Book Review: The Masculine Mandate

I won this book, The Masculine Mandate, along with two of Richard Phillips's other books, Jesus the Evangelist and What's so Great About the Doctrines of Grace? a year or two ago.  This one has been sitting on my shelf that whole time.  I have grabbed it a few times, only to reshelve it for later.  I wish I would not have waited. This is simply one of the best, most accessible books on Christian manhood that I have read. 

Phillips begins early by challenging the ideas of one of the most popular books on masculinity, Wild at Heart, but he doesn't dwell there.  Instead, he moves quickly to developing a biblically informed view of manhood.  Specifically, expanding upon Genesis 2, he identifies the themes that we are to "work" and "keep". 

After he develops this model, he demonstrates what this looks like practically.  He discusses the role of loving leadership in fatherhood and marriage. He also talks about the importance of male friendships and how we must minister to one another.  Finally, he talks directly about the importance of men being in the church, being leaders, and ministering to others.  This theme in particular seems to run contrary to some of the wildly individualistic men's stuff that has come out.

I would commend this read to any Christian man.  It is a clear, understandable explanation of what it means to be a man. 

4.5 stars.