Masculinity & Femininity

Gender: “Gender is the range of characteristics pertaining to, and differentiating between, masculinity and femininity. Depending on the context, these characteristics may include biological sex, sex-based social structures (i.e., gender roles), or gender identity.” 

Masculinity is defined as: “qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of men.” 

Femininity is defined as: “qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of women.”

These are two words we are hearing a lot in today’s culture. Usually in a negative sense. Satan has successfully blurred the lines of marriage, the home, and gender. He’s trying to erase them completely. Sadly, a lot of professing Christians don’t even know where they stand and they go along with society. Too often taking the stance of “it’s not my business”, “it’s not my sin”, “we aren’t to judge others”, “love is love and love is never wrong”, and misusing the verse that says “God is love”.

In case you haven’t realized this yet: Satan is a deceiver and a liar. He has a counterfeit for everything God has created. Satan knows the Bible, so you better know it, too, or he WILL get you off course. He offers a pretty package, never showing the end results of destruction and heartbreak. 

At times, it feels like he is succeeding, and conservative Christians are in the minority, constantly losing ground. Dear Christian, take heart. We knew this would happen. John 10:10 is very clear to us in these days. Satan is stealing, killing, and destroying all around us. Just as Jesus promised, He is able to bring abundant life to those who trust in Him! He has won the victory! We know the end of the story. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” ‭‭John‬ ‭10:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

However, I feel this is a topic too many of us choose to keep quiet on. It’s easy to be quiet. We feel insignificant. As if our voice won’t make a difference. We are outnumbered and no one is listening to us. We don’t want to offend anyone. It isn’t really affecting us directly so it’s not a big deal. I understand that. I really do. 

I’m afraid we’re forgetting a few things.

 1- The Truth is what sets us free. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ‭‭John‬ ‭8:32‬ ‭KJV‬‬

People are chasing emotions and temporal things, looking for fulfillment and satisfaction, only to remain empty. We MUST give them living water! “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” Jesus spoke these words in ‭‭John‬ ‭4:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬.

2- The next generation is depending on us to keep waving the sword of faith. The Bible says we are to contend for the faith. That isn’t sitting by apathetically just letting things happen! “Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God? Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?” ‭‭Job‬ ‭13:8-9‬ ‭KJV‬‬. 

3- We forget what God can do with ONE! Remember when the Bible said Paul turned the world upside down for Jesus?! He had zeal, passion, dedication, and empowering of the Holy Spirit! One man was used greatly by God. He can use you, too! Your voice CAN make a difference! “And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go. And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭17:4-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

4- Every soul matters to Jesus. He isn’t willing that ANY should perish. He wants all to hear the Gospel! We have a responsibility to share the Truth with the world. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” ‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬. 

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:19-20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Now, why is this topic important? 

Simply put, it’s God’s plan and design for men to be men and women to be women. “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

 We are created uniquely, with differing roles and abilities. The world is striving so hard against this design. We are told women can do anything men can do. To that I say, you’re right. Women probably can. It doesn’t mean we should. There is a difference. 

We are told to fight for equality. To that I say, we are equal, but we’re not the same. 100 pennies equals a dollar just as 4 quarters equals a dollar and a one dollar bill is a dollar. They’re all different even though they’re all equal in amounts. We can be equal while being different and staying within our God-given places. Where God can bless and use us. It is okay to embrace our differences rather than trying to do away with them.

We are told that women should be empowered. The Bible never says that. It says a lot about what men and women should be. Empowered isn’t in there. We are to be filled and led by the Holy Spirit of God. That’s the only empowerment I want, and I hope you feel the same. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We see and hear things like “Quiet women don’t make history.” I’m not sure about this, but I know my Bible says to have the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

My desire is to line up with the Bible and let God do great things through and in my life. I truly hope that’s your desire as well. 

Masculinity isn’t toxic. Attitudes and behaviors are toxic. 

Toxic is defined as: “Poisonous; very harmful or unpleasant in a pervasive or insidious way.”

But men simply being men is not toxic. They shouldn’t be rude or vile, of course. We all agree with this. Men looking like men, getting their hands dirty, and being in leadership is not toxic, contrary to what the world is shouting. 

Feminism isn’t weakness. I am not saying that every woman has to be in a dress, pantyhose, heels, with perfect hair makeup every second of every day. Not at all. But your instinct to nurture children isn’t a weakness. Your desire to be a stay at home mom isn’t a weakness. Your desire to be a wife and let your husband lead your home isn’t a weakness. Submission and being a doormat are not synonymous.  And we MUST stop listening to a world that says it is! Stop trying so hard to go against God’s design and let Him work in your life and home. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9.

Satan’s destruction of gender has led to same-sex marriage and children being raised in this environment. I am not saying homosexual individuals are bad people, that they aren’t capable of loving and nurturing and providing. I am saying this is just not God’s design of home and family. This is not a representation of His plan, it is not the environment He intended children to be raised in. It is not the foundation He intended for the church. Family units are the foundation of the church. Satan knows if he can destroy the family, he can destroy the church, and then the nation. Our Christian foundation in America is being destroyed. Thousands today are certain that America was never built on biblical principles. Satan is very good at causing doubt and twisting Scripture in a way that still seems right. He did it to Eve thousands of years ago in the Garden of Eden and he hasn’t quit since then. You are not the exception to God’s design nor are you exempt from the lies of Satan. He wants to trip you up, too. 

Society and courts did not create or define the home, marriage, or gender. It is not their place to define it. God said marriage is one man and one woman for a lifetime and that is it. Anything outside of that is not a marriage, regardless of what society says.

Do not be afraid to be the man or woman God created you to be. Do not be ashamed of the roles and responsibilities that are part of your gender. God didn’t give us this separation as punishment or judgement or anything negative. He did it so we can have a home that runs well where He can bless and work. He did it for our benefit. We just have to trust Him.

With Hope in His Service,

Heather