March 8, 2010 issue
New book offers a fresh voice about men’s spirituality
Author explores images beyond warriors and monks
By John Longhurst Mennonite Publishing NetworkPage:
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When it comes to male spirituality, men seem to have only two choices for models.
Gareth Brandt, author of Under Construction: Reframing Men’s Spirituality calls it a “men’s book for those who don’t read men’s books.”
“They are told to be strong, take-charge and independent, like warriors, or silent and alone, like meditating monks,” says Gareth Brandt, author of the new Herald Press book Under Construction: Reframing Men’s Spirituality. “Being aggressive or passive seems to be the only options out there.”
For Brandt, who teaches spirituality at Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, B.C., those images — made popular by some Christian men’s movements — are too limiting.
“When I started examining the subject, I thought there must be other images we could use to help us define what a Christian man looks like,” he said. “I was sure that not every man wants to go into battle, or withdraw from others.”
He decided to test his idea by inviting some male friends to participate in a discussion group exploring images of male spirituality. “Within 24 hours, the group was full,” he said. “It showed me that I wasn’t alone in feeling this way.”
Brandt sent each chapter out in advance to the group, which then met to talk about it. The result of those meetings is Under Construction, which uses the story of Joseph in the Book of Genesis to explore other images of male spirituality.
“The discussion helped me refine the book, and made it a group project,” he said.
Joseph as an example
Brandt selected stories about Joseph for the book because “he was an ordinary man who experienced a lot in life — tragedy, shattered dreams, temptations and fulfillment in life and work. Yet he was strong and gentle, showed a love for God, was able to forgive and be reconciled with those who had harmed him.”
The desire to be a peacebuilder, and to promote God’s shalom in the world, is a key element of male spirituality for Brandt.
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