From Wild Man to Wise Man...

It's no secret that I believe the Dude-Theology of certain streams of modern evangelicalism to be off-base and founded in a culturally biased reading of Scripture that misses entirely the thrust of what the Gospel wants to do in our culture, and the kingdom movement that does not pretend there are no differences between men and women, but breaks down the walls and makes peace between them. 

Especially worrying to me is the fact that rather than emulate older, wiser men who speak with the authority AND the gentleness of one who has walked with Jesus for decades, many young, male pastors are not only gelling their hair and untucking their shirts in an effort to Be Like Mark, but are adopting his rough edges and Ultimate Fighter mentality as well. 

While it's up to Jesus (whom I believe Mark loves and does his best to follow) to deal with him on his attitudes and statements, I think that some damage is being done in the attitudes of young men and young leaders in his tribe of churches. (And yes- there's MUCH to be said about the damaging effects of this thinking on women- that's a different post).

I'm currently reading Richard Rohr's From Wild Man to Wise Man: Reflections on Male Spirituality, and there's something to wrestle with on nearly every page. I don't buy it all- but man, it's challenging and good stuff. 

After affirming the differences between men and women and the value of each, he says this, which made me think of all this: 

"The spiritually whole person integrates within himself or herself both the masculine and the feminine dimensions of the human spirit. She or he is androgynous in the best sense of that term, which is derived from the two Greek words meaning "man" and "woman." It is very fascinating to me that some tribes and civilizations actually considered the man-woman to actually be the shaman, the wise man, the spiritual seer. The were the image of Divine wholeness. Androgyny is the ability to be masculine in a womanly way and to be feminine in a manly way, if I can dare to say it that way. It probably takes the work of a lifetime to get there, which is the beauty we often see in older men and women. The young man is all "male" and the young girl is all "sugar and spice and everything nice." If you read the classic legends and myths, note how you invariably meet the strong, old woman and the kind, old man by the end of the story. That is the goal."

And I remained unconvinced that the Ultimate Fighter mentality and Dude-Theology will ever get you there.

Comments

[Todd]

Bob,

Thanks for the recommend. I really like Fr. Rohr. We have had a few conversations over the past couple of years. What a gem.

Todd

[Dan Brown]

I probably wouldn't use the same words, but that passage gets at a point that has been prominent in my thinking: Everyone can benefit from cultivating both the typically masculine and the typically feminine virtues (and from battling the typical vices of each camp). The people I admire most (of those I know personally) are strong in both dimensions. (A couple of our elders come to mind.)

[Phil]

It seems like all this "Ultimate Fighter mentality and Dude-Theology" is too conveniently American. These guys seems to be parroting the culture around them instead of trying to confront it with the Gospel. What about "Blessed are the poor in spirit... Blessed are the peace makers"? This sort of macho flash is the water we swim in as Americans, but tend not to notice or think about as fish don't consider the water they swim in. It's also very corporate (as in corporations) - lots of braggadocio about capturing markets and CEOs climbing to the top, etc. What I really don't get is why this appeals to people? Why go to a church that's basically run like a Corporation with a CEO-Pastor that lords his position over his followers? We've got to put up with enough of that sort of thing during the work week.

[Mike Morrell]

Yes indeed. Rohr is awesome, particularly in his work with male spirituality. Are you coming out to http://www.cacradicalgrace.org/conferences/emer/>his event in March? It'd be great to meet at last. I hear there is a contingent going from Portland...

[Mike Morrell]

Ah, coding doesn't work here. This event: http://www.cacradicalgrace.org/conferences/emer