The Ben Shapiro Show – What Does It Mean To Be A Man? | Voddie Baucham

Intro

In this episode of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” Ben Shapiro interviews Dr. Voddie Baucham, a former pastor, author, and educator who challenges the current social justice movement while demonstrating the enduring relevance of the Bible. They discuss the conflict between social justice and Christianity, the importance of fatherhood, the crisis of masculinity, and the need for strong religious leadership.

Main Takeaways

Christianity vs. Social Justice

• Social justice is about equity, not equality, and involves the redistribution of wealth, privileges, and opportunities to achieve equal outcomes for specified groups.
• There is a conflict between social justice and Christianity, as the Christian attitude is justice writ large, not equal outcomes.
• The parable of the talents in the Bible shows that the Christian attitude should not be equal outcomes, but rather the righteous and equal application of God’s law.

The Significance of Dr. Voddie Baucham

• Dr. Voddie Baucham is a former pastor, author, and educator, currently serving as dean of the School of Divinity at African Christian University in Musaka, Zambia.
• Dr. Baucham seeks to help ordinary people understand the significance of seeing the world through a biblical lens, and challenges the current social justice movement while demonstrating the Bible’s enduring relevance.

Issues with Social Justice

• Social justice seeks group redistribution of justice, but it is problematic to assume any disparity among groups is a de facto injustice.
• Legal redress should be given to individuals who have experienced injustice, but it is inappropriate to demand reparations for slavery now.
• There have been legal redresses over the years to address issues of injustice.
• Issues in the black community contribute to some disparities, such as high rates of children born out of wedlock.
• Blaming everything on social justice crowds can lead to wrong causes being blamed and important issues not being addressed.

The Crisis of Masculinity

• Men are in crisis across the country, with issues such as not going to school or work as much as women, not getting married, and taking up pornography.
• The manosphere online has picked up on this crisis, but their solution is to take advantage of the failures of the system and engage in toxic masculinity.
• To understand manhood, it must be viewed in relation to femaleness and the purpose for which God created men: to be priest, profit, provider, and protector.
• Men need to be called back to this understanding of manhood that is outside of themselves and points back to the purpose for which they were made.
• The traditional roles of men, such as being the head of a household and protector, not only give men purpose but also protect women. Fighting against these roles leaves women unprotected and men unchecked.

The Importance of Religious Leadership

• Religious leaders have abandoned strong statements on values and instead use vague buzzwords.
• People in leadership positions are enamored with success and doing things for clicks and likes.
• Many people in ministry are educated with a Gramscian neomarxist worldview.
• There is pressure to conform and many people cannot handle it.
• Weak and faulty worldviews combined with seductive language and unclear leadership lead to a mess.
• Religious leadership has focused too much on the exceptions to the rules and forgotten about the maintenance of the rules.
• There are still good, solid folks out there who haven’t compromised and people are looking for those voices, even online.

Summary

Christianity vs. Social Justice

Social justice is a movement that seeks to achieve equity by redistributing wealth, privileges, and opportunities to achieve equal outcomes for specific groups. However, this conflicts with the Christian attitude of justice, which emphasizes the righteous and equal application of God’s law instead of equal outcomes. The parable of the talents in the Bible illustrates this concept, highlighting the importance of individual responsibility and the righteous application of God’s law.

The Significance of Dr. Voddie Baucham

Dr. Voddie Baucham, a former pastor, author, and educator, challenges the current social justice movement while demonstrating the enduring relevance of the Bible. As the dean of the School of Divinity at African Christian University, he seeks to help ordinary people understand the significance of seeing the world through a biblical lens. His insights provide a valuable perspective on the intersection of social justice and Christianity.

Issues with Social Justice

While social justice aims to address injustices and achieve equality, it is problematic to assume that any disparity among groups is a de facto injustice. Legal redress should be given to individuals who have experienced injustice, but demanding reparations for slavery in the present day is inappropriate. It is essential to consider the various factors contributing to disparities, such as issues within specific communities. Blaming everything on social justice crowds can lead to misdiagnosing problems and neglecting important issues.

The Crisis of Masculinity

Men are facing a crisis across the country, with issues such as lower rates of education and employment compared to women, decreased marriage rates, and increased engagement in pornography. The manosphere, an online community, has emerged in response to this crisis, but their solution often involves toxic masculinity and taking advantage of system failures. To address this crisis, it is crucial to understand manhood in relation to femaleness and the purpose for which God created men: to be priests, providers, profits, and protectors. Embracing these traditional roles not only gives men purpose but also protects women.

The Importance of Religious Leadership

Religious leaders play a vital role in shaping values and providing guidance to their communities. However, many have abandoned strong statements on values and instead rely on vague buzzwords. There is a tendency among people in leadership positions to prioritize success, clicks, and likes over clear moral guidance. Additionally, some individuals in ministry have been influenced by a Gramscian neomarxist worldview, leading to weak and faulty worldviews. Pressure to conform and a lack of clear leadership contribute to a messy situation. It is essential to find religious leaders who have not compromised their values and provide solid guidance.

Conclusion

Dr. Voddie Baucham’s insights shed light on the conflict between social justice and Christianity, the crisis of masculinity, and the importance of strong religious leadership. By challenging prevailing narratives and emphasizing the enduring relevance of the Bible, he encourages individuals to think critically and consider the implications of their beliefs and actions. Understanding the significance of individual responsibility, the traditional roles of men, and the importance of clear moral guidance can contribute to a more just and flourishing society.