Am I Sleeping with the Enemy?: Males and Females in the Image of God

When a boy cries his father trains him in the way of the ancients. He is taught to man up and rejects anything feminine in his life. Thus he begins the process of becoming a man in the image of his culture. This transformation comes at the expense of his own calling to reflect the image of God. Men and women however were both created in this divine image and were meant to live in harmony rather than enmity. Recently influential Christian writers and leaders have suggested that men have become too feminized and need to return to their calling to be real men. Clark believes that this new masculinity is in reality a return to the way of the ancients. Drawing from his experiences as a minister domestic- and sexual- violence prevention advocate and community leader Clark suggests that Jesus came to redefine masculinity and resist the cultural view of manhood power and oppression. Are men to be strong tough and raging? Or compassionate empathetic and caring? Ron Clark takes you through biblical and cultural history providing a thought provoking case for what real manhood is. This book will definitely challenge you to think through whatever paradigms you may have instead of simply accepting the status quo. --Eric and Jennifer Garcia Co-founders of the Association of Marriage and Family Ministries Ron Clark makes a strong religious case for the strength in gentleness and humility and adds an urgently needed voice to the call for compassion in a world that too often feels cold and distant. --Patrick J. Lemmon Co-founder and former Executive Director of Men Can Stop Rape Ron Clark is one of the leading voices among male clergy in the struggle to end mens violence against women and children. This book contains all of the qualities of courageous honesty wisdom and humility that make him such an effective educator and leader. Women and men---nside and outside of Christian communities--will find great insight and compassionate teaching in these pages. --Jackson Katz author of The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help Ron Clark is the lead church planter for the Agape Church of Christ in Portland Oregon where he is active in community organizations in domestic and sexual abuse homelessness and human trafficking. He is an adjunct faculty member at George Fox Evangelical Seminary and author of Setting the Captives Free Freeing the Oppressed and The Better Way.