Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill & Manhood

The recent podcast series The Rise & Fall of Mars Hill  has sparked conversation about the church on a number of fronts: leadership, accountability, abuse of power and the rise of Christian celebrity. The podcast has broached a number of theological subjects through its 6 episodes so far, but one of the most common topics that are placed under the microscope from episode to episode is Mark Driscoll’s perspective on biblical manhood and gender roles.

 It is a given that large portions of Driscoll’s machismo and hyper-masculine teachings extended far beyond the bounds of Scripture. Though he had many off base teachings, Driscoll was on to something when he called the men of Mars Hill to place more of an emphasis on their roles as both provider and spiritual leader of their families. Mark’s assessment of the problems that men were steeped in was spot on yet his methods were deplorable.

 The American church now sit 7 years after the firing of Driscoll and the collapse of Mars Hill church but the same issues around manhood and biblical masculinity still stand today. The problems and prevalence of the extended adolescence and apathetic spiritual leadership of men are still present. So with those challenges in view, what is the way forward when it comes to manhood?

 It is not going to come through a stern sermon featuring Driscoll-like screams of “HOW DARE YOU?!?!” scattered throughout. It won’t come shaming men through hitting them with a barrage of their failures and weak points. Ultimately we point men generally (and ourselves principally) to a Savior who came and died and now bids us all to do the same.

 We point them to the biblical marks of what a man can do and should do as both member of the church of Christ and leader of his family now or his family yet to come. We don’t need to provide the moral list of what to avoid at all costs, we have to give men a map of the route ahead – what to pursue, where to turn and what to do. A great starting point for all of us can be found in 5 takeaways from what Paul tells the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14:

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”   

Be on guard

 Paul’s word to the church was to be watchful or to be on guard which is a very “wartime mentality” type of thing to say, but it is a bold truth. You are at war and your enemy wants nothing more than for you to go away. That exact word – watchful – is what Peter uses to warn the persecuted church in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Satan will use every weapon at his disposal – temptation, doubt, fear, shame, insecurity – to dispose of you as a spiritual threat to the kingdom of hell.

 For us to be watchful is for us to first accept the fact that we are at war. Spiritual warfare is not something that simply happened in the days of the Bible. It is very much present in your life and the life of your family. Pursuits like community, accountability and discipleship are steps we can take to fight off the works of the enemy and to keep ourselves in check. We involve ourselves deeply into the lives of our wives and kids so that we can watch over them as well. We guard them best when we are present and purposeful with those we love the most.

Link arms

 Paul calls us to be those who can stand firm in the faith, which is something he calls the church to on a few occasions. One of them is in Philippians 1:27, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.”

 A faith that stands is one that does not stand alone – it stands side by side with other men who place their faith and lives in the hands of the Savior who died for them. Biblical manhood is not a solo endeavor; it seeks to bear the burdens of other men while also laying our own burdens at both the feet of Jesus and the feet of our brothers in Christ. (Gal 6:2) Living a life worthy of the gospel means linking arms with guys who trust in Jesus so that we can remain on our feet when trials and temptations come our way.

Manhood = courageous & costly living

 Depending on what biblical translation you have, the charge that Paul gives in verse 13 can read very differently. The ESV reads “act like men”, the CSB reads “be courageous” and the NKJV reads “be brave.” The Greek word is only used in this one instance in Scripture but culturally speaking within Paul’s context the word boils down to two majority implications: to be manly and to be morally strong.

 Combine the two and the implication is that biblical men make the right choice in hard situations. A man makes Christ-honoring, loving decisions – even if it costs him something. It is the picture of manhood that we see in Jesus: “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10) Man has his example in what it means to be a man – a Savior who sacrificed everything to serve the Father and ransom the lost. So we, with every breath and every choice, seek to serve the Father and love others – even if it costs us.

Strength in weakness

 Paul finished off verse 13 by simply reminding us to be strong. Yet, that’s not in any sort of masculine bravado sense of the word. Scan the pages of Scripture and it does not take long for us to realize the one way that any man will be truly strong.

 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” ~ Ephesians 6:10

“being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;” ~ Colossians 1:11

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” ~ Philippians 4:13

 I am only at my strongest when I am not dependent on myself. My strength, my help, my hope all come from the One who upholds the world with His righteous right hand. I am the strongest when I realize I am at my weakest. Ask God for the strength to stand. Ask Him for the strength to face today and lead your family well.

Love others really, really well

 “Let all that you do be done in love.”

 The most manly thing you can do is grounded in loving God and loving others. The concept of love flies in the face of the brand of cultural manhood that we see in places like Men’s Health magazine or the John Wick franchise. Manhood is not found in bulging muscles or a sports car. Manhood is only meaningful when a man can love others more than he loves himself.

 This is a nod back to what Paul said back in 1 Corinthians 13. If I have everything – talent, character, platform, and possessions – but lack love then I lack everything. A man who does not love is not a man at all. Love is THE standard of manhood. It is time for some of us to start saying, praying and serving like we love Jesus and love our families. Then – and only then – can we say we are men.