We have made it our habit as a family to annually listen to these since 2017 when this 31 day devotional was published by Desiring God in recognition of the 500 year anniversary of the 95 Theses and the Protestant Reformation.
This episode featuring Heinrich Bullinger is of particular interest to me. I love learning about the culture of the time and that the facial hair we observe on so many reformers was there intentionally. As someone who values assiduity highly, the fact that even their facial hair was a theological statement is just delightful.
The norms of their day were sexless, androgynous clerics trotted out by the Catholic church -- clean shaven, unmarried, angelic, Ken-doll, round nub, no sex ministers.
The reformers intentionally sought to restore masculinity to the pulpit. And what better way to communicate manliness than facial hair? As feminine as childbirth is to women, facial hair is masculine to men. Nothing so easily and naturally communicates manhood than a mane.
Knowing that the reformers were aiming at masculinity is refreshing and knowing that they were doing it in defiance of the dominate atmosphere and theology of Rome is all the more enthralling.
The reformers bears were middle fingers perched on their faces for everyone to see. This was a statement against Rome and for Biblical manhood.
WOW, dad. your driver's license is a statement. if drivers licenses and you were a thing back in the 1500's you would be top of the line in the RMC. Reformers Masculinity Club. best beard in the county.
ReplyDelete