The preservation of manhood

A world that so often seems torn with strife, gripped by violence, and intimidated by the perversion of power is starving for gentleness and affection. How crucial that we nourish those tender qualities so often associated with divine womanhood. Sometimes it appears that aggressive elements of mortality would almost submerge the loveliness, the purity and goodness, inherent in consciousness. A very natural and valuable response is to shelter and encourage in our lives attributes of God who is Love, Soul.

But is it possible that sometimes the preservation of God-given manhood is neglected? It shouldn't be. Our world, our communities, our churches and families, need the expression of spiritual strength, the immortal power impelled by the divine Father, God. Time and again mortal anxiety and ignorance have galvanized attempts to stamp out whatever represents true manliness.

Bible history teaches valuable lessons. Consider, for instance, the Israelites prior to their exodus from Egypt. They were strong. The rigors of hard labor, enforced by Pharaoh, had not enfeebled them. Apparently their energy and sturdiness were increasing. An effort was made to counter this trend. But failing in an initial attempt to enlist the aid of midwives to destroy male offspring, "Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive." ^{Ex. 1:22 .}

On the surface, his atrocious order seems aimed at undermining the people's growing force. But from a more insightful perspective, this infanticide was devised to dispose of the child Moses, and the spiritual qualities he would eventually represent. (In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures Mary Baker Eddy indicates the nature of these qualities in her definition of "Moses," which includes: "moral courage; a type of moral law and the demonstration thereof." ^{Science and Health, p. 592 .} )

Yes, Moses was to advance humanity not only in an understanding of one God but also in proof of what bona fide manliness includes. His fortitude in shepherding the Israelites from bondage led to his perceiving of the Commandments—immensely powerful moral precepts that to this day are foundational for the stability of society. The virtue Moses displayed and prescribed through these God-given laws has helped provide decisive direction for the world. What a loss this planet would have suffered had that evil impulse to wipe out all the male children prevailed!

Centuries later the instinct to subdue the male element, to destroy what would represent the promise of full manhood, again exploded with jealousy and fear. "Led on by the grossest element of mortal mind," explains Science and Health, "Herod decreed the death of every male child in order that the man Jesus, the masculine representative of the spiritual idea, might never hold sway and deprive Herod of his crown." ^{Ibid., p. 565 .} Herod could not possibly have succeeded in exterminating Christ Jesus. Shielded by divine Love, Jesus was to show humanity the way out of mortality. And in this process he demonstrated the clearest, the most decisive, the fullest sense of authentic manhood. He illustrated the durable substance of our own real being.

Here was a man whose spiritual ruggedness was matched only by his tender love and compassion. His manhood was radiant; it could never be stripped away, because he understood that real being originates in Almighty God. Jesus didn't base identity on sexuality; he perceived and demonstrated the truth—the Christliness—of God-given selfhood. His manliness was pure and spiritual; he exercised power and boldness that were literally devastating to cowardly sickness and sin. Christ Jesus: what an example of real manhood. His life glowed with truth.

And today, how discerningly do we shield ourselves from those elements of mortal thought that would attempt to emasculate the virtue and truth of our manhood?

The efforts to destroy manhood now are no less aggressive than in earlier times. Nor is there less need for society, and specifically for Christianity, to be endowed with the energetic action and solid security reflected in this true quality of being. Mrs. Eddy spoke out for the need of manliness in church membership: "The male element is a strong supporting arm to religion as well as to politics, and we need in our ranks of divine energy, the strong, the faithful, the untiring spiritual armament." ^{The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 355 .}

As mankind progresses, we should not loosen our grasp on the virtue and truth of pure manhood. As one develops spiritually he doesn't outgrow genuine manhood—he grows more naturally into it. Spirituality never depletes manliness, but fosters and guides it. The human mind would distort or corrupt manhood, emphasizing it as muscular physique or misrepresenting it with effeminate posturing. But none of these mistakes about man can actually rob him of stalwart and vigorous being. The flourishing of spirituality includes God-endowed manliness. "And scientific growth," Mrs. Eddy assures, "manifests no weakness, no emasculation, no illusive vision, no dreamy absentness, no insubordination to the laws that be, no loss nor lack of what constitutes true manhood." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 206 .}

Really, each of us has a deep and inherent love for the manliness that emanates from divine Spirit. Whatever God gives to His child is good; it cannot be set aside or distorted. There's a certain spiritual light that shines through the virtue and truth illustrated by Moses and Christ Jesus. Today we are called on to represent and preserve these same qualities. We can express them more and more fully by recognizing they stem directly from God.

"The radiant sun of virtue and truth coexists with being," Science and Health asserts. And the textbook goes on to describe the nature of this real being. "Manhood is its eternal noon, undimmed by a declining sun." ^{Science and Health, p. 246 .} How true it is that the brightness of virtue and truth is inseparable from our pure manhood, which shines undimmed, permanently at its highest point of illumination.

God-created identity is intact. Our spiritual individuality is whole, complete—including the lovely symmetry of both manhood and womanhood. Discernment of this perfect being brings clarity to our present expression of qualities. Elements of manhood, for example, are preserved and strengthened; they are not confused and weakened. We safeguard our manhood by understanding that it comes from God. Ignorance or fear cannot dilute it when we let spirituality—the Christliness of virtue and truth—govern our lives.