In a world where masculinity is often associated with toxicity, what does it mean to "be a man"?
In a straightforward and empathetic way, Matt Fuller gets beyond our culture's confusion and puts stereotypes to the side as he mines what the Bible says is distinctive about being a man. He outlines a positive vision of biblical masculinity and shows what that might look like in real life today. Men will be encouraged to be sacrificial when leading, work hard, protect others, and listen to what others want from them.
Whatever your personality and interestsâwhether you would rather skin a rabbit, read a book, or remodel your houseâthis book will ...give you confidence and direction to be the man God wants you to be.
(Review written for 'Reclaiming Masculinity')
We men have struggled, for various reasons, to work out with each other what healthy masculinity is. Poor stereotypes abound. Matt Fuller refuses to squeeze men into a sterotypical boxes but, instead, demolishes sterotypes, highlights unhealthy ways of being men, and focuses us on priorities, principles, goals and biblical wisdom. He paints impressionistic portraits with plenty of scope for interpretation but with clear outlines so the reader can tell when a man is behaving well. Filled with self-deprecating humility, a longing to do better and love from Christ as Saviour, men will do well to work these 7 principles out ...together without squeezing each other into boxes.
(Review written for 'Reclaiming Masculinity')
Anyone who subscribes to the âwomen should stay silent in churchâ view should really be consigned to the history books by now. And anyone who endorses such a position (as those listed above) should be looked at with extreme caution. I notice a number of these reviews are by people are publicly âcomplementarianâ and have been given a free book in exchange for a review. I wonder if the Good Book company did the same with people who are publicly egalitarian, to promote a balanced viewpoint? It doesnât look like it. Anyway, letâs leave the damaging stereotypes behind and move ...on Matt, maybe let people be their authentic/unique selves, as they were created by God.
(Review written for 'Reclaiming Masculinity')
I didnât read this book to figure out how to be the man God wants me to be⌠because Iâm a woman.
But I was curious how Fuller approached the term âmasculinityâ in a time when itâs pretty much only used negatively.
Iâm a woman, but Iâm married to a man and Iâm raising two sons. My husband is bombarded ...with the term âtoxic masculinityâ and my sons will have to figure out their place in a world where theyâre made to feel guilty just for being a male.
While this book is primarily written for males, I think women can benefit from reading this in three major ways: recognizing and encouraging biblical masculinity in our husbands, knowing what to look for in a potential husband if we are single, and knowing what to teach our sons if we are mothers.
This book is not meant to be exhaustive or prescriptive. There is room for differences hereâ every man is not going to look the same or like the same things, but âmanhoodâ is more defined by a right posture before God and towards others.
I think this book does a great job of pointing to Scripture to dictate the principles men should be living by.
As a woman reading this book, I feel like Fuller did a good job of defending women and validating a lot of the fears and anxieties women may have towards men that men donât understand or think about. Those who get 'patriarchy' vibes while reading this book were never going to see anything else because they are not listening to what Fuller describes.
I would definitely recommend this book and think it would provide good framework for discussion.
