#312 - Kyle Thompson // TOXIC vs. TETHERED: Godly Protection

Welcome to the Daily Blade. The word of God is described as the sword of the Spirit,

the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts

are Jobimartin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's

sharpen up.

Welcome back. Let's get after it. All week long, we're going head to head with the

culture's narrative about toxic masculinity. We'll examine the claims, test them against

God's word and build a better framework, and that better framework is what we're calling

tethered masculinity. Here's the definition. It's the identity and actions of a man submitted

to the authority of scripture. So let's go to cultural claim number four. Male strength

is a weapon of intimidation. So I'm sure you've heard from some form of this or heard

of some form of this at some point in your life. And this is a bit of a downstream

argument from some of the stuff that we talked about earlier this week, like the claims

about masculine aggression being toxic and masculine leadership being oppressive. And

a lot is made about the patriarchy and whatnot. But for the people making these claims, ultimately

a boils down to this. Strong men make people uncomfortable. And look, the cultural claim

isn't all wrong. I mean, just look at your own childhood. Didn't you have moments when

a stronger or bigger man made you feel uncomfortable? Whether they did it on purpose or accident?

I mean, look at movie and TV villains. Some of the characters were diabolically evil and

they used their brains to hurt people. But most of the villains, especially like in the

80s action movies or whatever, they were physically imposing. They were big. They were jacked.

And they used their size to take advantage of people to bully people. And I think most

of us have had a bullying experience or two in our lives. I mean, for me growing up,

like I wasn't the smallest kid and I was never the biggest kid. So I actually experienced

both sides. I bullied smaller kids sometimes. And I got bullied by bigger kids sometimes.

It's just kind of one of those things that happened. So pretty much all of us have experienced

the actual toxic masculinity of someone using their strength to hurt us or those around

us. But what about tethered strength? What happens when a man's strength is tethered to

God's will? So let's actually go to the Old Testament book of Ruth. So the book of

Ruth is set in an unstable period in Israel's history. A famine arises in Bethlehem, a man

named Alimolec leaves for Moab with his wife Naomi and their two sons. Alimolec dies

making Naomi a widow. And her two sons marry Moabye women, Orpa and Ruth. And after about

10 years, both sons die. So now Naomi, having no one, she decides to return to Bethlehem.

So she actually urges Orpa and Ruth to stay in Moab. Orpa does not, but Ruth declares

loyalty to her mother-in-law and clings to her. So Ruth asks Naomi if she can go to the

field to glean some wheat, which was permitted under God's law for poor people and strangers.

Naomi says, yes, so Ruth does do that. And at the beginning of Route 2, we are introduced

to a mighty man of wealth and power and also a man from Alimolec's family. And his name

is Boaz. So his first recorded words in the Bible are a blessing that he gave to the

reapers that were working in the fields that kind of gives you a hint as to the type of

man he was. Boaz happens to notice Ruth in the field. He inquires about her, finds out

that she's a foreigner. He actually draws near to her and not to take advantage of her,

not to castigate her, but out of concern for her. He then uses his authority and strength

to protect her. So let's go to Route 2 starting in verse 8.

Then Boaz said to Ruth, now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave

this one. But keep close to my young women. Let your eyes be on the field that they are

reaping and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when

you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn. Then she fell

on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, why have I found favor in your eyes

that you should take notice of me since I am a foreigner? But Boaz answered her, all

that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully

told to me and how you left your father and your mother in your native land and came

to a people that you did not know before. The Lord repay you for what you have done

and a full reward will be given you by the Lord. The God of Israel under whose wings you

have come to take refuge. Then she said, I have found favor in your eyes, my Lord, for

you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your

servants. And guys, I just love this story because it shows what a tethered man does.

A man that is tethered to God's will and to God's words like Boaz, he reveres God.

We see that with his spoken blessing. He seeks to be aware and shows concern, which he

did for Ruth when he saw her, and he uses his strength and power to protect which he

did for Ruth. And untethered or toxic men wouldn't do that. He wouldn't revere God. He wouldn't

show concern for someone or use his strength to protect them. He would be a wolf that seeks

to take advantage of and to devour someone as vulnerable as Ruth. So untethered strength

intimidates. Tethered strength protects. So do you listening to this? Have you bought

the cultural lie that your masculine strength is a weapon of intimidation? If you haven't,

have you tethered your masculine strength as a weapon of protection? And are you tethering

it to God's word and his will for your life? Keep those questions in mind today.

Thank you for listening to today's episode. Before you go, if you want to help equip

other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five-star rating and review.

Stay sharp.