We come to this psalm, but not immediately. First, I outline a background on base developments in our society.

From Equality to “Equality”?

Can a man be happy? That’s a somewhat provocative question today. Of course, there are many who immediately answer in the affirmative. Others, however, vehemently reject it because of the stigma attached to “the man.” In recent decades, much has been done to achieve equality between men and women. This is an important concern. I support that. However, this development may also have initiated an erroneous trend.

These questions are not only about personal well-being (“Do I feel comfortable in my masculinity or femininity as a man or woman?”), but also about social relevance. Think of social roles in society, expectations and demands based only on gender. Last but not least, it is also about jurisdiction (for example, in the case of divorce). Here’s my observation: there are massive disadvantages for men that are consistently hidden. Mentioning this is not to undermine women’s equality. Rather, it is to realize that our humanity is somewhat more complex and that equal rights for women alone are not enough. This is especially true when these efforts provoke new imbalances again, this time clearly to the disadvantage of men.

Equal rights for women are necessary and a good thing. However, the one-sidedness of the view is problematic. If, in this equality of women, men or masculinity are demonized at the same time, as happens in places, then there is a tangible problem. This puts many people in distress, both men and women. Today, there are masses of videos on YouTube, texts are written about it, even scientific studies are created. This demonization is a problem, not equality. Rather, it seems that the baby has been poured out with the bathwater. More on this in a moment, as I would like to outline a background against which this first psalm may perhaps provide valuable suggestions.

Equality means “equal rights in society for men and women”. However, in some places there is an ideological underpinning to this proposition that says that men and women are “equal.” From “equal in society” you get to “man and woman are equal”. This is not the same. There, however, ideological approaches take hold.

If masculinity and femininity have to be aligned, if men should become more feminine and women more masculine, what about one’s own identity? Do men want to become more feminine? Or do you just want to abolish a toxic masculinity? Likewise, women should be asked if they want to become more masculine? And what responsibility would this place on women? Are there only rights, or perhaps also duties?

If men were to become more feminine and women more masculine, what about their own identity?

Masculinity is under attack. On the one hand it is frowned upon, on the other hand it is desired. Both take place at the same time. How to deal with it as a man? This discrepancy can become a noticeable conflict between thinking and feeling. How can a man still be a man? Masculinity fails when asked to become more feminine. Radical feminism fails because of women’s biology. Masculinity and femininity are characteristics that we all carry with us. They shape us from birth and cannot be adequately explained by cultural or social conditioning alone.

The whole gender debate arose from the fact that gender was detached from biology and understood as a social imprint. This was accompanied by the fact that man and woman are now only understood as a “social construct”. It is the negation of a biological sex, in favor of a fluid imprint. When the desire for equality leads to the elimination of masculinity and femininity, new challenges arise. That’s what we’re talking about here, knowing that there are several views and that the last word may not have been spoken yet.

My concern is to mention a topic with relevance so that we can evaluate our Christianity and our humanity in today’s world. The point is to enable differentiation and to recognize a relevance for the statements of the Bible that also helps today. We live in a complex world in which many things can no longer be taken for granted. Being able to think about that is a privilege.

Masculinity and femininity

What is receiving increased attention today in a wide variety of texts and videos are the concepts of masculinity and femininity. So this is not about patriarchy or matriarchy, it is not about traditional role models or the preservation of “traditional values”. Rather, it is a question of identity. It is about the question of what distinguishes a man, whether a man’s masculinity, as well as a woman’s femininity, may be valued as attractive and needed strengths.

After the wave of equality on the societal level, the focus today is increasingly on this personal level. In doing so, one does not question social equality, but criticizes that the demanded equality has also brought about a leveling of differences between men and women. Not only is this an undesirable development, but a “new masculinity” is negatively shaping society – not least for women. Countless YouTube videos talk about it. Some prominent channels include:

• Tamara Wernli: The devaluation of men harms society
• Alexander Grace: I Believe In Difference Feminism

This is a phenomenon of our time. What is this doing here in a Psalm interpretation? Well, we live today. If I want to believe today, my faith must prove itself today. This likewise means that I can evaluate my thoughts as well as current challenges in light of Scripture. Perhaps it will show that I can take a more differentiated stance as a result.

Seek the confrontation

There is more at stake today than equality. It is also a question of identity, which is part of a healthy society. This question of identity needs a confrontation. Many men would like to be masculine and many women would like to be feminine. These are aspects of an identity that affect every area of life and our communities (family, church, community, society).

If one leaves the supposed security of traditional role models, a vacuum is created. One is forced to discover one’s own identity in order to fill the vacuum. This is not a retreat into the past, but a challenge of the current time. It is an attempt to think ahead, to take the next step better from here, to acquire appropriate tools, thought patterns, and life attitudes that help further. Finding identity is important for ourselves, for our families, for our communities, and for our society.

There is an enemy image in the idea of equality. The enemy image is the man, sometimes sweepingly referred to as “patriarchy.” This is the supposed “evil”. The idea is then projected onto the concept of “masculinity.” This is how progressives distinguish themselves from conservatives. However, both are at the extreme edge of a broader spectrum. At the edges of the spectrum, you may no longer see the center clearly.

The identity question is a question from the center. It not only has to do with our humanity, but of course also touches our Christianity and our society. Thinking about identity issues cannot be solved by ideology, be the ideology “Christian”, “woke”, “progressive” or however coined.

Not avoiding challenges is a male strength. It’s good to get to grips with things. Addressing identity issues includes one’s masculinity and femininity. Such a confrontation not only shapes a healthy humanity, but likewise shapes a healthy Christianity that is not guided by ideologies, but is grounded in grace and concrete love. Those who are loved can live out their own identity. Whoever knows himself to be loved by God receives an unshakable foundation on which to build, even if one is uncertain in his current environment about how he should be and become.

There is a false piety that can manifest itself in “being loving” and “being submissive.” That, too, is uncertainty. That’s just as toxic as patriarchal-tinged arrogance. However, knowing oneself to be sustained by God’s love and grace can place being human and Christian on a healthy foundation that does not shy away from any challenge in current life. A healthy community or faith community promotes a healthy view of this world and is not satisfied with ideologies.

The happy man

Good thing the Bible writers didn’t know about today’s challenges. Some today reject the Bible as a written testimony to a patriarchal structure. However, this falls short. To see a demon behind every tree and a patriarchy in every ancient text misses the reality of life and faith. Things are so very different in the Psalms. This is about wisdom of life and wisdom of faith and definitely not about patriarchy. However, it describes one man’s experience. What can we learn from this?

“Lucky the man,
who does not follow the counsel of the wicked,
does not tread the path of sinners
and does not sit in the circle of scoffers,
but has his delight in the law of the LORD
and ponders over his law day and night!”
Psalm 1:1-2

These words are spoken from experience. He who avoids the ungodly, sinners and scoffers, and instead fills his days and nights with good things (in the text: the Torah, the instruction of Moses), will be happy. There is a great sobriety in these words. It describes, in retrospect, how this man chose good over and over again. That is positive masculinity. An attitude towards life is brought to the point here, not as an intention, but as an experienced reality, as a valuable experience.

“He’s like a tree,
planted by water streams,
who brings forth his fruit in his season,
and whose foliage does not wither;
everything he does succeeds.”
Psalm 1:3

The psalm writer uses figurative language to explain how it works. Someone who is focused on goodness is like a tree planted by streams of water. In Hebrew it says here not “plant” but “transplant” and not “streams of water” but “ditches of water” (see also Martin Buber’s translation at the beginning of this post). The idea here is that it is a conscious decision to transplant oneself – in a figurative sense – directly to the water, namely where one consciously wants to direct water. There you can be sure to always get fresh water. This does good and allows growth.

A man who does this is “like a tree that brings forth its fruit in its season.” It is a remarkable comparison. A tree does not think about bringing forth fruit. It does not require conscious effort to do so. It is the natural process when a tree is planted by the water. In other words, if we create the conditions to enable healthy growth, then one day we will harvest. This is the normal development.

When Paul speaks of the “fruit of the Spirit” in the New Testament (Gal 5:22-23), it is also the result of many conscious decisions. It is what grows when we give space to the important things – when we give “spirit”. It is the fruit of the Spirit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control.”
Gal 5:22-23

There is only one fruit, but it can be paraphrased in this list with nine characteristics. These things all come together. It is a single fruit. It grows when we take care to create the conditions for it. The Psalm goes on to say:

“He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
who brings forth his fruit in his season,
and whose foliage does not wither; all that he does succeeds.”
Psalm 1:3

Life and abundance are the result. This is the happiness of the man. Not in the sense of a prosperity gospel that focuses only on consumption and material goods, but as a healthy flourishing of life’s tasks. Whoever lives in this way not only fulfills his humanity, but also his faith.

From there, the journey continues. Those who have built a good and positive foundation, from which they pick the fruit, can become a sustaining force in their community. A positive masculinity seeks the good of others without excluding oneself.

Deepening

Contributions in English or German

• Wikipedia: Masculinity
• Tamara Wernli: Hardly anyone talks about THESE male disadvantages
• The Discomfort of Gender: The Book That Started the Whole Gender Trouble
• Roger Rosweide: How men lost their masculinity

Suggestion

• Is it important to talk about social issues in your family or faith community? Why (not)?
• Do you see yourself as more conservative or progressive? What is important to you in it?
• Do you feel safer with traditional role models and why is that?
• Do you see any uncertainty about expectations for men or women in society?
• Can you recall an experienced situation that describes something similar to what was outlined here above?
• How do you feel as a man or woman in your skin? What should be changed?
• Define “masculinity” and “femininity.” Discuss.
• Read and discuss Psalm 1. What is the psalm writer trying to convey?
• How “perfect” do you have to be to feel accepted by others?