Much is written these days about masculine spirituality and the importance of discovering male identity in Christ. Many of these books rely heavily on pop psychology or male archetypes to speak about what God calls men to be like, and to define what a "masculine Christian" looks like. Men of the Word by Nathan Busenitz takes a different approach. Looking at different men throughout Scripture, this text attempts to draw principles from each of these guys' lives that help define what a "real man" of God is supposed to be like. The result is a great study on men of the Bible.
Men of the Word is essentially a monograph. Each chapter is written by a different author, delving into the lives of men such as Abraham, Solomon, Josiah, Timothy, Peter, and Elisha. A little research in the fine print of the book reveals that the authors are all people who have worked or currently work as support pastors under the leadership of John MacArthur. This book is dedicated to Dr. MacArthur in appreciation of his ministry in developing the authors as Christian leaders.
Although there are over a dozen different authors, the book reads in a surprisingly uniform manner. Each chapter has clear points, with a very similar method of presentation, which makes the text very easy to understand. The book also includes a study guide at the end of the book -- instead of the end of each chapter -- which I think is ideal for a men's group.
I like the biblically-centered nature of this study of masculinity. Many of the current resources that cover masculine spirituality and creating man-friendly churches center on popular culture, instead of the Word of God. I believe this biblical focus is better and makes Men of the Word a better resource for men of all generations. Clint Walker, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com
