Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Why Christian Men Should Read Manvotionals from The Art of Manliness

I recently finsihed the book Manvotionals: Timelss Wisdom and Advice on Living the 7 Manly Virtues.  The book is edited by Brett and Kate McKay, the husband and wife team who head the Art of Manliness website, and is a collection of writings from history on seven virtues (Manliness, Courage, Industry, Resolution, Self-Reliance, Discipline, and Honor) all men should aspire to emulate.  Although the book is not specifically Christian and thus does not advocate a specifically Christian form of masculinity, I heartily recommend it for all Christian men. Here are four reasons why:

1. The book is interesting

With writings from the likes of Benjamin Franklin, Winston Churchhill, Theodore Roosevelt, and Seneca the Roman philosopher, the book will pique the interest of anyone remotely interested in history.  It will also expose you to writers and sources across centuries you may have never heard of before.

2. The authors (both the McKays and the writers they chose to include in the book) understand that there exists a difference between men and women

In our age, when gender issues are controversial and much confusion abounds surrounding men and women, this paragraph from the introduction to the book is like a cold drink of water on a hot day:

Women and men strive for the same virtues, but often attain them and express them in different ways. The virtues will be lived and manifested differently in the lives of sisters, mothers, and wives than in brothers, husbands, and fathers.  Two different musical instruments, playing the exact same notes, will produce two different sounds (pg. 3)  

This understanding of manhood and womanhood is already closer to the biblical definition than many contemporary "Christian" definitions.

3. Even non-believers can know and recognize true virtue

In Romans 2:14-15, Paul says, "For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.  They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts."  God's law is written on the heart of every person, believer or not.  Thus, even men who do not acknowledge God have some understanding of what true masculinity entails, and we can benefit from and be encouraged by their insights.  

4. Manvotionals is a good antidote to the feminization of Christian men

Jayber Crow's observation about spiritual life in the small town of Port William is all too true- the world of Church is the world of women.  Douglas Wilson has said that the Church is on a search and destroy mission for any masculinity in Christianity, with a goal to turn believing men into "buttercups for Jesus."  This ought not be.   Manvotionals, far from encouraging the base masculinity so often encountered in contemporary culture, shows that men can and should still be men - bold, honest, hard-working, disciplined men who subdue the earth God has made.  

A Caution

Although the book is an interesting and edifying read, I give one caution for Christians.  As with any writing or teaching, the writings in the book must be filtered through a biblical understanding of the world.  The ways of God are not the ways of man, and the wisdom of God often conflicts with the wisdom of man.  Keep this in mind while reading Manvotionals.  For instance, there is a quote from Cicero in the book, "Honor is the reward of virtue" (pg. 251).  Is this true?  Ultimately, yes.  True virtue consists of loving God and loving others, and that virtue will be rewarded by Christ in the end.  However, in a fallen world, honor is not always the reward for virtue.  Jesus was the most virtuous person to have ever lived, and we all know how that turned out for him.  So, ultimately, filtered through a biblical understanding of the world, Cicero's statement is true, but that is not what Cicero meant when he made the statement.  Read the book with some discernment, and it will be not only an interesting and fun read, but also an edifying one.    

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