A blog for Christian men "going their own way."

Friday, February 26, 2010

Time to Stop

This is it. My last post for Biblical Manhood. I think for over a year (or two), I knew that I was going to be quitting this thing. I felt that God was leading me to "the next gig" in my life, but I wanted to get my parting shots in before closing down the blog. Now, it's going to be a bit sooner than I originally planned.

I have spent a lot of time involved in MRA and MGTOW activities for six or more years now. From my viewpoint, my break from the scene is not so much a change of conviction about the things I have discussed as it is a change of direction and focus. There is still a lot of gravel that needs to be shoveled by someone. I still think misandry (religious or otherwise), gynocentrism, neo-chivalry (especially lifeboat feminism), biogynism, realmannspracht, and other forms of garbage thrown at men are a serious problem. I still consider these things to be intolerable and sinful. I still stand by my manifesto on Biblical Manhood (parts 1, 2, and 3). The manifesto is my personal stance against what I perceive to be some false doctrines about manhood in religious circles, and against some really bad ideas that are found even in parts of the "Manosphere."

Maybe the Lord will change my mind on some things. Maybe not. But I feel convicted that he wants me to put an end to this. No one has threatened to fire me, turn me in, or report me to the Gender Correctness Police. I haven't been seduced by a female to soften my views. Brother So-and-So didn't call on me to repent of my views. I didn't get "straightened out" by a therapist. This is simply what I feel to be a work of the Holy Spirit on my heart.

I still believe there are too many broken cisterns that men are trying to drink from (Jeremiah 2:13). Women, sex, status, money, health, power, careerism, approval of the crowd--these are the ones that come to mind. Granted, some of these things are permissible. Yet the Word of God is clear. Men are made acceptable by the blood of Jesus, not the broken cisterns (Romans 4:25). Joy and the peace "that surpasses understanding" comes from God (Galatians 5:22; Philippians 4:7), not the broken cisterns. Completeness comes through Christ, not the broken cisterns (Colossians 2:10). Value comes through being added spiritually to the Lord's body (1 Corinthians 12:12-27), not through the broken cisterns. None of the broken cisterns are vital for a man to be the kind of man God wants him to be. Anyone who says otherwise is in spiritual bondage to a lie.

I end this post with a prayer ...

Let those who mock men be defeated in their counsel.

Let those who refuse to stand up for justice for men be defeated in their counsel.

Let those who bind heavy burdens on men that God does not bind be defeated in their counsel.

Let those who turn the blind eye to the suffering of men be defeated in their counsel.

Let those who diminish the God-given worth of men be defeated in their counsel.

Let those who equate manhood with sexual prowess, romantic success, being married, or having children be defeated in their counsel.

Let those who equate manhood with status, strength, worldly success, or power be defeated in their counsel.

Let those who are in power and who commit injustices against men be defeated in their schemes.

Let all falsehood be utterly defeated.

Let the Word of God stand forever.

Let everything that I have prayed which is according to will of God be granted.

In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

God bless you all.

[Edit: If you are interested in another blog primarily devoted to the subject of "biblical manhood" that is male-friendly and sensitive to what men really experience in church, then I recommend SingleChristianMan's place. He is not MRA/MGTOW like I am, but I find his writings insightful, edifying, and satisfying. Let me also say that appreciate you other compadres in the blogosphere that have read me and linked to me. You know you who are. Take care.]

37 comments:

Keoni Galt said...

Well Anakin, as one who had a few disagreements with in the past, I wish you luck, and do appreciate your point of view that you brought to the table. In the end, I've certainly agreed more oft than not with most of the views you've put forth here.

Just please don't delete your blog. Let it stand as a testament to all of the thought, time and effort you've dedicated these past years in doing your own part to combat cultural and spiritual misandry.

Anonymous said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQdDcsHVzI0

Elusive Wapiti said...

Thanks for all that you have done. You will be missed. You are welcome to swing by and visit anytime.

Until the end,

Triton said...

Well, it's too bad, but I understand.

In the meantime, I also think you should leave the blog up. And I hope to see you comment at other places.

Otherwise, best of luck, and God speed.

John Markley said...

Thank you for everything you've written here.

P Ray said...

I'm still going through many of your writings - and they are indeed a common ground for all men of principle, whether religious or not, as to how they deal with the way many modern people callously treat relationships and their own and others' lives.

Keep the blog up, it is a useful guide in the modern world of ambiguity. Thank you.

Solifuge938 said...

God bless and may you have success in what the Holy Spirit has called you to do next. I have never commented before but I have been a reader for quite a while and this blog has been of tremendous value to me, thank you for spreading wisdom. God bless Anakin.

By The Sword said...

Anakin:

I want to thank you for all of the work you have done. Your writings have opened my eyes a great deal about what men face today.

You simply and calmly spoke the truth in a dense fog of lies and truth, as always, shone brighter than anything. Thanks again for having the guts to stand by your convictions and the gumption to write for us time and time again.

I hope that you will keep the blog up for a while. I know many men who could benefit from your works and I have directed several toward your site already.

Good Luck;

by_the_sword

n/a said...

So long and good luck, Anakin.

Learner said...

Anakin,

I am sorry to see your blog go (though I hope you leave it up), but I can understand why. I thank you for your thoughtful writing and reasoned responses on these issues which are so important to our culture inside and outside the church. I have greatly appreciated your intellect and spirit my brother. Not only have I learned a great deal from your writings, but I have met people who became my "real life" friends through your previous blog Scripturally Single. This blog also played a (somewhat unusual) part in bringing my boyfriend and I together and for that I am very thankful :)

May the Lord God be with you wherever you go.

Will S. said...

All the best, my brother in Christ. I'll add my voice to others, please leave your blog up, so others may still benefit thereby. Thanks in advance for doing so.

CS said...

Best wishes Anakin. I'll miss your perspectives but you must follow as you're led. Please do leave the blog up if you can. Blessings.

Jeff said...

Anakin,

Thank you. You have been a blessing and I will greatly miss your writing. I hope you will continue to write in some capacity on other topics related to the body of Christ.

Anonymous said...

Good luck to you on your new endeavors, whatever they may be.

Just make sure you keep the blog up, okay?

Jesse said...

All the best, Anakin. You've been a voice in the wilderness here and I'm sure you'll continue to be in whatever endeavors you take on next. Thanks for sharing your wisdom; your take on MRA/MGTOW issues from a solidly biblical perspective will be truly missed.

And yeah, of course, please do leave the blog up!

Anonymous said...

Not too many like you Anakin, cutting through the bullshit and piercing the value of humanism invading the Church.

Jedi's work is never done.

Amir Larijani said...

Sorry to see that you are hanging it up.

You've been providing a necessary element of balance to what is often passed as "good theology" but is in fact a totally different agenda that unwittingly corrupts the Gospel, all in the name of good intentions.

Hopefully, you will be back in the not-so-terribly-distant future.

dienw said...

Amen to your prayer.

I've enjoyed your writings; yet I knew you were finished with this topic when you posted your summation a few posts ago.

May God be with you in the coming days and years; even until we are taken away from the things that are coming upon the face of the earth.

Ken said...

Shucks. I really, really have enjoyed this blog as a thought-proviking place. There are a bunch of blogs out there calling on the culture and women to stop attacking men and masculinity, but few that do so while also calling men to follow Christ and so skillfully drawing from the Scriptures to defend masculinity, men, and being unmarried.

I agree with all of the others that ask you to please leave this blog online as a reference. Heck, even one guy who took down his own blog asks you to keep your online.

Silas Reinagel said...

Anakin, thanks so much for your contributions to the community, and for the ideological counterpoint that you have offered to some of the false views proffered by the modern church, as well as some of the false views presented by the singleminded pursuit of certain secular men. I have always appreciated your respectful demeanor and your clear stance that manliness isn't about many of things people often suggest that it is.

God bless you in your future endeavors!

Triton said...

Heck, even one guy who took down his own blog asks you to keep your online.

Anakin's blog is far more valuable than mine was.

Ken said...

I still miss it, Triton! ;-)

Amir Larijani said...

Anakin, it's a shame you are hanging it up now.

Maken is republishing her book.

Triton said...

I still miss it, Triton! ;-)

I appreciate that, Ken.

Maken is republishing her book.

And the hits just keep on coming...

Seriously, I figured she kind of cashed in her chips back in 2008 when she stopped updating her blog. Her book was a neat little money-making scam, but the brutal way in which she contorted the Bible should have been the death knell for it once those contortions were fully exposed.

Then again, as P.T. Barnum reminds us, there's a sucker born every minute, so I suppose there's always going to be some single women in their 30's and 40's whom Maken can separate from their cash.

SavvyD said...

It's right that you should do as you think and feel the Lord is leading you. Blessings.

Unfortunately, it looks like the average shelf-life of a blog is about 2 years. SIGH. I thought you were on a good track.

Something Feral said...

Fashionably late, I have nothing new to say, but do not let that diminish the spirit of the message: I enjoyed your blog, and I hope to enjoy it for some time to come (backreading)... Signposts that direct others out of the wilds should be left to stand for as long as they are able.

May you be richly blessed by the Lord in whatever comes to you.

demoiselle said...

You're a pretty angry guy. Hope that you get some help to deal with it.

Pattaya said...

sadly i only found your blog after u had already decided to quit.

Billy said...

Tis a shame really.

So many church leaders are gurly men standing outside reality.

King Alfred said...

Your work has been inspiring. You have delved into sensitive issues that most would avoid for fear of detractors, and you found Truth. Thank you for sharing so much of your time and insight with us. May God bless you in your new endeavors!

Tenerife said...

Recommended book: "Why Men Are The Way They Are" by Warren Farrell. It is a secular book but I think you would find it helpful in clarifying many of these issues.

Amy said...

God Bless you and good luck in the future.

Jenny said...

You're a good man and I regret that you'll no longer be posting. God Bless you!

Anonymous said...

Anakin, just found this stuff. Great. I've got vision to pick it back up and grow. Please e-mail me and let me carry the torch! jkspiffyman04@yahoo.com

Will S. said...

Start your own one, dude!

Anakin Niceguy said...

Anonymous,

To follow up on what Will said, go ahead and do your thing. Right now, I am ambivalent at best about jumping back into blogging about men's issues. All my writings are free for copying, anyway.

Take care,

Anakin

Unknown said...

I like your article posting this is really nice article and very informative blog

renting a yacht in dubai