A little about where we’re coming from, and where we hope to go.
Welcome to In Good Faith.
We’re not going to kick this off by saying it’s difficult to be a Christian man. Christian men have dominated western civilization for nearly two millenia, and while that’s no easy feat, whining from a position of power isn’t particularly becoming. But the culture of faith, and the widespread culture that surrounds us in the 21st century, present a number of existential issues. On one hand, Jesus is often depicted as a pretty lady when you cover up the lower half of his face, and he spoke at length of turning the other cheek and loving neighbors. On the other, weapons manufacturers put Bible verses on high-powered rifle scopes.
The dialogue surrounding what it means to be a Christian male can be a bit schizophrenic. What does it mean to be in the world, but not of it? What does it mean to balance the primal urges and innate advantages of testosterone with a call toward ethical and generous living? Should I really only listen to watered down Christian music, when the secular world displays more truth about the human condition and sounds a billion times better?
We don’t promise answers (except on that last question, where the answer is “No.”), but we do promise honesty. It is our perspective that becoming who we are meant to be, as men and fathers and spouses and believers, is about taking a holistic approach. We should be committed to intellectual rigor and good humor, self-control and appreciation of the fruits of creation, faith and devotion to our God, all in good measure.
Also, we hope to be entertaining. I would rather read Esquire or Grantland (or Deadspin) than wade through the tedium that makes up Christian writing these days. We’re going to cover all sorts of topics here at In Good Faith. Pop culture. Sexuality. Food. Fatherhood. Theology. Why you should never, ever in your life drink Bud Light when vastly superior microbrews are readily available.
So, welcome. All of us here want to be better believers, better fathers and husbands, and better men. We pray this blog is a step in the right direction.
About Jordan Green
Jordan, I look forward to the dialogue. Though I am an ordained Presbyterian minister, I found myself a little disappointed that you are starting from a Christian perspective. Hopefully all faiths, and non-faiths, will join into the conversation. Based on your inviting intro, I suspect you will make every effort to be inclusive. I will watch for more.
@Roger: We appreciate your feedback. Our intention is absolutely to be inclusive of faith on here, and any and all religious backgrounds will be welcome to contribute.
That said, if a writer is supposed to be honest and “write what [we] know”…well, we all come from a Christian background. At least so far. Just know we’re hoping to follow your point.
agreed, and a good and important point. I think it will be particularly interesting to see the common ground and differences in male identity from different faiths as we fold them into the conversation.
Welcome aboard. Hope to have some interesting conversations.
I am a practicing Jew (liberal reform) and my girlfriend is a Baptist with Black Liberation Theology into the mix. I’m curious to see anything about men dealing with interfaith issues or how men of minority faiths navigate in a predominantly Christian society. How does this change their concept of manhood? Is it tied up in their religion at all? Do they feel pressured to conform to their religions views of masculinity precisely because their religion is a minority? What’s it like trying to be a “good man” while still being faithful to your religion and yet respectful to the religions of others? I pose these to myself as much as anyone else.
Anyhoom I’ll keep my eye out!
You know, I see a lot of Christian writing out there addressing how to be a good father. I hope that in this forum you will also address men who are married but childless. I.e. the grief that men experience from wanting a child but not being able to have one because of infertility issues, financial inability to adopt, wanting to have their own flesh and blood etc. etc. etc. It appears to me (from the outside looking in) that a lot of infertile couples get left out in the cold in circles of faith because the church, and Christianity today are so focused on what it looks like to raise a family that knows God. I know of a handful of men who have or are facing infertility issues, and it is a blow to them as men.
my two cents. that’s all.
“Not Relevant” I feel your disconnect, what you are describing is a huge chunk off my story and I too feel as if I’ve been punched in the gut when I see so much written about being Godly fathers and yet there is nothing said about those of us who for whatever reason can’t be Fathers at all much less Godly ones. Sometimes even at my own church I feel like an eyesore, my wife and I left out of an exclusive club that we may never hope to join for as long as I cannot get her pregnant. There really isn’t a voice out there for us. If nothing else please know someone understands this pain and I’ll pray about a way that perhaps I can help. Sharing my own story about this is painful but if it will alleviate someone else’s pain than perhaps it would be worth any discomfort I may feel. I don’t know if my wife would feel the same way about it though.
“Not Relevant” – thanks for jumping in here. It’s good to be reminded of the ways that conversation about faith can exclude. It does not help that one of the most pervasively used images of God is that of a Loving Father. What are the images of God that are most meaningful to you?
Roger, I am a wife chiming in on an area of my husband’s pain that he doesn’t share with the public, and for other men/women (Like Mike) who struggle through fertility issues. So where God is most meaningful to me doesn’t really apply here. We miscarried a year ago which makes it even more painful, we know we can conceive, but haven’t been able to since the M/C. I don’t see a “stigma” attached to childless couples so much as the exclusivity as you mentioned.
My heart breaks for my husband when I think of the amazing father he would make. And, in some ways, I think it adds to his already depressed heart.
Thanks for your response guys – I look forward to seeing further discussion in this realm.
cheers.
NR.