John Piper: “God has given Christianity a masculine feel…”

“…the fullest flourishing of women and men takes place in churches and families where Christianity has this God-ordained, masculine feel,”

“Theology and church and mission are marked by overarching godly male leadership in the spirit of Christ, with an ethos of tender-hearted strength, and contrite courage, and risk-taking decisiveness, and readiness to sacrifice for the sake of leading, protecting, and providing for the community—all of which is possible only through the death and resurrection of Jesus. It’s the feel of a great, majestic God, who by his redeeming work in Jesus Christ, inclines men to take humble, Christ-exalting initiative, and inclines women to come alongside the men with joyful support, intelligent helpfulness, and fruitful partnership in the work.”

What do you think of this statement? I’m particularly interested to hear from women. How does this sit with you? 


(This next part goes better if you imagine it having been said in the voice of Stewie from “The Family Guy”)


Also, I’m not a woman by the way. 


I’m a man. 


In fact I’m all man, man. 


I’m male to the core & I could prove it, too… but I’m too much of a man to have to prove it. But I could if I wanted to, because I’m a man. I exude maleness. I’m not a boy who can shave. I’m not a guy. I’m not a dude. I’m not a fella. I’m a man – and you will address me as a man, do you hear me? In fact, I’m starting a new website called: timsuttleisaman.org. It’s not-profit because I’m a man and I can make my own money.


Here’s Scot McKnight’s take:

“There is a Greek word for “masculine” (andreia), it never occurs in the New Testament (a word close to it occurs in 1 Cor 16:13, but seems to be addressing the whole church — and means courage). Nor does it appear once in any words quoted here of J.C. Ryle.  This is a colossal example of driving the whole through a word (“masculine”) that is not a term used in the New Testament, which Testament never says “For Men Only.” Pastors are addressed in a number of passages in the NT, and not once are they told to be masculine.”

You can read Piper’s whole manly, masculine statement at McKnight’s blog here.