NFL athlete and Christian activist Tim Tebow will join pastors, Christian musicians and Christian comedians at a sold-out event in Champion Forest next week to discuss how men can step it up to be better leaders in their homes, workplaces and churches.
Tebow’s successful college football career and current position as Denver Bronco’s quarterback make him a manly-man in an everyday sense, but evangelical Christians say it’s his unashamed willingness to adhere to the moral teachings of his faith that make him a man in a religious sense.
Tebow, who told reporters that yes, he was a virgin and yes, he was waiting until marriage to have sex, has become an example of contemporary “biblical manhood,” a good guy, willing to speak out for Christianity and actually practice what he preaches.
The notion of biblical masculinity is based on a complementation view of gender roles, as described in Scripture, which positions men as head of the household. The leaders of the movement to restore biblical manhood say today’s men aren’t living according to that Christian call, and social and spiritual downfalls have caused them to be lazy and passive or overly authoritative. There’s a man crisis in society, they say, and the church needs to educate men on how to fulfill their responsiblities.
Next week’s event is part of that. It’s called “Born to be wild: The man journey,” and will feature Pastor Darrin Patrick, who has been outspoken about the issue in Reformed Christian circles.
“Younger men don’t even want to be men. They are trying to prolong their adolescence,” said Patrick, citing stats on increasing numbers of guys living with their parents, changing jobs several times, using video games and watching porn.
Posted by Kate Shellnutt at January 28, 2011 12:13 PM