Masculinity Is Not Toxic. Men Need To Reign It In.

“And he inquired about their welfare and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves. And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!” Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there. Then he washed his face and came out. And controlling himself he said, “Serve the food.”” (Gen 43:27-31)

Again, the algorithm strikes again.

I've been slipping into watching VTubers on Youtube.  VTubers are cartoon representations of people, mostly female, and they talk about stuff.  One such VTuber is named Saphia, someone who really tugs at the heart strings of men, mainly because she always appears encouraging, soft, kind, as a defender of men, etc.  Anyway, there was one such video where she talks about why the reason men don't open up emotionally as much is because they were taught to rein it in, and not be so emotional.  You could say, be like Mr. Spock.

She says the following:

"Men are taught to hold everything in.  From a young age, men get told stuff like, 'Don't cry!', 'Be strong!', 'Man up!', 'Don't show weakness!'.  And that does something to you.  That makes you...close off.  That makes you...hide feelings.  That makes you scared to be vulnerable.  And then people get mad when men don't open up.  Bro, they weren't allowed to!  They were trained out of it!  They were told that emotions are wrong.  So, when I see a man open up, even a little, that's brave, that...is huge.  And that deserves love, not judgment."

There is one thing that Saphia criticizes in which she is correct to criticise:  The idea that emotions are wrong.  As even the cited Scriptures clearly show, this is false doctrine.

However, in this piece, I make the case that men reigning it in is good.  

Even the YouTube reviewer (not a VTuber, btw) The Critical Drinker emphasizes this point in his critical review of new Star Trek movies.  He compares the death scene of Spock and Admiral Kirk giving the eulogy.  In these scenes, Kirk is mature, and holding his emotions.  Why? As Mr. Drinker says:

"Because he's a grown a** man, and he's the captain of a starship.  He's expected to lead by example and hold himself together, whatever his personal feelings, because that's how professional officers conduct themselves.  And that little moment when his composure slips becomes all the more poignant, because you know how hard he's trying to hide it."

In the starting Scripture, Joseph is similarly moved with emotion (albeit it's a happier ending than with Kirk), and also tries to hide his public display of emotion.

Now, it would be dishonest of me to leave out the part where Joseph later couldn't handle it anymore:

“Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it.” (Gen 45:1-2)

Even then, Joseph had everyone except his family leave.

There is a lesson here.  Heck, even when God confronted Job near the end of his unpleasant season, God says twice, as the KJV renders it, to "gird up" "thy loins" "like a man" (Job 38:3, 40:7)

Now yes, there is a time and place for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1), even men being emotional, and wailing like women.  I've done it, as I've written in The Ninth Cloud, Chapter Four:

42 I then spake, “I pray I manifest not such fervour when I sojourn with Kebert Stella.”

43 She rejoined, “Oh, nay! 'Tis wholesome to release thy emotions!” 

44 This did stir within me greater passion. I am of a susceptible spirit. 

45 When a famed healer of the stars doth grant me leave to weep, I am wont to oblige.

(and yes, I deliberately used the chapter/verse format as a creative tool.  Is it really sacrilege to use such a format in a secular work?  I don't know.  That's for another discussion.)

Even then, as "verse" 42 says, I confessed to Medis Stella (who is really actress Gates McFadden) that I wanted to reign it in.  Why?  Because I believed that men need to reign it in.  However, her encouragement for me to let it out made me lose it.  Indeed I was of a "susceptible spirit".

In short, while men are allowed to be emotional (we're not robots, we are human), we are to still be men.  And as men, we are to reign it in, only emoting where and when appropriate.  To fail to do so is to lean towards effeminacy, which leads to Hell.  I'm using the KJV for this reference, since I believe it does a better job at rendering the Greek word malakos than the ESV, which merely speaks of homosexuality:

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (1Co 6:9-10)

Even straight people can be soft.  Also, to be gay does not always mean to be soft.  The Village People, and scenes from Police Academy at "The Blue Oyster" emphasizes that (This is not an endorsement of homosexuality, nor the Village People, nor Police Academy, nor The Blue Oyster).  So, while homosexuality certainly leads to Hell (as emphasized in Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, Romans 1:27 [maybe also v. 26 if they're referring to lesbians]), men being soft, as written in I Corinthians 6:9-10 also leads to Hell.

So men, it's OK to cry, but still be a man.

Video sources:

Saphia video: https://youtu.be/osXAPojzsNU?si=9jVNdrYR3OYJ1VkR&t=80

Critical Drinker video: https://youtu.be/CQ92cggLMx8?si=zqIBdJj2CqrLmOl2&t=219

I Was Careless Once.

 ““Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”” (Luke 6:37-38, ESV)

I am a nearly 40 year old retail stocker, going on six months working for the company in this current run.  I have seen the work of those around half my age not only be inconsiderate in their work, but have a less than ideal work ethic.  For a moment, I was incensed.   Then I remember, I was once young, inconsiderate, and, to put it bluntly, lazy.  So, I quickly let it go.

Is it because of the "no one wants to work anymore" or "no one wants to work for less than a 'living' wage" attitude that the young are what they are?  That's a discussion for another time.  What matters in the moment was my reaction to it.

Yes, there must be accountability, but also:

“For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13, ESV)

Even today, I have committed errors in safety and in recklessness that cost the company not a small sum.  While being held accountable, I was still shown mercy.

Quick Exposure of Two Female Bible Teachers

 “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” (1 Timothy 2:12, ESV)

Again, the algorithm is a thing.  I found two female content creators on Facebook Reels, Ana Munley, and Rose Ramandi, who are teaching the Bible.  Ms. Ramandi is also presumably Catholic, given her display of rosary beads and the "Book of Common Prayer".

The Bible forbids women to teach the Bible.

As for the algorithm, yeah, I don't know how to alter it.

We Need To Talk About Islam.

 Something has just bothered me, and I want to talk about it.

There are some Conservatives in the USA that are calling for the banning of Islam, the abolition of all mosques, and the deportation of all Muslims out of the country.  Why?  Because to them, Islam teaches that Muslims are to put to death non-Muslims.

Now, here's the thing.  I've only heard about some Islamic doctrine secondhand.  It is a more honest take if one looks at the source material for one's self.

However...

I struggle with this, because of the following:

Jer 10:2  Thus says the LORD: “Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them,

Deu 12:30  take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’

1Co 14:20  Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

So, at this time, I cannot currently study the Koran for myself.  If any Christian believer or someone who believes in plain, literal exegesis of Scripture can convince me otherwise, please do.  I want to know what the Muslims believe, a la I Thessalonians 5:21.  Show me in Scripture that I am not only allowed to study the Koran in the name of examination and potential exposure of evil, but that I am commanded to do so.

Luigi Mangione is Not A Hero, He Is A Murderer

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” -- Romans 12:19 

Now, whether Brian Thompson, the former CEO of UnitedHealthcare, is a murderer by proxy (a little like King David to Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 11), but in a larger scale) is up for debate.  God will judge Mr. Thompson for his actions, whatever they may be.

What's not up for debate is the fact that the killing of Mr. Thompson by Mr. Mangione is biblically unjustified.  God will judge Mr. Mangione for his actions.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.  -- 2 Corinthians 5:10

OK, I'm Done With Suno.

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

(Mat 7:12)

 

I admit to have used Suno in the past, and to use Suno to generate one more song (whose lyrics were fair use by the way, since it talked about Suno and the lawsuit by Miss Krystle), but even that is regarded as unethical by some musicians.  The following video spoke about stuff like this, and is very direct.

I made a confession in the comments (a la James 5:16, I think), and received appreciation for it (and also edited it for full disclosure)

Anyway, just wanted to share that, since it does tie in to Biblical principles of the Golden Rule, which in this application, means to have absolute respect for intellectual property, which of course, as a young adult, I did not have, concerning video games, music, etc.  All such instances of IP theft have since been deleted and/or destroyed, and I intend to consume content only ethically and legally.

So, what else does this mean to me?  Perhaps it's best that I stick to writing.  I've had more practice with writing (as evidenced by this blog) than any other creative craft.  I even wrote and published a short memoir (in which, yes, I used generative AI to translate into King James English), which I later unpublished due to Biblical concerns (see 2 Corinthians 2:17), and the main claim of the story of being debt-free I later disputed.

Still, what you see here is done with human hands, and not paraphrased or translated by generative AI.

Many False Teachers Are Well Spoken Of

 ““Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26, ESV)

If you come across a popular preacher or pastor, watch out!  It is likely they are false, because, at the very least, they will be well spoken of as Jesus proclaims.  Billy Graham is an obvious example.  Not sure of any other obvious examples like Billy Graham.  I came across someone named Josh Howerton of Lakepointe Church, he's got over a million subscribers on YouTube alone.  This alone makes him suspicious.

In addition, Jesus said to His disciples:

“and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22, ESV)

If you are not hated because of the name of Christ, it is likely you are not saved, and are headed to Hell.  Why?  Because a mark of a true believer is hatred by the world of you because of Christ.