Finally, as others have noted, young men need to be affirmed in their manhood and personhood. They need worthwhile vocations like meaningful work, ministry, marriage, and child-rearing, and they often need practical advice on how to do that (not just angrily yelling at them to “man up!” as preachers of certain vintage seem to do). While pastors should not be self-help gurus, they do need to be able to offer authority and guidance alongside congregants who can offer friendship and mentorship. Older, spiritually mature, “unwoke” men with skills are a valuable asset. They can offer spiritual fatherhood to a generation plagued by fatherlessness. Works of mercy can also help a Very Online person touch the proverbial grass and instill both realism and compassion in his mind and heart.
Here’s the catch: Few of the salves for this social contagion will be found in churches that have committed themselves to unserious levity and work hard to appeal to hip progressives. Sadly, many congregations have positioned themselves to be chaplains to a generic egalitarian liberalism, effectively baptizing the preferences and consumer tastes of white-collar Americans. We can forget what a huge role aesthetics play in this cultural crisis in which we find ourselves, where young men struggle to find order, meaning, purpose, tradition, and a worthy cause. May the Lord raise up servants who can reach those caught in the darker recesses of the alt-right. And may we all resist the temptation to moral infidelity and short-sighted compromise, no matter the form.
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St. Jude's Anglican Church
We are a parish of the Reformed Episcopal Church. We have been worshiping together in the greater Richmond area for over a decade. We’d love to have you join us for Christian worship in the rich Anglican tradition.
