In the wake of Adam Giambrone’s recent scandal in a teapot I’ve been reflecting on the deeper problem surrounding his actions. He never grew up. How else do you explain his immature actions?
It isn’t just him. I would put myself in the same category. I believe we’ll see a whole generation of men who are not wholly grown up. We have forgotten the rites of passage, the conversations with our children about what adulthood, and manhood is all about.
Mark Driscoll talks about how culture feminizes men. I would humbly beg to differ. Both Christian and secular culture have forgotten how to train children, especially boys, into adulthood. There is no education in self-control, responsibility, or faith that is strong enough to make men out of boys. I would argue that Mark Driscoll’s machismo is as much a product of a failed full entry into adulthood as my weaknesses in being a responsible young man.
I’m not sure what the solution is. I can only say that we are failing to produce men. We are making adult-shaped children.
I thought you were going to talk about how the Buddha was able to walk as an infant. Nevertheless, what you say is probably true. We need to find solutions and put boys and young men in contact with real, live grown-ups who can help them grow into the men they were meant to be.
Yeah, I think that mentorship is so important for young men. And churches especially need to be doing a better job of creating intentional opportunities for these sorts of relationships to occur.
Last Sunday I heard a woman from Malawi, Theresa Malila, speak at Peoples Church. One of the most interesting things she said was “we (the church) have raised a generation of anemic youth. Powerless, prayerless.” An interesting point in light of your post.
I would say that it is your perspective that it is especially men who are not being mentored. Do you see it happening more for women? The answer is no. I would argue that we are a floundering generation as a whole.