Masculinity Is Not Inherently Toxic…and Neither Is Empathy | Paul Huyghebaert

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/masculinity-is-not-inherently-toxicand-neither-is-empathy/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ We don’t do nuance very well these days… We tend to take complex realities, find their absolute worst expressions, and then decide the whole thing must be the problem. If something has caused harm somewhere, the dominant instinct is to label it dangerous everywhere. That’s especially true in our current conversations around masculinity and empathy. In some cultural spaces, masculinity itself is treated as a liability—something that needs to be softened, restrained, or even apologized for. Can’t men be less driven, dominant, and competitive and more, say, cooperative and empathetic? In response to this—and other criticisms like it—some Christians have begun to push back, and in the process, empathy has come under suspicion. In certain corners of the church, empathy itself is now being described as toxic, corrosive, or incompatible with biblical faithfulness. As a minister/pastor—and as someone who has also worked in the mental health world—I sometimes find myself caught in the middle of this conversation. It’s increasingly frequent that I find myself talking with men who are unsure what strength is supposed to look like anymore. I also sit with people more often than I’d like who are deeply wounded and yet have learned that being honest about their pain will be met with correction not compassion. Something has gone sideways in both directions. Masculinity is not inherently toxic. Empathy is not inherently unbiblical. But both can become unhealthy when they are twisted into something God never intended them to be. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW