Look out, here comes my soap box.
Apparently masculinity is toxic.
I know, baby H… I’m confused/ surprised too…
I learned this from a razor company. So, I guess beards are right out too? Who knew? I thought they made and sold shaving implements that assist me with my morning ablutions (yes, I used to use guy razors, because they’re the best a woman can get also.) Turns out they dabble in virtue signaling too. I suppose it’s always good to have a plan B….
But back to my shock and surprise– This was news to me; I had no idea men were the sole origin of conflict, bullying, aggression, oppression, etc… and that it all stemmed from so-called “toxic masculinity.” I wonder why I’ve known women jailed for domestic assault and drug possession and child endangerment. It couldn’t possibly be that ALL humankind is wicked and sinful by nature… That would be too egalitarian.
Nor did I know that pointing out “toxic femininity” as a counter-point to the whole noxious manliness issue was a valid argument. Who knew all you had to do to win a debate and prove a point is call out the failings of the opposition? I suppose it’s worked in politics for ages. By all means, don’t let my ignorance undercut it’s validity…
See, I was under the apparently mistaken assumption that neither masculinity nor femininity was the root cause of our societal problems. I thought it was humanity’s inherent sinfulness brought about by the fall that resulted in a sin-nature and chronic selfishness that caused us to devalue human life, to hate our brothers (and sisters), and to seek the destruction of our fellows… (or fellow-ettes… don’t wanna offend the feminists.)
I can’t believe how far I have been from the reality that characteristic attributes commonly associated to men were actually the source of all my pain and suffering. I’ll have to tell my husband. I hope he’s not too shocked.
This is a strange and confusing time for me, so I think I’ll just go back to Scripture and see what the Bible has to say about it.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, since we are members of His body.
Ephesians 5:25-30 HCSB
Interesting… I don’t see anything there about subjugation. Hold on, let me check another passage… Just to see if Scripture singles out masculinity as the issue…
But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have made Him hide His face from you so that He does not listen. For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers, with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, and your tongues mutter injustice. No one makes claims justly; no one pleads honestly. They trust in empty and worthless words; they conceive trouble and give birth to iniquity.
Isaiah 59:2-4 HCSB
Wait, that sites iniquities as the problem and root of injustice… Let me check another passage…
But now, apart from the law, God’s righteousness has been revealed — attested by the Law and the Prophets — that is, God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:21-24 HCSB
Yeah, hold on a sec, that says all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory… What does all exclude? Certainly not masculinity… But what about femininity? Are the members of the fairer sex excluded?
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment. There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3:27-29 HCSB
Interesting. Apparently, Scripture makes no distinction between genders when it comes to sinfulness. Nor is one party excluded from the salvation available in Christ Jesus. That’s so weird… Maybe I should patronize a more informed company for my daily ablution supplies.
(And maybe I already do, because I got this razor for Christmas, and it’s cheaper than the competition, environmentally friendly, made from recycled plastic, has 5 blades, and is high quality?)
In any case, I suppose I’ll stick to the Bible as my source of truth and probably not put much stock in commercials aimed at a target audience intended to elicit a certain reaction and capitalize on my consumerism.
(Scriptural emphasis mine)
Wholly Holy Living 