🏗️ Filling the Void: What Comes After "Biblical Manhood"?

June 04, 2026
00:00 55:06
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If we move past the confusing labels of "biblical manhood," what are we actually left with? 🗺️❓

In the final visionary installment of this series on Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Ashish Varma address the "void" left behind when we deconstruct faulty masculinity frameworks. If "biblical manhood" as a standalone category is unclear and often unhelpful, what is the concrete path forward for men in the church?

In this episode, we discuss:

  • The "Void" Problem: Why taking away a flawed boundary requires us to put a better, biblical foundation in its place.

  • Faithfulness vs. Masculinity: The "impossible" task of separating faithful Christian behavior from gendered behavior in the lives of biblical figures.

  • The Danger of Arbitrary Lines: How setting "manhood standards" (like weightlifting or specific hobbies) creates unnecessary barriers to the Gospel.

  • Imitation over Idealization: Shifting from trying to be an "ideal man" to imitating the self-giving love of Jesus Christ.

  • A Clear Command: Returning to the simple, powerful calling of Matthew 28: learning to live under the authority of Christ.

It’s time to stop chasing a "masculinity" that the Bible doesn't define and start pursuing the Discipleship that it clearly commands. Join us for a final look at how we build the body of Christ together. ⚓✨

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To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com.

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Meet Your Host
James Spencer earned his Ph.D. in Theological Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He believes discipleship will open up opportunities beyond anything God’s people could accomplish through their own wit and wisdom. As such, James seeks to help believers think Christianly about social, cultural, and political assumptions. His desire is to see Christians test God by trusting God so that they conform ever more closely to the image of Christ.

In addition to being a regular contributor to Christianity.com and Washingtontimes.com, James has published multiple works, including Christian Resistance: Learnign to Defy the World and Follow Christ, Useful to God: Eight Lessons from the Life of D.L. Moody, Thinking Christian: Essays on Testimony, Accountability, and the Christian Mind, and Trajectories: A Gospel-Centered Introduction to Old Testament Theology.

James currently serves as president of the D. L. Moody Center, an adjunct instructor at Wheaton College Graduate School, and faculty member at Right On Mission.

You can find out more about James at his personal website www.jamesspencer.com.
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