Zachary Garris, Reformation Zion Publishing, 312 pages, 5 of 5 stars

I purchased this book on a whim. I was buying It’s Good to Be A Man on Amazon when I noticed Masculine Christianity. It’s by an author I’d not heard of and by a publisher I’d not heard of.

I first listened to the book on audio while driving with my wife and eight children through the U.S. Then I bought the paperback and read it through again. With skill and clarity, Garris confirmed most of my biblical convictions. I learned a whole lot too. See my full 16-page summary HERE.

Overview

Garris shows from Scripture that husbands hold authority over their wives. He argues that only men should preach and be pastors. Men only should act as soldiers and civil leaders. He contends that “patriarchy” is a better and more biblical word than “complementarianism”, the latter term built on shaky ground and since lost its way.

Garris also believes women should submit to and help their husbands, enjoy their unique domestic abilities and have lots of babies. The book has a 14-page, double-columned index of Scripture passages. Don’t expect platitudes or personal opinions. Every argument rests on biblical exegesis.

A Sneak Peek at Some of Garris’s Conclusions

• A man’s greatest legacy is his children.
• Per 1 Tm. 2, women are forbidden from two things (teaching men and exercising authority over men) for two reasons (the creation order and women are more easily deceived).
• The ESS (or EFS) position is wrong because Jesus only submits to the Father in his incarnation. The Trinity should not be used as an example to support gender roles.
• Per 1 Cor 6, effeminate men (and not just homosexuals) will not inherit the kingdom of God.
• Per 1 Tm. 2:15, women that embrace their domestic sphere are working out their own salvation.
• Complementarianism as a movement has been weakened because it believes men should lead in the home and church but will not say the same about society.
• Per 1 Cor. 14:34-35, Paul prohibits women from all public speech in worship.

Weaknesses

There were just a few areas where Garris could have improved. First, on page 67 he writes: “Women are not to hold authority over men, even in the civil sphere.” But how is this even possible? Can a woman be a school principle, an English university prof, or a nurse? If so, she’s going to exercise authority over men in some way. There were a plethora of “what if” questions that I wish Garris had addressed.

Second, Garris leaves out a crucial part of masculine Christianity: love. Ephesians 5 is the key passage in all of Scripture on a man’s role toward his wife. He is to love her as Christ loved the church. He is to love her unconditionally, sacrificially, purposefully, affectionately, and completely. Garris references this passage in passing here and there, but does no serious exegesis of this passage. This surprised me, seeing as he unpacked so many other crucial passages in the book.

Conclusion

Garris pastors a conservative, Presbyterian church, so it’s not surprising the book is loaded with Scripture. Garris previously worked as an attorney, so it’s not surprising the book is logically tight. What is surprising is that a major publisher did not produce this excellent work. Or maybe this shouldn’t be surprising at all. Gender roles ignite the greatest firestorms in our day.

So far, Masculine Christianity is my book of the year. We’re already half way through October. I don’t see another book catching it.