What stuck with me most wasn’t any one example but the underlying question of intention. Why am I drawn to certain voices? Why do I share certain things? Is it actually shaping me, or just reinforcing an identity I like having? I also respect that you included yourself in the critique. That made it feel real. It didn’t read like you were tearing people down, more like you were trying to clear something up before it drifts too far off course.
What does a man do, when despite knowing the truth, despite his effort, he feels like God still hates him? When the world discourages and derails him, even among the brethren?
I used to feel this way. It took a long time to understand and accept that God would not possibly hate one of His children. God made you, warts and all. The world may still hate me but, when I enter into conversation with God, I start by thanking Him for whatever good I see in my life. Sometimes, I do not see very much good but I thank Him for whatever it is. Some days, I am overflowing with praise and thanks for the good and His grace. Good days and bad, I talk to God knowing that I am His beloved child. Everything else gets easier, once I acknowledge that fact.
I think it comes down to humility. With a humble heart, you may better appreciate the overwhelming love that our Lord has for you - your opinions notwithstanding.
Maybe pray that the Holy Spirit opens you to the signs of God's love all around you, and that your thoughts may be of him today.
To clarify, are you saying that what I suggested to read is about defeatist mindset or are you saying that you are wondering why some Christians have a defeatist worldview?
So to be clear for where I'm coming from, I am a Southern Baptist that attends a Fundamental Independent Baptist Church.
That means I'm pre-millennial in my eschatology. Not that we laymen Baptists spend much time using things like premil or eschatology. That's usually those who attend seminary.
Anyway, to be fair and give grace to those Christians you've mentioned, the Bible does state that things will get worse the closer we get to Jesus returning. That should be no surprise as satan is working ever harder these days.
And with what I call the Letter of the Law Calvinists, a lot of them figure that since who is Saved is already predetermined, there isn't anything for them to do, but prepare for Jesus' return. There is a Church where I live, not Baptist, who focuses only on this. No outreach sharing the Gospel. No helping your community, the poor, widowed, and orphaned. No good deeds. Just discipleship basically.
The only true thing keeping satan at bay now and prolonging Jesus' return is the Holy Spirit residing in each and every Christian and the new Christians that join the Church every day. I believe that Thessalonians is where you can find this. Not too sure at the moment if it's 1 or 2. God wants as many as possible, after all.
I do believe that we will have at least one more Great Awakening, maybe two with the events in Revelation.
And with that in mind, to wrap things up, there is no excuse to not build families, businesses, households, communities, etc. Scripture affirms that.
The best we can do is pray and be there for each other.
Here's the issue: I contest that Revelation is self-fulfilled. Not that "it was going to happen anyway", but that the collective cowardly, passive nature of Christians actually provoked it.
Then, they spread that cowardice like a poison to others. The fact is that God's people could have held on to the Earth as long as they wanted. They simply chose to run from the Devil and his minions. Greater men of God slew the wicked, and broke down their houses/idols.
Today's Christians have no excuse, let alone dragging everyone else down with them.
If I were to answer all the questions without realizing I had something I needed to work on, this would be a sign of spiritual pride. As an imperfect being, the moment I look at others and judge them to be less prayerful and reverent than I, is the moment I fall into spiritual pride.
I like the article. It's important to remember what Paul says in Galatians, what is said in Hebrews, and elsewhere like in Deuteronomy. To paraphrase, "Embrace where God has currently put you. Especially when it may be something you wish to avoid or want to change." This is where Prayer and Waiting on God are important.
To give an example, I was in a job that I did not like. It was work where I didn't really see a future. I was praying and praying about what I should do, asking God for a definitive answer and that answer came through a call with my Mom one day out of the blue.
But I was still uneasy about things. Then I read Hebrews once more and there the part about embracing the circumstances that God has put us in came through with clarity.
Since then, I've found that I don't dread the work anymore and I am actually finding ways to improve my current circumstances and thus making it even better.
An incredible essay, brother. You shine a great, ugly light on the growing problem with “biblical” masculinity accounts. Your assessment of these behaviors is both fair, and necessary. Too often, young men looking for a sanctuary from the growing effeminacy of the modern world, stumble across these voices and find peace. But so often, get led far and away from the truth of biblical teachings.
What stuck with me most wasn’t any one example but the underlying question of intention. Why am I drawn to certain voices? Why do I share certain things? Is it actually shaping me, or just reinforcing an identity I like having? I also respect that you included yourself in the critique. That made it feel real. It didn’t read like you were tearing people down, more like you were trying to clear something up before it drifts too far off course.
What does a man do, when despite knowing the truth, despite his effort, he feels like God still hates him? When the world discourages and derails him, even among the brethren?
I used to feel this way. It took a long time to understand and accept that God would not possibly hate one of His children. God made you, warts and all. The world may still hate me but, when I enter into conversation with God, I start by thanking Him for whatever good I see in my life. Sometimes, I do not see very much good but I thank Him for whatever it is. Some days, I am overflowing with praise and thanks for the good and His grace. Good days and bad, I talk to God knowing that I am His beloved child. Everything else gets easier, once I acknowledge that fact.
It's tough. I struggle with this insecurity also.
I think it comes down to humility. With a humble heart, you may better appreciate the overwhelming love that our Lord has for you - your opinions notwithstanding.
Maybe pray that the Holy Spirit opens you to the signs of God's love all around you, and that your thoughts may be of him today.
Read about Joseph and David. Read Job. Read the Psalms. Read Ecclesiastes. Read the Gospels and Acts.
I have, and the only thing it makes me ask is where this defeatist mindset in Christianity comes from.
To clarify, are you saying that what I suggested to read is about defeatist mindset or are you saying that you are wondering why some Christians have a defeatist worldview?
The latter. They've been sitting on the Book of Revelation the past 30 years and then wonder why the world is going to waste.
So to be clear for where I'm coming from, I am a Southern Baptist that attends a Fundamental Independent Baptist Church.
That means I'm pre-millennial in my eschatology. Not that we laymen Baptists spend much time using things like premil or eschatology. That's usually those who attend seminary.
Anyway, to be fair and give grace to those Christians you've mentioned, the Bible does state that things will get worse the closer we get to Jesus returning. That should be no surprise as satan is working ever harder these days.
And with what I call the Letter of the Law Calvinists, a lot of them figure that since who is Saved is already predetermined, there isn't anything for them to do, but prepare for Jesus' return. There is a Church where I live, not Baptist, who focuses only on this. No outreach sharing the Gospel. No helping your community, the poor, widowed, and orphaned. No good deeds. Just discipleship basically.
The only true thing keeping satan at bay now and prolonging Jesus' return is the Holy Spirit residing in each and every Christian and the new Christians that join the Church every day. I believe that Thessalonians is where you can find this. Not too sure at the moment if it's 1 or 2. God wants as many as possible, after all.
I do believe that we will have at least one more Great Awakening, maybe two with the events in Revelation.
And with that in mind, to wrap things up, there is no excuse to not build families, businesses, households, communities, etc. Scripture affirms that.
The best we can do is pray and be there for each other.
Here's the issue: I contest that Revelation is self-fulfilled. Not that "it was going to happen anyway", but that the collective cowardly, passive nature of Christians actually provoked it.
Then, they spread that cowardice like a poison to others. The fact is that God's people could have held on to the Earth as long as they wanted. They simply chose to run from the Devil and his minions. Greater men of God slew the wicked, and broke down their houses/idols.
Today's Christians have no excuse, let alone dragging everyone else down with them.
This is a good article. Lots to think about.
The questions are helpful.
If I were to answer all the questions without realizing I had something I needed to work on, this would be a sign of spiritual pride. As an imperfect being, the moment I look at others and judge them to be less prayerful and reverent than I, is the moment I fall into spiritual pride.
I like the article. It's important to remember what Paul says in Galatians, what is said in Hebrews, and elsewhere like in Deuteronomy. To paraphrase, "Embrace where God has currently put you. Especially when it may be something you wish to avoid or want to change." This is where Prayer and Waiting on God are important.
To give an example, I was in a job that I did not like. It was work where I didn't really see a future. I was praying and praying about what I should do, asking God for a definitive answer and that answer came through a call with my Mom one day out of the blue.
But I was still uneasy about things. Then I read Hebrews once more and there the part about embracing the circumstances that God has put us in came through with clarity.
Since then, I've found that I don't dread the work anymore and I am actually finding ways to improve my current circumstances and thus making it even better.
An incredible essay, brother. You shine a great, ugly light on the growing problem with “biblical” masculinity accounts. Your assessment of these behaviors is both fair, and necessary. Too often, young men looking for a sanctuary from the growing effeminacy of the modern world, stumble across these voices and find peace. But so often, get led far and away from the truth of biblical teachings.
Fantastic work.