Five Ways To Protect Your Masculinity

1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

When you do a google search on masculinity, toxic masculinity articles floods the results. 

With the above scripture, God knew that male masculinity was going to be challenged by the system. God never intended for man to be like the others because He made Man in His Image (Genesis 1:26)

When God created man, He empowered him to take dominion over all the earth. (Genesis 1:27-31). The power wasn't given to the 'fallen'; it was originally given to man! The evidence is clear that the world discourages masculinity. Why, because masculinity empowers men and threatens powers and principalities! 

Considering the qualities of masculinity, one cannot possibly believe there is anything toxic about it because masculinity contains these awesome characteristics: 

• Your masculinity connects you to God (Ephesians 6:10-18)
• Your masculinity increases fidelity (1 Timothy 5:8) 
• Your masculinity protects a woman's femineity (she doesn't have to take-on masculine duties because you fulfill your role) (1 Peter 3:7 ) 
• Your masculinity is associated with bravery (Ecclesiastes 8:1) 
• Your masculinity allows you to be objective (Hebrews 10:22) 
• Your masculinity activates critical thinking/analytical skills (1 Corinthians 15:58)
• Your masculinity activates persuasiveness. Imagine God saying this to you: "[Reuben], thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:" (Genesis 49:3) Awesome - right?
• Your masculinity activates emotional intelligence (1 Chronicles 22:13) 
• Your masculinity increases your physical and mental strength (Proverbs 24:5) 
• Your masculinity activates will-power (2 Timothy 1:7)
• Your masculinity activates self-discipline (1 Corinthians 9:27)
• Your masculinity causes you to be a man of honor and integrity (Proverbs 10:9) 
• Your masculinity causes you to be mentality stable and confident (Hebrews 10:35) 
• Your masculinity matures you (1 Corinthians 13:11)
• Your masculinity activates fearlessness (Ecclesiastes 8:5) 
• Your masculinity causes you to be a winner! (Hebrews 12:2)

Since masculinity is under attack, you need to be protective of your God given quality.

I am sure there are other ways to protect your masculinity, but here are 5 key ways:

The first way to protect your masculinity is to identify all the ways the world has confiscated it or falsified it.

"Genesis 9:2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered."

Now we know that the world is threatened by masculinity. They have been using mind-control through media (tv/video games/ internet/ movies/ music and other sources of entertainment) to take it from boys at a young age. 

People have been reduced to an avatar thanks to the www. People don't even see a problem with the fact that they can animate themselves on their social media platform. I see men using "like & share" as means to voice their concern; however, truthfully, liking & sharing is a complete and utter fail in the fight for justice (Exodus 1:10).

Anxiety and depression top the reasons why men are not functionating at their God given level. The media teaches people how to fear, then controls them by it. All throughout the Bible, never once was a man of God fearful; they didn't even fear death. However, it is an interesting fact that God empowered man to the point that others feared him when His hand was on them! (Genesis 9:2 )

The second way to protect your masculinity is to take charge of all areas of your life.

1 Kings 2:2-3 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:

Love yourself and your family. A man that has no (healthy) love for himself won't have a healthy love for his family either; this will lead to brokenness in the family unit. Protect your family from all harm; be a strong worker and a good provider. Heal what is wrong, and do not interfere with what is right.  

The third way to protect your masculinity is to endure hard times.

2 Timothy 2:3 says, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

No one said that life was easy. In fact, in the KJV Bible, the word exist isn't in it, however, the word 'endure' is... The difference between existing and enduring is one strengthens you - and the other one doesn't contribute to any character at all. Believe it or not, when you endure through tough times, that's what feeds your masculinity the most!

The fourth way to protect your masculinity is to know it has nothing to do with attractiveness/body-image.

In Isaiah 53, this passage describes the lowliness of Jesus, yet he endured the greatest hardship manfully. No one weak can ever go through what Jesus went through. Most supposed strong men would run away from such challenges because they wouldn't be able to bear up under that kind of pain!

There is a great amount of 'masculine' body-builders who pose their bulging muscles to show what masculinity means to the world. Same with world-wrestling; this is not the picture of true masculinity - arrogance maybe, but not masculinity. God made man in His Image. When men follow after the worlds image of masculinity, you lose your ability to protect it!

The fifth way to protect your masculinity is to know your strengths.

Genesis 49:3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

Ruben was named after Leah suffered much affliction. (Genesis 29:32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.) The truth is one of the best ways to protect your masculinity is to overcome affliction. Each time you do, you come to understand your strengths and develop more each time. 

Toxic masculinity has a great deal to do with the desire to get even with an opponent: true masculinity has everything to do with overcoming obstacles/hardships.

The masculine man is unmovable; he cannot be swayed; his decisions are final and those around him trust his leadership - and perhaps begin to doubt their own! (Job 12:3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?)

God Bless!