TRG Christian Male

TRG Christian Male

If you are a caring and sensitive Christian male are you a bit of a limp-wimp? Do you believe that by cultivating such virtues you will be robbed of your masculinity? Is showing kindness, shedding a tear, apologizing and worrying about offending someone a sissy thing? Is being a ‘helper’ or a ‘singer’ or a ‘server’ or a ‘praying-one’ in the local church effeminate? Is it in conflict with authentic masculinity?

Some books have become best-sellers for extolling the maleness of Christian males or should we say ‘Christian dudes’? Tough, Rough and Gruff is the male thing and keeping it that way seems to be the bottom line for some. The TRG male model ‘naturally’ appeals to men but – is the Christian male to live naturally or spiritually?

Advocates of the TRG Christian Male present a distorted Jesus. They view Him with bulging biceps, calloused hands, swiftly decisive, brusque, direct and tough-talking. Yes, as a carpenter He probably experienced his share of blisters and His muscles were not under-developed. It is true, He knew what it was to camp outside at night without a tent and to brave the elements and to sail in a storm-tossed boat and He knew how to get a out-door fire going at the beach. And yes, there were times when He issued stern words and people scurried away out of fear. But avoid the error of redefining Christ to match our sin-dimmed view of masculinity.

Run from an unbalanced view of the Lovely Man of Calvary. Do not misunderstand the sinless humanity of Christ. Yes, He was the Perfect Man. He was the Perfect Human for both women and men to consider. But Jesus did NOT come to earth to model masculinity. Colossians 1:15 tells us that Christ was the visible image of the invisible God. He not only reflects God, He reveals God to us. If we want to know what God is like, we study Christ.  Hebrews 1:3 makes it clear that Jesus is the exact representation of God’s nature and the radiance of God’s glory.

Christ showcased the virtues and qualities of character that should distinguish both Christian women and men.

One advocate for the TRG Christian male persuasion urges men not to stifle their natural impulses to be bold, brash, bullish, and bossy. But this is a contradiction of the Scriptures. Salvation requires that we lay at the Saviour’s feet all our natural attributes and submit to His Lordship and slay all our sinful instincts.

To get a balanced view of God and therefore Christ, the Old Testament records many glimpses into the character of God. You can not help but be impressed with His holiness, His compassion, His power, His sensitivity, His creativity and His patience.

Deuteronomy 24 is one of the chapters you might overlook but check it out. The holiness of God is presented as well as perfect justice. But look at these examples of thoughtfulness, care, sensitivity and compassion:

The Jewish male is to take a year off after he gets married to make his wife happy. Now that’s thoughtful and caring!

If a poor man works for you, make sure you give him his wages that very day so he can feed his family. What a considerate employer!

Just because you have loaned some cash to a person, don’t think you have the right to barge into their house and take what you want, if they default on the loan. That’s the opposite of being a loan shark or a bully.

If you loan a poor person money and he gives you his coat as a guarantee, make sure you get it back to him that night, so he won’t be cold as he sleeps. Doesn’t sound like a TRG male who came up with that one!

Don’t pick all the cherries off the tree – leave some for travelers, widows or orphans who may be hungry. A minor detail you say? No! What a compassionate, caring, thoughtful and sensitive God is ours!

Then you come across the reminder. Don’t forget what it was like to receive rough treatment from others and to suffer hardships and to live in poverty. Just because you have been delivered from Egypt, don’t forget that others all around you are being treated the way you once were.

“But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt,

and that the LORD your God redeemed you from there;

therefore I am commanding you to do this thing.”

Deuteronomy 24:18

Dear Child of God, forget about being a TRG Christian male or the female equivalent. Remember you were once in your sins and that a caring, compassionate, holy, patient and thoughtful God showed mercy to you. You seek to reflect the same virtues in all your encounters today.

Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.

Warmly in Christ

Peter Ramsay

peter@heaven4sure.com

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