How Christians and pastors contribute to the “toxic masculinity” nonsense …

Not everyone noticed a recent news story with a headline that touted, “… study reveals the dangers of ‘toxic masculinity’ to men and those around them,” but many of us who did could see the warped cultural nonsense in the analysis.

The story began, “Young men who conform to traditional definitions of manhood are more likely to suffer harm to themselves, and do harm to others, according to a new survey of Australian men aged 18 to 30.”

Then, even more recently, Gillette released a new television advertisement that set social media ablaze with criticism — this time, I had to agree with the dissenters, as I thought the ad was pretty good!

But anyone who keeps up with stuff like this isn’t surprised that there’s a dramatic uptick on the attack of some women and institutions on maleness in general, and biblical masculinity in particular.

Hollywood has been pecking away at the content and value of masculinity for a long time, making commonplace sitcoms and story lines that feature a dunce of a man and a brilliant woman who has to put up with him.

But (bad) psychology, progressive “educators,” secular media, Hollywood and others aren’t the only ones who are as persistent as a dripping faucet with their attack on men … many professing Christians and pastors are just as guilty, although they may be ignorant of their contributions.

But they do contribute to this “toxic masculinity” nonsense through their prolific flow of “humor” that constantly ridicules or makes fun of men while elevating women. Go online most any day and across multiple social media platforms you’ll find Christians sharing memes insulting men as stupid and dumb and making a woman out to be brilliant and tolerant of such male ignorance.

Pastors do the same with “jokes” from the pulpit (often, “dumb husband,” brilliant wife and mother).

Here’s the problem: Christians and church leaders cannot effectively challenge the world’s assault on masculinity while contributing to it at the same time. That is nothing short of hypocrisy.

It’s time Christians and church leaders examine the effect of their humor and consider how they may be just as guilty as anyone else when it comes to “piling on” men about being men. Humor can be a positive and enjoyable thing to experience and share, but when it causes harm, it needs to repented of.

Scotty