Acting like men? - with Phillip Jensen, Craig Hamilton, Adrian Russell and Robin Kinstead
Jun 18, 2024
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Phillip Jensen, head of Two Ways Ministries, and Adrian Russell, Senior Minister of Northmead Anglican Church, dive deep into the essence of Christian masculinity. They discuss the biblical interpretation of manhood, emphasizing maturity and mentorship. The conversation touches on empowering young men and women in faith, navigating modern media while maintaining spiritual integrity, and the lifelong commitment to serving God. With a focus on core theological principles, they advocate for a positive Christian worldview in cultural engagement.
Christian manhood involves maturity, accountability, and the responsibility to serve others rather than just seeking personal rights.
The discussion highlights the importance of discernment in media choices, advocating for a biblical worldview to navigate contemporary societal challenges.
Deep dives
Reframing Masculinity
The discussion centers around the effectiveness of reframing stereotypes, particularly highlighted by Procter & Gamble's 'like a girl' campaign, which transformed a negative connotation into an empowering one. The conversation then shifts to the biblical perspective on masculinity, specifically referring to 1 Corinthians 16:13, which encourages men to 'act like men.' Different biblical translations have interpreted this call, with some versions softening the command to encourage courage instead of directly addressing masculinity. The panel emphasizes that this command involves living in right relationships and taking responsibility for others, suggesting that acting like a man encompasses maturity and accountability.
Identifying the Crisis
The panelists identify a perceived crisis among men in the church regarding their understanding of what it means to be a Christian man. This crisis stems from a lack of seriousness in taking the Bible and Christ's teachings to heart, leading to a challenge for men to assume responsibility for themselves and others. The conversation posits that maturity as a man is defined not only by taking personal responsibility but also by serving others and using one's capacities for the greater good. The participants stress that being a mature man involves a shift from seeking personal rights to embodying a servant leadership role within the family and the church.
Navigating Modern Influences
The panelists address the challenges young men face in today's media-saturated environment, where many shows often include themes that conflict with biblical values. They emphasize the importance of discernment in entertainment choices and the need for intentional conversations to evaluate the content being consumed. They advocate for building a Christian worldview grounded in scripture rather than merely reacting against contemporary societal norms. The dialogue highlights the necessity for men to be role models, to seek guidance through biblical teachings, and to maintain integrity in their choices, all while navigating a culture that often encourages moral ambiguity.
There are not many places in the New Testament where men are spoken to specifically.
Today we are thinking about being a Christian man.
In the ESV and NASB the translation of 1 Corinthians 16:13 has ‘Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong’. (ESV)
But what does that mean?
Dominic Steele put that question to panelists at the recent Men Meeting the challenge conference:
Adrian Russell, senior minister of Northmead Anglican Church.
Craig Hamilton, senior minister at Pitt town.
Robin Kinstead, senior minister of Figtree Anglican.
And Phillip Jensen who heads up Two Ways Ministries.
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