Jake Meador writes about the decline of Christianity in America in a recent Atlantic article saying,
“Nearly everyone I grew up with in my childhood church in Lincoln, Nebraska, is no longer Christian. That’s not unusual. Forty million Americans have stopped attending church in the past 25 years. That’s something like 12 percent of the population, and it represents the largest concentrated change in church attendance in American history.”

He summarizes what he sees as, “The defining problem driving people out is … just how American life works in the 21st century.” 

No offense to Jake, but the defining problem is not work. It’s misguided manhood throughout society, nowhere more evident than in the Church in America.  Looking for simple manhood to have as a role model? You won’t find it in the Church.

And, it’s nothing new. In a 1993 compilation of sermons by A.W. Tozer (April 21, 1897 – May 12, 1963), I was struck by how Titus 2:15 “These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority” is reflected in this comment,

“When the man of God stands to speak he ought to have the authority of God on him so that he makes the people responsible to listen to him…Let me tell you that I was converted from hearing a fellow who preached on the street corner I was a young working man, and I joined the nearest church—I didn’t know any better. The first time I shook hands with the pastor was like shaking hands with a baby—he had not done a lick of work since he was eighteen, I am sure, because his hands were so soft.  I remember he preached one Sunday about a harp, using the subject, ‘A Harp of a Thousand Strings.’ He didn’t say much, but he said it beautifully, and it ended like this, ‘So I’m sure that the soul of a man is the harp of thousand strings.’ I went home and didn’t hear any harp. I didn’t hear any authority. I believe in the authority of God, and if a man doesn’t have it, he should go away and pray until he gets the authority and then stand up to speak even if he has to begin by preaching on a soapbox on a street corner.”

What began in the post-Christian heyday of the 1950s, took root in the 1960s silent Christian acquiescence to loud social protest. The Great Society Replacement Theology (government as father, women as leadership) took root because of men’s silence in the destruction of the family.  Did they not see themselves edged out? Is it any wonder the raw feminist movement has had such horrible consequences for men and women … and the Church?

Today’s megachurches are too often led by baby-hand, Vans-wearing metrosexual dandies in American pulpits.  They lack two sides of the Prism of Manhood.  They have words, words, words … corporate Christianity, and seminary education, but exhibit no Authority and are not men of Action.  Where is the accountability, the responsibility Tozer talked about?

That is why people don’t go to church.  It doesn’t mean they’re not Christians anymore to counter Jake from the Atlantic’s assertion.  It’s just they don’t see the point of Church anymore.

Questions for further thought:

When people in the pews don’t see the point in going to Church, why would they value church attendance (in-person or online) as a priority for 90 minutes on a Sunday?

How have social media, online presence, and COVID changed people’s views of how to have community and “do church?”

When a vibe of manhood departs the Church, what is left behind?  How does that resultant vibe seem to men outside the church who are searching for male role models?

How did the Great Society contribute to fatherless homes, particularly in the Black community, which was at one time the strongest Christian powerhouse in the nation?

Tim Ballard is a Christian man who exemplifies the protective manhood qualities of Accountability, Action, and Authority in A Prism of Manhood. His mission is to help the least of these: children who have been kidnapped and sold into situations of slavery, abuse, torture, and organ harvesting. He’s a true hero who continues to make his life’s work rescuing children from international “high-traffic areas” (war-torn nations like Ukraine) where “harvesters” are taking advantage of displaced and traumatized children.

Sound of Freedom is the real-life story of this man, and after the rescue forming the storyline for the film, major networks wanted to show footage (since they film during the rescues) and they lauded his efforts. 

But now that Sound of Freedom out-performed Indiana Jones (and others) at the box office, suddenly those same networks are disparaging his story and downplaying child trafficking as some fringe notion when in fact, it’s pervasive—6 million children, many under the age of 5.  It’s beyond what nearly every adult is comfortable acknowledging.  Many avert their eyes so as not to see.

Manly men with the authority of truth and goodness on a mission of doing right by the most vulnerable will always win in the hearts of people.  They are the type of heroes God wants us all to be in our own ways. And we do it, by command, in His Authority.

At the 27-minute mark in the interview Tim Ballard did at the Bedminster Golf Club in New Jersey’s showing of Sound of Freedom, he pointed out that “No change happens without getting loud.”  We cannot sit, be complacent consumers of education–even Christian education–and instruction without Accountability, Action, and doing what we can with the Authority Christ gave to us. 

In a longer interview by Jordan Peterson with Tim Ballard and Jim Caviezel (which unjustifiably, Twitter may refuse to send you to YouTube which is the first link), Caviezel spoke about learning to authentically present the role of Ballard (and his manly “innocence”) and the preparation he took. He watched what these special agents do and said, “At one point that’s how I chose to go at this. I had no choice but to go, and I hear the screams in my heart, I hear the screams because of the agents that I got to work with [showed] me things.  [And] one particular time, he says, “Are you sure you want to go further?” But I was weeping so hard, and I said this is what Tim goes through. This is what I’ve got to see in there to take people to a level of “Will you do something”? 

“You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2:24,26)

Ballard gives God the glory for the movie’s success. Releasing it by God’s timing into our current culture were God’s perfect plan.  Ballard says, “There’s a whole movement now, targeting children.” 

Our culture has been relentlessly pursuing children to influence their minds and craft new values in man’s image.  Turning children against Christian values. Even recently to the point of turning children against their parents. 

Questions for further thought:

What kind of action can you take?  What kind of accountability will you pursue and live?  As a Christian, on Whose Authority will you serve? 

Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you. (Titus 2:15)

If Tate’s message was strong body/strong mind (Might makes right), in what ways is Christ’s message strong heart/strong faith (Right makes Might)?  Who has greater authority man or God?

What Kingdom work are we doing–with the gifts given us–in light of Christ’s return?

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The Prism of Manhood series includes:

http://seminarygal.com/a-prism-of-manhood/

http://seminarygal.com/andrew-tate-dangerous-masquerade/

http://seminarygal.com/andrew-tate-positive-instruction-silent-conquest/

Andrew Tate isn’t all bad. He preaches a positive message of manhood which is magnetic to men and women alike. Contrary to what popular culture would have us believe, many women (in addition to men) would prefer a culture with strong men and strong women who appreciate strong (and I’d add biological) men.  The West is a mess.

In his interview with Tucker Carlson, Tate pointed out that the Western world has allowed men to shrink from their manhood into a world of what might be called beta-males.  At the same time, he indicates that Paris is burning as migrants with high testosterone are flooding the Western world and what do we expect?  He questions that.  But instead of using his influence among his fellow Muslims (those burning Paris), telling the migrant men just stay in your home countries, use your manhood to fight your home wars, lift your home economies, stand up for what you believe in your home culture and in your domicile, there is no call for peace. He’s silent.

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Islam knows that infiltration is just conquest in another form. 

Saying “Be the men at home that your culture admires instead of infiltrating other nations and instigating unrest” would be a helpful personal application of manhood in his personal faith.  But Islam knows migrant infiltration is a path to victory. Bloodless war. Silent conquest.

With Tate, it’s what he doesn’t say that is more problematic since he’s vocal with positive messages of Accountability, Authority, and Action while suspiciously silent on the religious aspects that frame it.

To the Christian world, personal accountability for one’s actions, authority in leadership in society, the Church, and the home, and putting actions to your proclamations sound remarkably biblical.  Be discerning, folks. The times call for it.

Questions for further thought:

Identify Accountability, Authority, and Action in the following passage. Compare with Tate’s version of manhood (strong body/strong mind).  What does the Bible talk about that Tate does not?

Ephesians 5:1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person– such a person is an idolater– has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore, do not be partners with them.

… Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.  It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.  But everything exposed by the light becomes visible– and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.

…Be very careful, then, how you live– not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (from Ephesians 5:1-21)

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The Prism of Manhood series includes:

http://seminarygal.com/a-prism-of-manhood/

http://seminarygal.com/andrew-tate-dangerous-masquerade/

Andrew Tate is dangerous, but not for the same reasons as he is experiencing house arrest in Romania.  He is charged with human-trafficking of women through social media using the “lover boy method.”

No, Andrew Tate is dangerous—even more so than Mike Tyson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali, and Shaquille O’Neal before him.  He’s more dangerous than Hip hop singer K’naan, boy band-pop singer Zayn Malik, comedian Dave Chappelle, rap singer Ice Cube, Cat Stevens, and others.

Andrew Tate is dangerous because his interview with Tucker Carlson highlights his high degree of street-smarts.  Crafty.  Savvy.  He knows his audience in a nuanced fashion and plays the compartmentalized role to seduce the audience. Using, if you will, the “lover boy method” –a masquerade–to present a captivating version of himself. The people in the above paragraph are all Muslim, but don’t necessarily make a big deal of it.  They are personally Muslim but not proselytizers for Islam.  Tate is different.  Very different.

Dangerous for the minds of young men searching for purpose, for meaning, for success, Tate preaches the strong body/strong mind, self-made man success that appeals to young men who grew up without fathers in their homes because Tate models that.  He grew up without a father in his home, but has become successful (as he phrases it, the most Googled man on earth).  He knows young men seek him out by the millions, revere him and his ideas, and he makes the most of it. Women, too, are seduced by his message of manhood, having grown up without father figures in their homes, too.

It’s not his manhood message that is the danger.
It’s the bait.

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If you watched his interview—as a Christian with a discerning ear—you’ll notice that in prison, he said “he did pushups and read the Quran.” He doesn’t like to mention it (but did) that he is incredibly charitable toward those malnourished in Islamic countries.  And toward the end of the interview, he specified clearly, “I am Muslim.”

Questions for further thought:

How do generic references to “was atheist” but “found God”, the importance of suffering, and other unspecified God references appeal to Christians? The Apostle Paul understood this very danger, writing:

“I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” (2 Corinthians 11:12-15)

Think for a moment about “lifestyle evangelism”. If you were the devil, would you pick someone savvy, articulate, well-dressed, living in a mansion, successful by world standards, a self-made man, a celebrity to talk about “God” in a way to bring people in and then seduce them to be followers of another faith tradition by their wanting to emulate the celebrity?

Islam is not opposed to lying to achieve its ends, it’s not only permissible but lauded. How might a nuanced message (lying) deception for an undiscerning ear be dangerous?

Look over the list of Muslims in the second paragraph.  It’s clear: Islam knows how to pick them, keep them, and use them.  Celebrities, success stories, athletes.  How might these appeal to young men and seduce them away from Christianity at a time in our culture when Christianity and manhood are waning?

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The Prism of Manhood series includes:

A Prism of Manhood | Seminary Gal A Prism of Manhood | Making the Theological Understandable

The Andrew Tate interview by Tucker Carlson. The Sound of Freedom movie. 
The SBC vote on clarifying the pastorate. 
What do these 3 recent societal events have in common?

They form a prism of manhood that discerning people (men and women alike) cannot help but notice.  Three perspectives on the manhood problem facing modern culture.  I believe we have more of a manhood problem than a womanhood problem which is why both men and women have long noticed the foundational issues (decades in the making in the West).  Fix the root of a manhood problem and the fruit of a womanhood problem in large measure goes away. 

This prism’s three lenses of manhood might be labeled:
Accountability, Action, and Authority.

Titus 2:2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance… 6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

If you’re interested in these aspects of manhood and want to see the Andrew Tate interview, you can watch it here.  Irrespective of what you think of him, his Muslim background, and accusations against him, the interview is worth every bit of the 2 hours and 30 minutes.  Over the next few installments on this topic, you’ll see what I mean.

If you haven’t yet heard of The Sound of Freedom, the story of Tim Ballard’s efforts as Operation Underground Railroad, rescuing human-trafficked children, you can buy movie tickets and view the trailer of the Angel Films movie starring Jim Caviezel here. 

And the SBC had its own input to the culture through an amendment to the SBC constitution clarifying that women cannot serve as pastors.  It passed on a vote of around 80% of attendees at the SBC’s Annual Meeting. The amendment will become permanent if it gains majority support at the SBC annual meeting in 2024.  I won’t send you anywhere to read this because most sites take a side on women in the church and I don’t want to go there because, again, I believe the Church has long had more of manhood problem than a womanhood problem.

Questions for further thought:

Why are young men critical to the spread of Christianity?

One out of every 3 young men is being raised in a fatherless home.  When young men have no role models at home or in the Church, where do they find acceptance?

What is the Church doing to inspire young men to manhood as Titus admonishes us?

We’re not just a holy priesthood. We’re also a royal priesthood.  This is a particularly important phrase.  Back in the days of Genesis, there was a first royal priest, the king of Salem, Melchizedek. A king (of peace, the meaning of Salem), but he was also a priest.

Genesis 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.“

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It was interesting for Christians because kings and priests in the Jewish world came from different lines, particularly after Abraham’s grandkids through Jacob: Judah (king/royal line) and later through Moses and his brother Aaron following God’s command establishing the Levites as the priestly line.  Note also the significance of Melchizedek bringing out bread and wine, well before the Passover meal and the Last Supper with bread and wine of true significance.

But don’t miss the importance of Melchizedek. 
He was before Abraham had children and yet he pointed forward
to a “king of righteousness” (the meaning of his name)
who would be both King and Priest of God: Jesus Christ.
Jesus, whom Scripture says is a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

But there’s more to the royal priesthood for men after God’s selection of the Levites. Aaron (a Levite) married Elisheba whose brother was Nahshon. In this way, Elisheba herself a descendant of Judah (since Nahshon also was) merges the royal clan with the Levite clan. But Nahshon (of Judah) is the one who finds his way into Jesus’ genealogy. The royal priesthood theme runs uninterrupted from Genesis to Revelation.

So, like the namesake of Christians (Christ Jesus, our Great High Priest) we are to be a priesthood, and we receive royalty on account of Jesus’ calling us family.  Because Jesus is King and we are His earthly brothers and sisters, we “are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10). Hallelujah!

Our identity in Christ is not just our being living stones in the spiritual house He is building.  In Scripture it says, there’s a purpose:

1 Peter 2: 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

We are to be a holy priesthood.
It leaves no room for us to claim to be followers of Christ but not do what He says.
There is a holiness to the holy priesthood.

Frankly, I’m appalled at what I see among modern churches and their social media posts about how welcoming they are to everyone.  The problem is not in welcoming all people to a place of personal reformation in Christ. That’s a totally different process than welcoming a reformation of the church by bringing in people to change it …which is clearly what the comments are celebrating: ditch Jesus’ standards and celebrate “woke.”

Far from Jesus’ kind of church as they laud the diversity, Jesus’ kind of church ought to narrow the way from diverse/destructive to incredibly narrow holiness that God commands us to pursue as His followers. 1 Peter 1:15 “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.'”

Beyond that, I’m angry (I’ll admit it) that many of the so-called pastors and preachers doing this are women.  Not all women have such bad theology (inviting what God hates to become the doctrine of the day).

Years ago, I wrote a post called Grave Trampling in which I described Holy Saturday (the day before Easter) and what our culture—and even Christians!–are doing to Christ Jesus.  We see what He says and go our own way!  It’s so far from the holy priesthood God wants us to be!

It’s not enough to say “Jesus Loves You” but it’s a wake-up call to deny self, pick up our cross daily, and follow Him.
The Easy Sell of You,
personalizing Jesus to fit your life and accept you as you are, as you find yourself in that “welcoming church” which never asks you to abandon sin
THIS WILL NEVER HONOR
the radical obedience that is the hallmark of true Christians.

During this so-called Pride Month when people are proud of their sin lives, as defined by God’s standards, flaunting a rainbow as an in-your-face to God, blaspheming His promise never to flood the earth again over such sin, please take a moment to remember that we’re not called to listen and go our own way, but to be built as living stones into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to our HOLY God by obeying Him and pursuing holiness.

How far does God’s love extend?  It is as wide as the Church universal (the entire community of redeemed Image-bearers, rescued from every corner and former faith tradition into Christ’s spiritual house) and as personal as you and me (living stones and individual Image-bearers whom God knows personally).  But…

When Scripture says in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life,” it had a preface or if you’d prefer, an Opening Statement.  It also has a Closing Statement. 

Opening Statement: 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

This is defining the world –specifically the world of the saved. 
Not everyone (period), but “everyone who believes”.

Closing Statement:  17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Two groups: Those already NOT condemned and those condemned ALREADY.

For this reason, after the Closing Statement, there is also a verdict, issued by the Judge of all.  In the Last Day, we will all stand before Him to give an account of our lives based in His truth which stands alone.  It’s an account of what we did during the persecutions and trials that come our way.  It’s an account of all the evils being done in our culture, and what we did in that time, whether capitulate in fear, remain silent, or stand courageous proclaiming His Truth. Some will stand before Him to receive Judgment.  Followers of Jesus will stand before Him to receive a vision of the extent of God’s love and forgiveness.

John 3:19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.   21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

Standing before the Judge of the universe, will equality claims of “your truth” or “their truth” vs. His Truth have any merit?  Better, while there’s still time, would be for us to align ourselves with His Truth, repent, and adjust our lives accordingly.

We aren’t built into a spiritual house to be nothing and do nothing.  This spiritual house, Scripture says, is to be a holy priesthood.

“As you come to him, the living Stone– rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him– you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:4-5)

Think of all the things people sacrifice to…spend their time doing…dwell upon…and offer their service in support.  That’s not to say that it’s unimportant, undesirable, or unnecessary, but how much of it will fade away? 

Now think of the spiritual house, the holy priesthood…it’s eternal.  Given the fact that it will last forever,

Psalm 119:12 Praise be to you, LORD; teach me your decrees. 13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. 17 Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word.  18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

Amen.

To Jesus who is the living Stone, God’s Chosen and Precious Cornerstone, His view is that the Church and its faithful are not just a jar of identical marbles.  Each man, woman, and child is individual–and is as individual as each person’s decision to follow Christ. This fact is proven by unique gifting from the Holy Spirit.  No two of us are identical.

Scripture tells us that Jesus is the living Stone in the example par excellence.  We, as His fellow brothers and sisters in the fully human sense—children in the family of God, are chips off the old block.  We are like Him and “like” living stones—not bricks, not blocks, not Legos.

1 Peter 2:4 As you come to him, the living Stone– rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him– 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house.

Imagine a house so alive that its walls breathe and wriggle in the joy of the Lord.  Tremors of excitement shake it like Jell-O, yet unmovable it its Christ-alignment as each new believer is fitted into this organic structure which ripples from the immovable Cornerstone.  The Church is miraculous in its spiritual sense.  No wonder the angels sing. 

The Church is truly organic—growing more substantial, developing to maturity, and bearing fruit to the glory of God.  Each person is uniquely gifted to do his part in this fruitful enterprise.  

Have you decided to follow Christ, repenting of past sin, and are you ready to be built into this living Church?