Reclaiming Masculinity

Christopher Ash

This is one of the best Christian books I have read in the past five years. Matt Fuller has the courage to speak to a vital question and to do so with refreshing boldness, enviable clarity, loving warmth, and some delicious humour. His practical pastoral experience breathes through every chapter. Every man—and woman too—will benefit from reading it, and it will make a superb volume for a book group.

Paul Dale

This is such an important and significant book for our current culture. With superb skill, Matt opens up the Scriptures in a way that engages with and challenges cultural norms. My heart was warmed, my spirit stirred and my mind stretched. It’s so relevant for men and women of every stage. I just loved it!

“Short, pithy, wise, helpful and sprinkled with humour.”

In ‘Reclaiming Masculinity’, Matt Fuller explores seven principles to help men reclaim their masculinity—“not by returning to flawed models of the past nor by asserting [their] own cultural preferences but by looking to the Bible”.

Utilising these seven principles, Fuller sets out to complete a simple yet seemingly challenging sentence, "To be a man means…” or the more crucial assertion, “To be a godly man means…”

While Fuller makes some strong points, I never felt as though I was receiving a lecture from somebody who had it all figured out. Instead, I was reading the words of someone who knows his own faults and failings and who wants to point the reader to Christ with pastoral warmth. 

It was nice to see the zeal and natural humour I’ve come to know from listening and reading Fuller’s material. This provided the book with levity when needed.

Fuller was careful not to be too rigid or overly prescriptive in his instructions, which I thought was helpful. It would be very easy to read a book like this and quickly construct a "how to be masculine" checklist, which is not Fuller’s intention.

It’s also worth mentioning, that while the book is generally geared toward men, woman will gain much from this resource as many of the seven principles are simply reflective of a godly character.

In the minds of many, masculinity & toxicity go hand in hand, and being male is seen as more of a vice than a virtue. However, Fuller points to Jesus as the ultimate representation of masculinity, concluding:

“Being a godly man means taking responsibility to lead, being ambitious for God’s kingdom, using your strength to protect the church and serves others, investing in friends, and raising “sons”.

Short, pithy, wise, helpful and sprinkled with humour. A much needed book in this time of confusion.

This book was sent to me by The Good Book Company in exchange for an honest review.

“Short, pithy, wise, helpful and sprinkled with humour.”

In ‘Reclaiming Masculinity’, Matt Fuller explores seven principles to help men reclaim their masculinity—“not by returning to flawed models of the past nor by asserting [their] own cultural preferences but by looking to the Bible”.

Utilising these seven principles, Fuller sets out to complete a simple yet seemingly challenging sentence, "To be a man means…” or the more crucial assertion, “To be a godly man means…”

While Fuller makes some strong points, I never felt as though I was receiving a lecture from somebody who had it all figured out. Instead, I was reading the words of someone who knows his own faults and failings and who wants to point the reader to Christ with pastoral warmth. 

It was nice to see the zeal and natural humour I’ve come to know from listening and reading Fuller’s material. This provided the book with levity when needed.

Fuller was careful not to be too rigid or overly prescriptive in his instructions, which I thought was helpful. It would be very easy to read a book like this and quickly construct a "how to be masculine" checklist, which is not Fuller’s intention.

It’s also worth mentioning, that while the book is generally geared toward men, woman will gain much from this resource as many of the seven principles are simply reflective of a godly character.

In the minds of many, masculinity & toxicity go hand in hand, and being male is seen as more of a vice than a virtue. However, Fuller points to Jesus as the ultimate representation of masculinity, concluding:

“Being a godly man means taking responsibility to lead, being ambitious for God’s kingdom, using your strength to protect the church and serves others, investing in friends, and raising “sons”.

Short, pithy, wise, helpful and sprinkled with humour. A much needed book in this time of confusion.

This book was sent to me by The Good Book Company in exchange for an honest review.

“A much needed book!”

Part of what supported the rise in popularity of conservative theology was a clear pathway towards godly masculinity. Unfortunately, what often associates the fall of Christian ministers of a conservative persuasion is more hyper or toxic than godly masculinity. A reaction to this is to succumb to the idea that there is no difference between men and women – we need aim only for godliness, but this just doesn’t answer the many theological, sociological (not to mention physiological) questions it throws up.
Cutting through this concerning and confusing milieu, Matt Fuller has written a very helpful and concise clarion call to reclaim a biblical view of manhood offering seven areas of life for men to grow into. I like the fact that he deals with some very tricky passages from the off; I like the fact that it’s British and I like the fact that he references Manic Miner!