Why I’ll Never Act Like A Man

A response from someone who actually attended the conference.

All the talks from Act Like Men?

The initial idea to start a counter-conference.

A Prayer that we read together.

As you may know we ran a small conference the week before a big conference in Hamilton as a type of response to some of the issues that we felt were raised. There was two main factors that came into the idea. First it was that it was called ‘Act Like Men’ and second that it was being headlined by none other than Mark Driscoll. The conference went well and you can see and hear everything if you would like to know what went on. What never ceases to amaze me though is the onslaught of accusations that come with doing something like this. It really is fascinating to watch people yell about divisiveness and lack of unity and ‘attacking’ because we ran an event the week before calling into question this conference. It’s unfortunate that there is little room in the Christian world anymore for meaningful dialogue and confrontation. We’d rather just gloss over difficult questions and maintain the status quo.

Along with the bunch of comments on my site, we got e-mails too. This one being one of my favourites from the marketing director of Harvest Bible Chapel.

You guys have the right idea in mind you with wanting to open the conversation. This year we chose to focus on calling men to follow after Christ with all they are. It might also be good for you to do some research or even try to have a one-on-one conversation before you bash your fellow Christian brothers or rally against something that is 100% in line with who we are called to be.

This was in the middle of him telling us not to use their artwork, suggesting a free site where to find new artwork and then ending it with “Give me a shout if you have any questions.” What was even more comical was that we had lots of questions, and we asked him, we offered to have a one-on-one conversation in which he refused to respond to or participate and engage any further. Really he just wanted to get us to stop using his logo and throw in a few suggestions and then run away as fast as possible. He won though, we stopped using his logo.

Another great part of this exchange is his use of 100%. I love the certainty of these folks. How in the world can we be so dumb to question something that is 100% right? Stupid us.

And there is my first problem with acting like a man, especially a man defined by people that would put on a conference like this. They are way to convinced of their own convictions and then all their teaching and conferences and lives revolves around this 100% guarantee of rightness and who they feel called to be. If being a man means being certain about being right about what it means to be a man then count me out.

—

We are doing a study in Samuel right now and I came across a similar strain of thought by the Philistines.

Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!”

Of course this is written in the Old Testament so it probably means nothing it says. But here we have Israel’s enemies terrified of what is going to be done to them and so they are encouraged to be men and fight! Which, I guess if we want to slaughter our enemies, this is a a great way to do it. It does work by the way. Philistines slaughter Israel despite them having their lucky charm (the ark) with them.

—

Maybe Peter was a woman?

Without blushing, Paul is simply stating that when it comes to leading in the church, women are unfit because they are more gullible and easier to deceive than men. While many irate women have disagreed with his assessment through the years, it does appear from this that such women who fail to trust his instruction and follow his teaching are much like their mother Eve and are well-intended but ill-informed. . . Before you get all emotional like a woman in hearing this, please consider the content of the women’s magazines at your local grocery store that encourages liberated women in our day to watch porno with their boyfriends, master oral sex for men who have no intention of marrying them, pay for their own dates in the name of equality, spend an average of three-fourths of their childbearing years having sex but trying not to get pregnant, and abort 1/3 of all babies. . . and ask yourself if it doesn’t look like the Serpent is still trolling the garden and that the daughters of Eve aren’t gullible in pronouncing progress, liberation, and equality (p. 43).

– Mark Driscoll

This is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever read. Talk about reading into the text. Someone needs to go back to first year hermeneutics class. Also, it sounds like Driscoll is quite deceived if he believes all that.

—

I get that there was eight thousand men at this conference and I’m sure all of them were encouraged in one way or another to love their wives, be respectful and be a servant. I also get that many of the men there are good people, love their wives and honestly want to do the right thing. I also get that many people there probably had no idea about how oppressive and non-biblical Driscoll is. But at what point do we call bullshit on the entire thing? How can we sit and watch as an entire gender is oppressed and judged and put into a box and then that box is later celebrated in the disguise of challenging men’s roles instead?

Act like a man if it means submitting to your wife, the church and Jesus. Act like a man if it means taking up your cross daily and and being a servant to all you cross. Refuse the title of ‘leader of the home’ and refuse to enter into any relationship that makes you the leader or the follower. Jesus was about mutual submission. No lines. No Hierarchy. We are all in Christ Jesus. Submit to your wives. Be submitted to. Love your wives. Be loved. Act like a man if it means giving up cultural stereotypes of what men are and taking on the fruits of the Spirit instead. Boast in your weakness. Don’t see equality with women something that can even be reached. Instead make yourself nothing and take on the nature of a servant ready to die. Now that’s my kinda man.