At a time when the culture is warring over definitions of masculinity and femininity, the church must be prepared to give biblical definitions to Christians. The topic of masculinity, in particular, has been at the forefront of the current culture war. Conservatives and progressivists alike have staked claims on what defines true masculinity, ranging from milquetoast jellyfish to raging warriors on a battlefield. Men need a godly understanding of what makes them men in the eyes of God. To that end, one of the first Christian definitions should be that of a man who rightly understands who he is before the God who made him.

All mankind stands guilty before God, stained by the guilt of their sinful nature. All men are “dead in the trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1), conceived in sin (Ps. 51:5), with their natures being inherited from their spiritual forefather, Adam (Rom. 5:12). This is the default nature of every man. Without this basic understanding of our character, it is all too easy to believe more highly of ourselves than we ought. When we compare ourselves to other men around us, evaluating character, skills, and abilities becomes subjective. One man may be stronger, another wiser, and yet another more skilled with his hands. In like manner, the character of a man who is a hard worker, takes care of his family, and pays his taxes seems to be better than the man who is a habitual liar and a thief. Subjective examination always makes it easier to view one man as better than another.

What must be done, however, is to examine the nature of man before the objective righteousness of God Himself. God is perfect and the very definition of goodness (Mark 10:8). When a man is examined by this standard, all his imperfections and faults, indeed his depraved nature, become all too clear. Under the harsh and pure light of God’s perfect standard, all men are equally guilty. The subjective differences between themselves are washed away, and the truth is laid bare before everyone. One’s abilities and skills can no longer be seen as natural or inherent; they are entirely dependent on the God from whom such aptitudes come. Differences in moral character suddenly vanish when compared with the perfect character of God, whose standard of which we all fall short (Rom. 3:23). Each and every man is a wicked sinner who must be condemned by the perfect God before whom they will stand. Every man equal in his sin, every man bearing the wrath of the holy and just God.

If no man is better than another, if all our standards fall short, then it must be asked what hope does any man have, much less how can he truly be a masculine man? It starts with what the world hates the most: humility and confession. God gives us hope in His son, Jesus Christ, the only righteous man, the God-man Himself. It was Christ who walked in perfection in this world, obeying in all ways that men could not. Then, He willingly went to the cross to take on the wrath that all men deserve. He died, was buried, and rose again so that He might defeat sin and death. Men must now humble themselves, confess and repent of their sins, turning to Christ alone for forgiveness. It is through this submission of humility and confession that men are finally redeemed and made righteous before God. No longer are they equally wicked rebels, instead, they are made righteous and holy. Such men are no longer equal to the wicked men of the world; they are set apart by God as unique and prepared for His service. This is not by their own hand; they cannot claim their new status as being a work of their own (Eph. 2:8). Being humbled before God, He has made them new creations (2 Cor. 5:17), and He will exalt them in His timing (James 4:10).

The first step on the road to reclaiming masculinity is seeing ourselves as we are: filthy and depraved rebels who need the redemption of Christ. Now, having been made new, we are called to conform our lives to Christ (Rom. 8:29) in the pursuit of righteousness and holiness. Men are called to reject the ways of the world in thought, word, and deed, that they might glorify their Savior and glorify His name (Rom. 2:12). Men are to be sober-minded, putting their hope, not in their own gifts and abilities, but in Christ alone; they are to seek holiness in their conduct and speech, looking to reflect the firmness, steadfastness, compassion, and kindness of God (1 Peter 1:13-16). Masculinity begins with the admission that we are not good of our own accord but serve a God who is and who continues to refine us to be of service to Him. Such humility forces a man to bow in service to God alone, transforming his heart and mind. He sees his abilities and callings, not as something that sets him above all other men, but as the equipping of God that he might serve alongside his fellow servants. Masculinity begins with and is set on a foundation of humility and righteousness.

Whatever other ways we might begin to discuss the matter of masculinity, if we do not start with this foundation, then anything we seek to build upon it will crumble under the weight of pride. If men are not called to look in the holy mirror of God’s word and see themselves for what they truly are, then everything they are instructed to do will only be exercised as an extension of their inherent arrogance. All efforts will be futile because men will continue to think of themselves more highly than they ought and will set themselves over and above one another. Without the humility brought forth by the gospel, there can be no pursuit of righteousness and no desire to serve God. The church must start with this foundational truth as it seeks to call men to be masculine in a manner that is truly Christian. And it must start with rightly understanding just what kind of men we are.

Note: This article was also published at X.com.