Manhood is under attack. The November issue of GQ, the Gentlemen’s Quarterly magazine, attempts to redefine masculinity. The cover of the magazine features a well-known male pop-star dressed in feminine looking attire. The magazine attempts to paint a picture of masculinity that strips manhood from its traditional roles in the home and in society. This is nothing more than a manifestation of the demonic attack against manhood. The pop-star, Pharrell Williams, featured in the magazine, even states that spiritual warfare is taking place. In this, he means that people are fighting for the freedom to be what they want to be in their own “spirit”. Well, spiritual warfare is taking place, but not in the way Pharrell suggests. Rather, demonic forces are pushing for people to reject God’s order for mankind. A rebellion against manhood is taking place. As believers, both men and women, we must resist the feminization and emasculation of men taking place. We must resist this overt redefinition of masculinity.

A Form of Judgment

Because of the sin of mankind, God has left men to their own ways. At least three times in Romans chapter 1, the Bible states that God gave up men to their own ways because of their sin - to their own lusts (Romans 1:24), to degrading desires (Romans 1:26), to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:28). When you see the stripping of masculinity, then you know that it is a form of judgment upon mankind. 

In the book of Jeremiah, God prophesied judgment upon Babylon, amid that judgment we see the fate of the mighty men of Babylon, and it gives us a prophetic glimpse of the attack against manhood. Jeremiah 51:30 The mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight, they have remained in their holds: their might hath failed; they became as women: they have burned her dwellingplaces; her bars are broken (KJV).

The NASB puts it this way “The mighty men of Babylon have ceased fighting, They stay in the strongholds; Their strength is exhausted, They are becoming like women; Their dwelling places are set on fire, The bars of her gates are broken”

Consequences of the Feminization of Man

Abandonment of Duty

The mighty men of Babylon gave up fighting as they lost to the enemy. Even so, the attack on masculinity is causing men to abandon their role in the home and in society. God has ordained for men to lead (Ephesians 5:23; Ephesians 6:4), provide (1 Timothy 5:8), and protect their households (1 Peter 3:7; Colossians 3:19). Men are ordained as leaders and protectors in society; they are essentially the first line of defense. 

When men are leaving their roles as leaders in the home, and in society, the enemy has an open door to destroy households. Today, twisting the roles in the household, some men stay at home while women work. The world is teaching that the duties of men and women in the home and in society are the same. While women are equal to men in human dignity, their duties and roles are not the same. Just as a man cannot give birth to children it is not God’s intention for women to lead in the home, and to take over the leadership in society. 

Strength Exhausted

There have been some movements today that are attacking the strength of men. Perhaps some in these movements have good intentions but ultimately, the enemy uses it to attack the strength of men and make them weak. Things like the radical feminist movement and the #Metoo movement attack manhood. The radical feminist movement promotes the removal of gender roles in the home and the hatred of men. While there may be some merits to the #Metoo movement pushing back against sexual violence and abuse, it often gives place to attacking and falsely accusing men. Thus, men become exhausted and give up holding on to their roles as leaders. Women are increasingly rejecting the role of men as leaders in the home and in society. Some women feel that they can take on traditional male roles. The push for gender identities outside of the binary male and female gender is causing a redefinition of what it means to be a man, of what it means to be strong.

Feminization of Men

Thus we see men are becoming like women in many aspects. Men dressing like women, being as emotionally vulnerable like women, and getting “in touch with their softer side”. With their role as leaders, providers, and protectors, men have traditionally exhibited strength in the face of danger. Thus, being emotionally vulnerable was less of an option. Today, a new definition of masculinity shuns emotional toughness in men. However, self-control and discipline are important aspects of emotional health. The athlete trains himself to take hold of his emotions to win in the sport. Similarly, the role of men demands that they learn to control and direct their emotions to lead, provide and protect the home. Hence not being susceptible to breaking down emotionally, and “crying” in the face of danger. Jeremiah  51:30 “ they became as women: they have burned her dwellingplaces; her bars are broken”. The mighty men of Babylon became as women in the sense of being emotionally and physically weak in the face of battle.

How Do We Resist This?

Stand Strong

Every man must stand strong in their responsibility as leaders, husbands, and fathers. Men must endeavor to maintain their role as protectors, providers, and leaders in the home and in society. First, this means men standing strong in their faith in God. Furthermore, men must exercise discipline, self-control and responsibility. Men should not be looking to get in touch with their “feminine side”, instead, men control their emotions to be strong and the face of danger. 

1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Train Our Children

Mothers, fathers, and church leaders must teach children to respect their natural gender identity and expect to live out their God-given role in that gender. Children need the example of mature men in the faith who show fidelity as leaders in the home and in society. Men who are exemplary leaders, husbands, and fathers. Furthermore, older women should be an example to young women to embrace qualities that are becoming of a lady, and respect the role of men.

Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

Support Male Leadership

Every woman should stand with the male leaders in their life. Wives should support their husbands as they lead in the home. Young ladies should endeavor to maintain a positive relationship with their fathers. All women should support the pastors in their churches and leaders in society.

One way to support leading men is to prophesy into their lives just as how the prophetess Deborah prophesied to Barak to lead the army of Israel.

Judges 4:6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?