The War on 'Esau' Christianity

Douglas Wilson has declared war on wuss worship.

Last July, Mark Driscoll, another purveyor of what I will call from now on “Esau Christianity,” tweeted this offensive message: “So, what story do you have about the most effeminate anatomically male worship leader you’ve ever personally witnessed?” prompting Rachel Held Evans to call him out as a bully. She had her readers initiate a letter campaign to Mars Hill so that people could voice their objections to his tasteless and insulting remarks.

Douglas Wilson must have read Driscoll’s tweet and decided to collect examples over the past ten months, because now he has come out with a post of his own, listing eleven reasons your church worship service might be effeminate.

This is one of the more misguided and mean-spirited pieces I’ve read in awhile. This whole idea of “masculine Christianity” that some among the neo-Reformed and others are promoting these days is so off-base I can’t believe anyone falls for it. Most of our concepts of “masculinity” and “femininity” are time-bound social and cultural constructs and have nothing to do with being “biblical” (there is that terribly misused word again) or representing a vital and rigorous faith.

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http://www.OnlyWay.com David McElroy

Unfortunately, many cultural values are mistaken for biblical ones. Some would insist if Jesus were here today, he would wear an Armani silk suit, drive a new Lincoln, and vote a GOP straight ticket, supporting the NeoCon agenda. These were "evangelical Christians" who booed Ron Paul when he suggested the "Golden Rule" should be applied to foreign policy. As to the "masculine ministry" issue, I do believe Christ was an unmistakably masculine leader. God did assign gender differences, but being kindly and soft-spoken need not be seen as an offense. But the Jesus I know and love was confrontational and fearless, overthrew the moneychangers in the temple with angry force. He was not timid or effeminate.
- Mexseiko
  
  Here, here!
  
  The article has a propaganda melody. Of course putting a extremist everyone would love to hate helps sway the lightweight.
  
  For men to shy away from their roll is as sinful as women pride to rule their desires.
Evermyrtle

As far as I can tell from this article, it tells of nothing but one person's opinion. WHAT DOES THIS THING STAND FOR. WHAT ARE THESE OFFENSIVE RULES. I have no idea what 'Esau Christianity", is. Please explain!!

I am not like our WH crowd to vote on something, that I have no clue what I am,,or what ever they are talking about!.
- JeremiahToday
  
  I'M with you! This article is confusing to say the least…like someone couldn't put their thoughts together in some emotional frenzy…which (no offense to women), I see women do often…(some men too, though). I was going to post that I didn't know exactly what this article was about and that someone should rewrite it and be more clear of their point. I can't tell if they are for or against femininity or what???
- Taquoshi
  
  It seems like Mr. Wilson is promoting a "masculine" view of Christianity as embodied in the personage of Esau, who was a hunter, while Jacob (who I would like to point out, actually wrestled with an angel and lived to tell about it) was basically a wuss. Wilson is calling for war and battle imagery in music, and apparently thinks that any clerical collar shirt that is not the basic black is pink. Admittedly, I've seen some colorful ones in my day, particularly when we were in Hawaii, but the word "effeminate" never crossed my mind. Outlandish, yes; effeminate, no.
  
  There is or was a movement called "Iron John" that sought to bring men back to the hunter/gatherer philosophy. I imagine this is what someone in the feminist movement would call "basic chauvinist pig". I'm not sure where on the scale of 1 to 10 for Iron John the Esau Christian would be. I'm not sure I would be so bold as to dictate to the Lord God Almighty as to which "brand" of Christianity (Esau or Jacob) would be preferred, nor would I dare chance to condemn the spiritual state of those church leaders who have stood before the Judgement seat because they wore robes, wigs, or lace cuffs. I'll pass on that, thank you very much. I resigned as General manager of the Universe decades ago.
msjallen

My problem is the wimpy pictures of Jesus. In His humanity He was a carpenter, walked everywhere He went, threw the money changers out of the Temple area twice, tortured beyond recognition, carried His cross part way to the crucifixion, was nailed to the cross and hung there for six hours; the last three bearing all our sins and separated from God the Father and God the Holy Spirit in agony beyond our comprehension — how could anyone picture Jesus as a wimp? Jesus Christ becomes the over whelming influence in our life through Bible Doctrine.
Luke 2:52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
- Steve03
  
  Most criminals lasted many hours, or even days, on the cross. Jesus dying after only six hours was unexpected. That's why the soldiers were sent to break the legs of Jesus and thieves (John 19:31-37).
  - msjallen
    
    Yes, Steve, and that is what was prophesied in the OT that no bones of our Lord would be broken. After He died spiritually for our sins the last three hours on the cross, He exhaled His last breath and died physically. How thankful we can be for His saving grace and His resurrection so we can have eternal life with Him forever.
John

This movement sounds like a reaction to the pervasive feminism in our society and our churches. There are definite biblical "roles" for men and women. Learn them. Conform to them. Feminism is selfism and one of the most insidious tools conjured by the dark side in the past century. I have heard that some churches have reacted to the break-down in families and family governance by offering courses on leadership for men. How sweet!! Men generally know how to lead and protect. It is largely genetic – that testosterone thing, ya know. What we need are studies in FOLLOWERSHIP, not leadership! Most Christian women that I have seen say that they are NOT feminists, and they want to follow their husbands – as long as he leads them where they want to go, while they push him there from behind! The "Leadership" courses teach a man to get his head right and settle for the "point man" or "icebreaker role, while wives chart the course or balk at following. It is a dark, dark mess. Think about it!
John

I have heard it stated truly that Jesus was a servant. Yes, he was that above all. However, did Jesus take a poll among the disciples or others on how he would serve. Recall his reaction to resistance from his followers at the washing of the feat, the transfiguration, or the fact that He must die – and other similar events. He laid out specific tasks for His followers and admonished those who did not conform to His plans for serving a fallen world. He rebuffed those who were out of sync with his servant-hood. and performed the service as only He could know was correct.
Esteban Cafe

I can understand the reaction of this type of preaching, but it is too strong and loses some of the mellifluous joy and growth we men find under Christ's tutelage.

I think that America has been inundated with Feminism and the emasculation of male traits (read: removal), rather than training and discipline that modifies and shapes a boy/man's inclinations and nature and produces incredible leaders. And where do we get such training in this feminize world?

Christ is the epitome, patent, rule, and guide for all men who want to be more than a 'natural man.' Where God would change and transform male nature via rebirth, Feminism would convert it to female attributes, leaving a twisted and feckless Metrosexual in place of a Godly man. While I don’t agree with testosterone charge preaching, I can easily understand how it would get started.
http://youtu.be/zjgBhpanOfQ Despeville

Driscoll is the guy who gave a cheap stamp of approval to prosperity pimp and sabellian modalist TD Jakes who also has these type of visions… See what kind of "things" "Holy Spirit" shows to Driscoll…

5 minutes video: http://youtu.be/aVyFyauE4ig
- Evermyrtle
  
  What a wonderful talent you have for judging and name calling. It is a talent that Christians do not require.
  - http://youtu.be/zjgBhpanOfQ Despeville
    
    What a wonderful talent you have for "kumbaya Christianity" and intentionally blurring lines between truth and lies.
    Myrtle, you were not called to "kumbaya" but to CONTEND for the faith ONCE DELIVERED. Christian Faith is not about sitting in your rocking chair and nodding to everyone and everything and being "nice" as you see it.
    
    'Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints."
    ~ Jude 1:3 NASB
    - Evemyrtle
      
      You are not losing your talent, it is working well.
      Judging A-OK!!
      Name calling-kumbaya, not bad!!
      - http://youtu.be/zjgBhpanOfQ Despeville
        
        Do you ever say anything to the point?
Winston

It appears that many, if not most, readers/posters miss the mark in interpreting the message. Clearly there are liberals and socialists who have wormed their way into the Church to create disention and strife by such articles as this…pitting masuline men against feminine men…etc. It is the way of the socialists to create adversarial relations amongst those in the Church to demonstrate the lack of wisdom, leadership, discipline, etc. in the body of believers. Once they have been successful in doing this then they'll find other weaknesses within the Church to seek and destroy…ultimately Christianity itself.
- Steve03
  
  Actually, these are Biblical literalists who are creating strife as they scramble to increase their own "market shares" at the expense of their fellow preachers. And while they poach each others' flocks, 2/3 of humanity perishes for want of preachers . . .
Gus Gianello

Doug Wilson is a neolegalist heretic Driscoll is just plain crazy–BUT– gender roles are not social they are eternal, otherwise Jesus would not have specified there is no marriage in heaven. He specified it because male and female still exist but sexual relations have ceased. We are husband & wife and brother & sister on earth, but in heaven we are only brother & sister. Since gender is forever–ie. in eternity it stands to reason that it must be relevant in time and on earth. Read isa. S2, read eph 5, and 1 Cor 11 and 1 Tim 2. Masculine christianity is biblical christianity. The reason family, church and state is such a mess is because there are no men anymore, just 40 year old fratboys or mamas boys or pimps.

From one man to another
Gus Gianello
- Steve03
  
  And 2 + 2 = 75. I doubt you could form a rifle platoon for shelter tents, and yet you undertake to marshal the hosts of heaven. That's where Eve went astray, too, trying to be like God.
  - Gus Gianello
    
    No 2+2 is four and since you reprobate evil minded man have decided to get personal I will call you the way you are acting an unreasoning beast made to be captured and destroyed. Im a greek reading idiot with a doctorate and over 40 years of bible study amd profession. Yeah. I'm the idiot. Let me show you some love– repent and get saved b4 you burn in the fires of hell. The back of the fool is only good for stripes.
    
    Sincerest regards
    
    Gus Gianello
    - Steve03
      
      I've touched a nerve, and you've wasted forty years.
Dennis

It is not feminism but the jezebel spirit alive and well in churches today.Sorry if women do not like it but the fact is you have a place within the church and it isnt what you are told it is today.When you read and study scripture it is clear how important women are in areas of life but we are told today many thngs concerning women that are not applicable or true and yet we allow it.Ignoring what YHWH clearly teaches us for doctrines of men or in this case women.
frequencypropogation

Please visit my blog article http://frequencypropogation.wordpress.com/2012/03…

There is a series of articles on my site documenting some things about Mars Hill as an organization and who Mark Driscoll really is.