks because a man’s task is not merely to influence his biological children but also to influence sons in the faith, much as the Apostle Paul did so well.
At the end of all this, being a godly man means “taking responsibility to lead, being ambitious for God’s kingdom, using your strength to protect the church and serve others, investing in friends, and raising ‘sons’.” Men who commit themselves to this kind of life will be displaying God’s design and living out God’s purpose.
At a time when confusion about masculinity reigns within the church as well as without, I am grateful for books like this that offer clarity—clarity grounded in the infallible, inerrant, timeless, and culture-transcending Word of God. I trust it will help many men live in a way that is confidently, biblically, and definitively masculine.
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The God of love and peace be with you today.

Westminster Books is doing some spring cleaning which means they have some really good deals for you.
There are a few more Kindle deals to consider today.
(Yesterday on the blog: Why Do Billionaires Want to Live Forever?)
What We Need is Power
Jared Wilson: “Should we go into God’s inerrant, infallible, inspired word looking only for things to do, we will come away with God’s good instructions for the good life but without the power to actually do them. The power to obey does not lie in the commandments. The power to get through the day does not come from the instructions on how to get through it. The power to glorify God is in the glorious gospel, which says not ‘Do’ but ‘Done!’”
Jesus, Friend of Sinners
“Some Christian circles assume that if a pastor or church is drawing in sinners, they must be compromising the message of the Bible. Maybe they’re seeker-sensitive, watering down the more offensive doctrines of Christianity. On the flip side, pastors who have a reputation for castigating sinners, faithfully exposing the sins of society, must be doing something right. But the truth is, neither approach captures the complexity of Christ’s gospel ministry.”
Why is it important to study the Christian creeds, confessions, and catechisms?
Steven Lawson, Derek Thomas, and W. Robert Godfrey all comment on creeds, confessions, and catechisms in this clip from a Ligonier conference. Also, good on Lawson for rattling off all the different headings of systematic theology.
You’re So Vain, You Probably Think This Post Is About You
This one may cause you to think and confess.
Is the Concept of a “Self-Authenticating” Bible a Modern Invention?
Michael Kruger discusses one important way we can know that certain books belong in the Bible. “Christian theologians—especially in the Reformed world—have long argued that there is a more foundational way we can know books are from God: the internal qualities of the books themselves.”
Keep It Simple
“What do you feel when someone asks you to disciple them? I imagine you’re excited because a hungry, likely younger Christian, wants to grow. I imagine there’s probably also stress because you don’t know where to begin. A wealth of good resources is at your fingertips, but that can make things more complicated. So where do you start?”
Flashback: Being the Answer to Prayer
If we pray that God will comfort those who have endured a great loss, we ourselves should be eager and willing to be used as the means of comfort, to be the ones God uses to weep with those who weep, to bear another’s burden and so fulfill the law of Christ. Pray and then act to see the prayer answered.

In many homes the sorrow over the living is greater far than that for the dead who have passed to sweet rest. —J.R. Miller

It is good to confess our sins. It is good to corporately confess our sins. This corporate confession based on Psalm 38 is one we use from time to time at Grace Fellowship Church.  I hope you appreciate it as we do.

Leader:O Lord,Please do not punish us for our sins.Hold back your discipline from us.We feel sick over our sins.We are drowning in our sins.The guilt of our sins clings to us like a weight around our ankles.Our sins are too much for us.
Congregation:We have been so foolish.Our folly stinks. It is gross in Your sight.We are crushed and full of sorrow for what we have done.We are burning up with guilt.We are groaning here.Our hearts hurt.
Leader:O Lord, listen to our cries and sighs.Our hearts are throbbing.Our strength is fading.Our hope is dimming, because of our sins.Not even our closest friends and family can help us.
Congregation:Besides this, our enemy has laid even more snares.He parades our ruin before You.He meditates on how to trip us up.
Leader:But we will plug our ears and shut our mouths.We have nothing left to say.We will not listen to that Accuser.But for You, O Lord, we will wait.You are the only one who can answer us in our need.The world, the flesh and the devil will rejoice in our failings.But not you.
Congregation:O Lord, we are ready to tear apart at the seams.We cannot shake the pain of our guilt.
Leader:We confess our iniquities.We are sorry for our sins.
Congregation:Remember the strength of our enemies.Remember the number of our enemies.Remember the wickedness of our enemies.
Leader:And do not forsake us, O Lord.O our God, do not be far from us.Hurry up and help us!For You alone, O Lord, are our salvation.
 All:Amen.
Leader: Christian, because your life is hidden in Christ and you have honestly asked for His forgiveness, be assured that “He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. [He] will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:18b–19).”