In the beginning God created us as male and female – reflecting his divine image. And we need both images still today to glimpse his divine nature and to learn more about ourselves as well.
In his infinite wisdom, God designed us as gendered beings. Though, as with many things, we have distorted our original glory.
But gender still runs deep. And we miss something of God’s design when we dismiss this or otherwise live as neutered beings.
Generally speaking, masculine presence reveals God’s strength – a strength that comes through on behalf of others, bringing more life and goodness into the world.
Masculine energy drives us to get things done – protecting and providing for our families, while also building our communities toward their highest good.
Feminine presence speaks to God’s beauty – a beauty that invites, comforts, nourishes, and reminds us that all will be well.
Feminine wisdom invites us to slow down and enjoy the flow of life, while also being fiercely protective of relational bonds.
There’s a time to get things done. And a time to just be and connect deeply with the world around us.
God has given us the masculine and the feminine to help show us the way.
And while neither can be reduced to mere cultural caricatures or stereotypes, men tend to gravitate toward the masculine while women toward the feminine.
At the same time, to grow into our fullness we need both.
Without giving up our manliness, maturity calls for us to accept and adopt aspects of feminine wisdom as well.
Steel and velvet is one image of mature masculinity that allows for both our strength and our tenderness.
In the end, gender matters and we missed the fullness of God’s revelation when we don’t honor our distinctions.
Honor and celebrate the wonder of our embodied selves as male and female.
Photo by Azrul Aziz on Unsplash
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