The Bible informs what it means to be a gentleman or lady in 21st-century America
By Joseph Fossa · Contributing Writer
If you spend just five minutes scrolling through social media, you’ll encounter two drastically different visions for what men and women should be.
On one side sits a cultural landscape that treats gender as completely fluid or irrelevant; on the other lies an online reactionary movement preaching rigid caricatures of hyper-muscular dominance for men and “clean girl” passive aesthetics for women.
Our culture forces us to pick a stereotype and embrace it as our identity, but Scripture offers a clearer picture of how men and women can honor God simply by stepping into who he has made them to be.
So, what does it mean to be a gentleman or lady in 21st-century America? And more specifically, what does that look like when walking across the quad at Grove City College?
To understand Christian manhood and womanhood, we must completely bypass both historical tropes and modern secular trends. Scripture begins with creation. Genesis 1:27 lays the foundation: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Neither sex is complete without the other, as both reflect different facets of His character.
When Scripture outlines the calling of men and women, the ultimate standard is always Christ. For men, Ephesians 5:25 commands us to “love (our) wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
True biblical manhood, and the literal definition of a gentleman, defies the unemotional, nonchalant or aggressive behavior the world defines us by. We’re created to love sacrificially, lead in service and protect with the strength God’s given us. Jesus washed His disciples’ feet.
On biblical womanhood, Proverbs 31 and 1 Peter 3:3-4 redefine dignity for women. Does it reduce a woman’s dignity down to her stock of Rhode products or social media aesthetic? Or teach us that women are only as valuable as their careers are successful? No. Instead, Scripture highlights wisdom, inner strength, initiative and a quiet, steadfast spirit. A biblical lady is characterized by moral conviction, intellectual vigor and faithful stewardship of her gifts.
But how does this apply to us as college students? Let’s look at the roles of men and women from outside our Christian bubble. Hookup culture, radical feminism, extremist masculism and alcohol-fueled socialization plague every campus in the U.S. Students, who are at the most pivotal growth point in their lives, are blinded by these cultural trends and are losing what it means to be chivalrous and nurturing.
Grove City offers a unique environment that rejects these sinful tendencies, giving students a chance to practice healthy, biblical manhood and womanhood so that when they step outside this bubble, they can confidently reflect their God-given identities wherever they go next.
Christian men, be intentional in conversations, encouraging in speech, quiet in service and strong when standing up for your faith. Ladies, pursue academic excellence, know that your worth comes from God and foster Christian-centered community in your dorms.
It’s easy for a Christian campus to turn “being a gentleman” or “being a lady” into a superficial performance, and while politeness is never a bad thing, Christ calls us far deeper. In the broader United States, where public discourse about gender roles is often hostile and divided, Christian students have an opportunity to reflect the true meaning of stepping into their masculinity/femininity.
A real gentleman isn’t defined by his power, but by readiness to lay everything down for others. Similarly, a real lady isn’t defined by her outward appearance, but by her wisdom and compassion.
As the semester continues, let’s shape our understanding of gender on the selfless, servant-hearted model of Jesus Christ.
