Dear Reader,

In 1898, Abraham Kuyper observed, “Modernism, which denies and abolishes every difference, cannot rest until it has made woman man and man woman, and, putting every distinction on a common level, kills life by placing it under the ban of uniformity.”

That comment must have seemed hyperbolic to some at the time. How could anyone possibly confuse man and woman?

Yet this week, we saw the United States Supreme Court weigh in on whether males could be excluded from women’s sports. The outcry against the court’s decision, which affirmed the obvious biological differences between men and women, is a sign that Kuyper’s analysis was prescient.

The cultural assumption that distinctions are dangerous has made talking about manhood difficult. On one hand, there are those who argue that humans are essentially androgynous and that biological sex is irrelevant or changeable. On the other hand, there are those who try to embody every negative stereotype through promiscuity, misogyny, and excessive focus on their physique. The Bible clearly rejects these extremes.

Between the poles is a huge space to explore what Scripture says about masculinity. In Authentic Masculinity, Seth Troutt ignores the noise to illuminate the ways that manhood is distinct from womanhood. There’s obviously a lot of overlap in the basic qualities every Christian should pursue, but there are differences in how men and women are meant to express their God-given biological sex outside the bedroom.

For example, Troutt argues that men should embody chivalry, which he defines as “strength that honors.” This builds on the reality that men are, on average, stronger than women. God created that difference, but he also calls men to use their strength to honor the women in their lives, not to dominate them. As Justin Dillehay argues in his review, “Authentic masculinity is Christ-shaped masculinity.”

In a world confused about masculinity and femininity, Authentic Masculinity reminds us that God’s design is both beautiful and good.

Happy reading!

Andrew Spencer

Associate Editor