Having listened to @andrewklavan’s opening on Mr. Rogers and masculinity, especially in regard to Christ, I find myself disagreeing very strongly with his take.
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First off, this has nothing to do with an attachement to Mr. Rogers. I grew up overseas without television and have never watched an episode of his tv show. My feelings have no impact on the matter.
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Klavan says that Mr Rogers modeled a form of metrosexual Christian masculinity, opposite the virile and steely masculinity of Christ.
Of what I have seen and read of Mr Rogers, he almost alone out of the masculine figures of our culture exemplified Christ’s Sermon on the Mount 3/

The same Christ who overthrew the money tables in the Temple and chased the money changers out with a hastily made whip said that “The Meek will inherit the earth”
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The same Christ who challenged the religious and political authorities with his teachings commanded that we turn the other cheek.
“Blessed you when men revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake... for your reward is great in heaven”
5/

The Christ of scripture stood not simply willing to die, He LAYED DOWN HIS LIFE. He was a sheep led to the slaughter for our sakes. He was spit on, struck, His beard was pulled out, He was whipped and mutilated until He no longer resembled a man. All without defending himself
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He, the Author of the Cosmos, the Sustainer of the very air that we breathe turned the other cheek. He was meek and merciful. By His sacrifice He made peace. He changed the world not through war but through His love.
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That’s what authentic masculinity looks like. It’s not muscles or battle or guns. It’s not being able to stop a tank with your bare fists.
It’s being strong in spirit. A peacemaker. Meek. Merciful. Hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Being an imitator of Christ.
8/

The male preening and the pageantry means nothing.
Mr Rogers exemplified Christ by showing unconditional love to everyone. By being meek. Gentle. Kind. I have no doubt that if it had been required of him, he would have stood courageous before a trial in the strength of Christ
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Meekness is not weakness. Not in Christ and not in Mr Rogers.
“When I am weak, then I am strong!” Boasts Paul. So then, must we be. For it is not I who lives, but Christ that lives within me.
10/end