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Malestrom: Manhood Swept into the Currents of a Changing World
Malestrom builds on and expands previous books by Carolyn Custis James to explore the idea of manhood, a growing issue both in the wider culture and in the church. Until now, the entire discussion has been largely reduced to Western conceptions. Instead, James here shows how our culture’s narrow definitions of manhood are upended when we consider the examples of men in the Bible and Jesus’ gospel. Together, they show a whole new Kingdom way of being male and forging men and women into the Blessed Alliance.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published June 2, 2015
37 people are currently reading
820 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Custis James
17 books96 followersCarolyn Custis James (M.A. in Biblical Studies) is an evangelical thinker who loves God enough to break the rules--rules of cultural convention which attempt to domesticate the gospel message of the Bible.
Carolyn is president of WhitbyForum, a ministry dedicated to addressing the deeper needs which confront both women and men as they endeavor to extend God's kingdom together in a messy and complicated world. She is the founder of the Synergy Women's Network--an exciting new ministry for women in ministry leadership. www.synergytoday.org
Her books have been described as "provocative", "honest", and "deeply moving".
Carolyn is president of WhitbyForum, a ministry dedicated to addressing the deeper needs which confront both women and men as they endeavor to extend God's kingdom together in a messy and complicated world. She is the founder of the Synergy Women's Network--an exciting new ministry for women in ministry leadership. www.synergytoday.org
Her books have been described as "provocative", "honest", and "deeply moving".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
September 6, 2015
Excellent book. Culturally astute. Biblically aware. Very timely.
Here’s the big idea of the book. James maintains that throughout history and across cultures the distortion of malehood manifests itself as patriarchy, whether in its incipient or violent forms. Patriarchy, furthermore, forms the cultural backdrop of the Scriptural narrative, as man lives out his fallen nature. The gospel is the antidote to malehood’s distortion; Christ is the antithesis of patriarchal dominance. James proves her thesis by recounting select biblical pericopes.
James is an excellent theologian, and an astute cultural observer. She rises above the embittered battles and myopic obsessions of both complementarians and egalitarians. The result of her perspective and knowledge is a book that takes aim at the right targets, and addresses the most necessary issues.
Personally, I’ve been disgusted by the way that culture insists on a certain idea of “manliness.” For what it’s worth, I could care less about football, am biologically unable to grow a full beard, eschew auto mechanics, have never gone fishing, seldom mow my own lawn, and haven’t used my firearms in over five years. The way that broader culture defines and lives out “manliness" is, in part, responsible for warfare, abuse, and sexual deviance. (Not to mention the depletion of buffalos!)
What is worse, in my view, is the Christian spin on manliness. I can accept the fact that broader culture is going to mess malehood up. What bothers me is that Christianity messes it up, too, and enforces this distortion with gospel monikers or glib biblical references. Some Christian subcultures selectively import aspects of cultural “manliness,” and call it “biblical manhood,” “gospel-centered manhood,” or “godly manhood.”
I’m grateful for the book's balanced, culturally aware, and gospel-grounded approach to manhood. And the fact that it was written by a woman makes it all the more valuable.
Here’s the big idea of the book. James maintains that throughout history and across cultures the distortion of malehood manifests itself as patriarchy, whether in its incipient or violent forms. Patriarchy, furthermore, forms the cultural backdrop of the Scriptural narrative, as man lives out his fallen nature. The gospel is the antidote to malehood’s distortion; Christ is the antithesis of patriarchal dominance. James proves her thesis by recounting select biblical pericopes.
James is an excellent theologian, and an astute cultural observer. She rises above the embittered battles and myopic obsessions of both complementarians and egalitarians. The result of her perspective and knowledge is a book that takes aim at the right targets, and addresses the most necessary issues.
Personally, I’ve been disgusted by the way that culture insists on a certain idea of “manliness.” For what it’s worth, I could care less about football, am biologically unable to grow a full beard, eschew auto mechanics, have never gone fishing, seldom mow my own lawn, and haven’t used my firearms in over five years. The way that broader culture defines and lives out “manliness" is, in part, responsible for warfare, abuse, and sexual deviance. (Not to mention the depletion of buffalos!)
What is worse, in my view, is the Christian spin on manliness. I can accept the fact that broader culture is going to mess malehood up. What bothers me is that Christianity messes it up, too, and enforces this distortion with gospel monikers or glib biblical references. Some Christian subcultures selectively import aspects of cultural “manliness,” and call it “biblical manhood,” “gospel-centered manhood,” or “godly manhood.”
I’m grateful for the book's balanced, culturally aware, and gospel-grounded approach to manhood. And the fact that it was written by a woman makes it all the more valuable.
May 18, 2015
Using many familiar stories found in the Bible, from Creation to Paul, Carolyn Custis James brings new examinations of them. In this process James shows how, from the very beginning, God had been working toward relationships in which make and female together fully reveal imago dei.
Manhood had been defined by patriarchal standards for millennia. Even in the most egalitarian societies the ideal man is expected to look, act, and think in many ways that have their basis in a patriarchal context. James states that this is at the root of many kinds of conflict: from intrapersonal, to interpersonal, to political conflicts and to wars between nations. Women may be some of the most obvious and visible casualties of patriarchy, but men themselves are victims, too.
James argues against any kind of patriarchy, including modern variants that may be "softer" (such as complementarianism) but still are based on a foundation of hierarchy and authority. She challenges egalitarians' common modus operandi of seeking more equality for women's participation in social and religious life as insufficient. This is because an equal participation is still a perpetuation of systems of hierarchy and authority. James argues that what God desires to see, and what Jesus lived, is a complete dismantling of these kinds of systems in which some people have power over others.
The gospel is a call to be free from any need to be in authority over another. It is not a call for servant-leadership, but simply to be a servant. Men and women must work together, side by side, as equals, no one in authority over another, but as partners. Only through this can the purpose of God, to have his image reflected in humans, be accomplished.
Manhood had been defined by patriarchal standards for millennia. Even in the most egalitarian societies the ideal man is expected to look, act, and think in many ways that have their basis in a patriarchal context. James states that this is at the root of many kinds of conflict: from intrapersonal, to interpersonal, to political conflicts and to wars between nations. Women may be some of the most obvious and visible casualties of patriarchy, but men themselves are victims, too.
James argues against any kind of patriarchy, including modern variants that may be "softer" (such as complementarianism) but still are based on a foundation of hierarchy and authority. She challenges egalitarians' common modus operandi of seeking more equality for women's participation in social and religious life as insufficient. This is because an equal participation is still a perpetuation of systems of hierarchy and authority. James argues that what God desires to see, and what Jesus lived, is a complete dismantling of these kinds of systems in which some people have power over others.
The gospel is a call to be free from any need to be in authority over another. It is not a call for servant-leadership, but simply to be a servant. Men and women must work together, side by side, as equals, no one in authority over another, but as partners. Only through this can the purpose of God, to have his image reflected in humans, be accomplished.
August 10, 2022
Wow. This book blew me away with its clarity & theology. Carolyn Custis James walks through both the Old and New Testaments, breaking down the history of patriarchy in the Bible and highlighting God’s consistent response towards it.
Malestrom is neither condescending nor convulated, but filled to the brim with insight and perspective. James is respectful and to the point, but does not pull punches as she powerfully presents the argument that the power structures of patriarchy and misogyny destroy the imago dei in both men and women alike. This book does not read as a case for either “complementarianism” or “egalitarianism” but as an appeal to view one another through the Gospel of Jesus and live from that.
I thought the final two chapters, “The Manhood of Jesus” and “Liberating Men from the Malestrom,” were utterly beautiful and healing.
Malestrom is neither condescending nor convulated, but filled to the brim with insight and perspective. James is respectful and to the point, but does not pull punches as she powerfully presents the argument that the power structures of patriarchy and misogyny destroy the imago dei in both men and women alike. This book does not read as a case for either “complementarianism” or “egalitarianism” but as an appeal to view one another through the Gospel of Jesus and live from that.
I thought the final two chapters, “The Manhood of Jesus” and “Liberating Men from the Malestrom,” were utterly beautiful and healing.
April 22, 2022
Before there was Kristin Kobes Du Mez and Beth Allison Barr, there was Carolyn Custis James. I don’t know what the general reaction to the original 2015 version of Malestrom: Manhood Swept into the Current of a Changing World was. I know that it had a big, personal effect on me. I have preached on women in ministry and used this book in my message. I’ve preached on masculinity and used this book in my message.
Specifically, it made me reconsider the story of Deborah and Barak. Before Malestrom, I always held to that belief that Barak was a weak leader who didn’t really do a great job and Deborah had to rescue him. I also went back and forth on Deborah’s place as a spiritual/governmental leader. Was she only in power because men like Barak were so weak-willed? Carolyn Custis James sets the record straight, showing what these two positions have in common: neither portrays Barak positively. It doesn’t have to an either/or, rather James writes of the “Blessed Alliance” that occurs when men and women come together and work with God. There’s no indication in the text that Barak does anything but his job. He requests Deborah to join him in battle, treating her like the Ark of the Covenant—as a thing in which the presence of God dwells. Standing together, man and woman defeat their enemy and then sing God’s praises about it.
Malestrom was also the first book to introduce me to ezer kenegdo. That’s the Hebrew term used in Genesis to describe Eve as a “helper suitable.” Some scholars have looked at that word “helper” as indicating woman’s need for subservience or submission. James has us look at the term in context to see how ezer is used of military allies and, most notably, God himself. I have this book to thank for a significant shift away from what my tradition and taught me into what I now see as a healthier and more biblical option.
There’s so much to this book to recommend. I really must just tell you to go out and read it. Cogent, concise, and clear, Carolyn Custis James eviscerates the patriarchy with precision and patience. The defense of “biblical” patriarchy is often couched as a defense of “biblical” manhood. James reveals that for the lie it is, showing abundantly how patriarchy ends up harming our idea of what it means to be a man.
I’m so thankful to Zondervan for reprinting this book for this cultural moment. While no one less than the late Rachel Held Evans declared the 2015 edition to be “immensely timely” (and she wasn’t wrong!), seven years later the topic seems to have moved even more firmly into “culture war” territory, making James’s wise words even more poignant now. We didn’t listen very well in 2015. Maybe we will now.
Specifically, it made me reconsider the story of Deborah and Barak. Before Malestrom, I always held to that belief that Barak was a weak leader who didn’t really do a great job and Deborah had to rescue him. I also went back and forth on Deborah’s place as a spiritual/governmental leader. Was she only in power because men like Barak were so weak-willed? Carolyn Custis James sets the record straight, showing what these two positions have in common: neither portrays Barak positively. It doesn’t have to an either/or, rather James writes of the “Blessed Alliance” that occurs when men and women come together and work with God. There’s no indication in the text that Barak does anything but his job. He requests Deborah to join him in battle, treating her like the Ark of the Covenant—as a thing in which the presence of God dwells. Standing together, man and woman defeat their enemy and then sing God’s praises about it.
Malestrom was also the first book to introduce me to ezer kenegdo. That’s the Hebrew term used in Genesis to describe Eve as a “helper suitable.” Some scholars have looked at that word “helper” as indicating woman’s need for subservience or submission. James has us look at the term in context to see how ezer is used of military allies and, most notably, God himself. I have this book to thank for a significant shift away from what my tradition and taught me into what I now see as a healthier and more biblical option.
There’s so much to this book to recommend. I really must just tell you to go out and read it. Cogent, concise, and clear, Carolyn Custis James eviscerates the patriarchy with precision and patience. The defense of “biblical” patriarchy is often couched as a defense of “biblical” manhood. James reveals that for the lie it is, showing abundantly how patriarchy ends up harming our idea of what it means to be a man.
I’m so thankful to Zondervan for reprinting this book for this cultural moment. While no one less than the late Rachel Held Evans declared the 2015 edition to be “immensely timely” (and she wasn’t wrong!), seven years later the topic seems to have moved even more firmly into “culture war” territory, making James’s wise words even more poignant now. We didn’t listen very well in 2015. Maybe we will now.
March 13, 2017
I suspect that those who are wholeheartedly sold on a more egalitarian view (as the proper expression re. gender relations) of the Christian faith, or those who find complementarianism deeply troubling will find this book very encouraging, and supportive of their views. However, I was disappointed that after leading with a fascinating reflection on the significance of the imago dei to the issue of gender relations, the book follows a well-worn path of criticizing complementarianism by citing only its worst, fringe applications, and blatantly presenting it as precisely synonymous with patriarchalism, particularly as practiced in the ancient biblical world. The author presents conclusions regarding the motivations and reasoning of complementarianism that would be rejected by most of my complementarian-minded friends, both male and female. All in all, the book did not build the bridges and open dialogue between modern complementarianism and the author's views (kind of egalitarian...) that I hoped for.
August 11, 2022
FOREWARD TO THE REVIEW.
{{I actually had to read this book twice to get the full effect, once right after the other.
I have to admit, I started from a bias. There’s a lot of talk about the gender debate going on right now; some of it necessary, and some of it is not. I was leery as I approached this book, afraid of manipulation and/or embellishment, and I really didn’t want to sit through a 224 page tirade of venting eisegesis. The second time through, I read it with a more relaxed mindset, knowing where the author was going, and paying more attention to the heart of the message.
First read through- 4 stars
Second read through- 4.93 stars, rounded up to 5.}}
REVIEW
This is not a “real men work hard, take their family to church, play with their kids, and open doors for ladies, ‘cause that’s what real men do” type of book. (Nothing wrong with those things, but that’s not this book.)
The author approaches the subject as a warning to men of the harmful and destructive power of culture’s definition of manhood, while at the same time contrasting that with God’s Gospel-centered design for men.
She starts in Genesis with God’s design- the Imago Dei, and the distortion of that through the Fall and it’s effects.
She then goes through the Bible, examining different men and how they (mostly) responded well in the face of their current culture’s distortion of manhood.
The list includes Abraham, Judah, Barak, Boaz, Joseph (husband of Mary) and the perfect Imago Dei, Jesus.
The author does not argue in this book from a complementation or egalitarian viewpoint, claiming that both viewpoints are asking the wrong question regarding the gender issue. I agree. (Note: I REALLY appreciate the author’s stand, here. She offers an alternative approach. If you want to know the right question, I recommend reading this book!)
There were a couple of instances where I thought she overreached her point, or the example she gave didn’t quite fit, but it didn’t derail the point she was trying to make, or affect the outcome.
I like what she said about the harmful effects of primogeniture and it’s relationship to the father wound.
I also thought her take on Boaz was very interesting and thought-provoking. And of course, the chapter on Jesus was really great.
Overall, hopeful, uplifting book about what God made men to be, and how that’s possible.
{{I actually had to read this book twice to get the full effect, once right after the other.
I have to admit, I started from a bias. There’s a lot of talk about the gender debate going on right now; some of it necessary, and some of it is not. I was leery as I approached this book, afraid of manipulation and/or embellishment, and I really didn’t want to sit through a 224 page tirade of venting eisegesis. The second time through, I read it with a more relaxed mindset, knowing where the author was going, and paying more attention to the heart of the message.
First read through- 4 stars
Second read through- 4.93 stars, rounded up to 5.}}
REVIEW
This is not a “real men work hard, take their family to church, play with their kids, and open doors for ladies, ‘cause that’s what real men do” type of book. (Nothing wrong with those things, but that’s not this book.)
The author approaches the subject as a warning to men of the harmful and destructive power of culture’s definition of manhood, while at the same time contrasting that with God’s Gospel-centered design for men.
She starts in Genesis with God’s design- the Imago Dei, and the distortion of that through the Fall and it’s effects.
She then goes through the Bible, examining different men and how they (mostly) responded well in the face of their current culture’s distortion of manhood.
The list includes Abraham, Judah, Barak, Boaz, Joseph (husband of Mary) and the perfect Imago Dei, Jesus.
The author does not argue in this book from a complementation or egalitarian viewpoint, claiming that both viewpoints are asking the wrong question regarding the gender issue. I agree. (Note: I REALLY appreciate the author’s stand, here. She offers an alternative approach. If you want to know the right question, I recommend reading this book!)
There were a couple of instances where I thought she overreached her point, or the example she gave didn’t quite fit, but it didn’t derail the point she was trying to make, or affect the outcome.
I like what she said about the harmful effects of primogeniture and it’s relationship to the father wound.
I also thought her take on Boaz was very interesting and thought-provoking. And of course, the chapter on Jesus was really great.
Overall, hopeful, uplifting book about what God made men to be, and how that’s possible.
November 28, 2020
some fresh takes on Barak, Deborah, and Jael were refreshing—a corrective to both egalitarian and complementarity readings. Other than that, it under-delivered. Didn't engage with global theologies of manhood and never seemed to land the plane on what "manhood" is in the contemporary world
April 5, 2017
Carolyn Custis James has done it again, come up with a brilliant analysis of gender relations in our culture. Brilliant, helpful, highly recommended.
April 13, 2023
I loved the overall thesis of this book. I didn't fully track with the way she used some of the examples of the men in the Bible to support her thesis. (Some seemed a bit of a reach to me.) I would have liked the book much better if she had expounded more on the actual teachings of Jesus as the subtitle suggests. I still think there are many important points in the book for men and women to consider regarding how damaging patriarchy is to both men and women. To round out one's thinking I feel this book would best be considered in conjunction with other teaching along the same line, for example the resources from Tru316 project.
•
A few of my favorite quotes from the book:
•"Patriarchy flies in the face of God's original kingdom strategy--that together his sons and daughters would do his work in the world and advance his purposes by ruling and subduing creation together for the flourishing of all."
•"Jesus is not telling his disciples to be kinder in their station at the top of the human pyramid. He is directing them to see themselves at the bottom and to conduct themselves accordingly--just as he has done for them."
•"...Jesus was inaugurating a new kingdom--not of this world. It was not a kingdom that engages in violence to overthrow the brutish Roman government nor was it a hierarchical kingdom of superiors and inferiors."
•
A few of my favorite quotes from the book:
•"Patriarchy flies in the face of God's original kingdom strategy--that together his sons and daughters would do his work in the world and advance his purposes by ruling and subduing creation together for the flourishing of all."
•"Jesus is not telling his disciples to be kinder in their station at the top of the human pyramid. He is directing them to see themselves at the bottom and to conduct themselves accordingly--just as he has done for them."
•"...Jesus was inaugurating a new kingdom--not of this world. It was not a kingdom that engages in violence to overthrow the brutish Roman government nor was it a hierarchical kingdom of superiors and inferiors."
May 11, 2016
What does the Bible say about the nature of manhood? This is a follow-up to her widely-praised book, Half the Church, but whereas her first book focused on the damage of patriarchy to women, this book focuses on the concept of manhood, and how patriarchy damages men. It is a brilliant book – she writes engagingly and fluently about how patriarchy is currently damaging cultures across the world, and she goes through the Bible looking at examples of where God’s followers, and ultimately Jesus, challenged patriarchal values and showed truly what it is to be a man as God intended. She is clearly an incredibly gifted Bible teacher, and I found her fresh insights and rigorous scholarship riveting.
It is a book I would love men (particuarly pastors) to read – but I fear that, ironically enough, patriarchal values will mean that men are less likely to read it because it’s written by a woman. I hope I’m proved wrong and that men and women alike explore the issues raised in this book, because it is a discussion that needs to happen. A brilliant book – highly recommended.
*I received a review copy in exchange for my honest review, which this is*
It is a book I would love men (particuarly pastors) to read – but I fear that, ironically enough, patriarchal values will mean that men are less likely to read it because it’s written by a woman. I hope I’m proved wrong and that men and women alike explore the issues raised in this book, because it is a discussion that needs to happen. A brilliant book – highly recommended.
*I received a review copy in exchange for my honest review, which this is*
May 16, 2018
After some reflection, I've upgraded this rating from 3 to 4 stars. I find that the ideas contained in "Malestrom" are staying with me and informing my ongoing thinking and writing on gender issues in Christian thought.
Overall, Ms. Custis James has provided a sympathetic but unflinching look at how the Judeo-Christian patriarchal system has fed the often toxic masculinity of U.S. culture today. She also uses primarily Old Testament texts to show how off base this development is from what can be ascertained of the will of God for humankind. Particularly helpful are her examination of Genesis 1 & 2, the later stories of the sons of Jacob, and the anti-patriarchal stories of Deborah and Ruth.
For me, the book lost a little steam when the author turned to examples from the New Testament (Matthew, Joseph, Jesus). It may be that these stories are simply too familiar for the lessons she draws from them, which are apt, to have much impact.
Recommended for pastors and teachers struggling to show the application of the Good News to current questions of gender and patriarchy.
Overall, Ms. Custis James has provided a sympathetic but unflinching look at how the Judeo-Christian patriarchal system has fed the often toxic masculinity of U.S. culture today. She also uses primarily Old Testament texts to show how off base this development is from what can be ascertained of the will of God for humankind. Particularly helpful are her examination of Genesis 1 & 2, the later stories of the sons of Jacob, and the anti-patriarchal stories of Deborah and Ruth.
For me, the book lost a little steam when the author turned to examples from the New Testament (Matthew, Joseph, Jesus). It may be that these stories are simply too familiar for the lessons she draws from them, which are apt, to have much impact.
Recommended for pastors and teachers struggling to show the application of the Good News to current questions of gender and patriarchy.
April 16, 2018
I originally labeled this book under my shelf for Egalitarian really based upon Curtis James other book on women. This book however is really more about men and thus I had to reshelve it. Confession here I am a man. I on occasion like to read books that are so called men's ministry or men's issues. However most of them make me sick from their unbiblical support of patriarchy and the complementarian perspective they promote.
Here finally Carolyn Curtis James address men's issues in a refreshing Biblical way. I loved the book and it was a breath of fresh air from this male gulping for a breath. Don't take me wrong here I'm very glad that a female wrote the book. And by far and away I do not read enough books from female authors (not enough out there) but I was a bit disappointed that a woman had to set us men straight on the issue. Why can't enough of us men articulate the issue as effectively as Carolyn did and continues to do.
Thank you Carolyn.
Here finally Carolyn Curtis James address men's issues in a refreshing Biblical way. I loved the book and it was a breath of fresh air from this male gulping for a breath. Don't take me wrong here I'm very glad that a female wrote the book. And by far and away I do not read enough books from female authors (not enough out there) but I was a bit disappointed that a woman had to set us men straight on the issue. Why can't enough of us men articulate the issue as effectively as Carolyn did and continues to do.
Thank you Carolyn.
October 4, 2015
Nothing remarkable really. I enjoyed James' other books but this one is, broadly speaking, the re-telling of stories she has told in the past with nothing new to learn or gain. Good for a first time reader of this author but less convincing than some of her other works.
April 7, 2022
This topic will always be better-handled by an actual man. I’m the mother of two young men & this type of garbage makes me worry for their future, but praise God he is still in control.
October 28, 2023
Incredible! Encouraging! Shatters lies and embraces truth!
April 20, 2024
11/10. Amazing. Thank you Carolyn for being so ahead of your time. Thank you for speaking truth about how evangelicalism warps the texts to justify patriarchy and oppression. Just wow.
May 19, 2018
What Does Masculine Mean?
Masculinity is often reduced to strength, grit, and dominance. Even the majority of evangelical Christian thought on this topic has defaulted to male bravado, and I've long found that spirit insufferable. This isn't to say that (contemporary) pastors and theologians haven't made important contributions to the (contemporary) definition of masculinity, but that definition has lacked crucial elements. What this book does well is introduce those elements into the conversation. Carolyn Custis James successfully traces masculinity – and corrupted masculinity – through Scripture, pointing a spotlight on the men that give us a glimpse into what God has always intended for his sons.
The only thing missing from Malestrom is a discussion on the leadership roles that Paul assigns to men, whether in the household or the church, in his expositions of the Old Testament and the Gospel. So here's to hoping that the author is currently investigating Pauline masculinity, and decides to write us another book! As good as this volume is, I would certainly give it a read.
Masculinity is often reduced to strength, grit, and dominance. Even the majority of evangelical Christian thought on this topic has defaulted to male bravado, and I've long found that spirit insufferable. This isn't to say that (contemporary) pastors and theologians haven't made important contributions to the (contemporary) definition of masculinity, but that definition has lacked crucial elements. What this book does well is introduce those elements into the conversation. Carolyn Custis James successfully traces masculinity – and corrupted masculinity – through Scripture, pointing a spotlight on the men that give us a glimpse into what God has always intended for his sons.
The only thing missing from Malestrom is a discussion on the leadership roles that Paul assigns to men, whether in the household or the church, in his expositions of the Old Testament and the Gospel. So here's to hoping that the author is currently investigating Pauline masculinity, and decides to write us another book! As good as this volume is, I would certainly give it a read.
February 5, 2025
I read this book for a seminary class on Women and Men in Ministry and I found it to be an excellent articulation of an egalitarian vision for ministry partnership. I like how she included a broad range of Scriptural stories from beginning to end. She begins her story in the right place, challenging our resistance to dwell in the pre-fall creation and consider the full ramifications of Genesis 1:27-28. She also ends in the right place- with Jesus, the perfect imago Dei, and the implications of His gospel on patriarchal attitudes. I appreciated that while she was solidly egalitarian, she was not afraid to challenge places where that position does not stretch itself far enough into empowering both genders and abandoning male dominated structures of leadership. She also isn't afraid to point out that the church is not always a safe place for men or a place that engages men effectively. This is a good read for any one interested in the topics of gender partnership in the church.
March 22, 2017
A lot of ink has been spilled on the question of "biblical manhood," and Carolyn Custis James' voice is definitely an important part of that conversation. 'Malestrom' takes a simple approach: reading through familiar stories with the lens of patriarchy, and James offers profound clarity to the hidden, gendered forces behind these stories we all know so well.
If, like me, you are of an "egalitarian" bent, then you may still find this book eye-opening and encouraging (for example, I had never before considered the power of the "father wound" in the story of Judah). If, however, you are of a "complementarian" persuasion, you will likely find this agitating. I would still recommend it to you, though it may not change your mind.
Overall, as a reader who is growing weary of the endless hand-wringing over "the state of manhood" and the fears of "feminization," I found 'Malestrom' to be a wonderful breath of fresh air. James thoughtfully develops the theme of the 'Blessed Alliance' between the genders, instituted fully at creation, which has been destroyed through systems of patriarchy. The vision she puts forward for true Kingdom partnership between male and female is exciting, and should be taken seriously by people on all sides of these conversations today.
If, like me, you are of an "egalitarian" bent, then you may still find this book eye-opening and encouraging (for example, I had never before considered the power of the "father wound" in the story of Judah). If, however, you are of a "complementarian" persuasion, you will likely find this agitating. I would still recommend it to you, though it may not change your mind.
Overall, as a reader who is growing weary of the endless hand-wringing over "the state of manhood" and the fears of "feminization," I found 'Malestrom' to be a wonderful breath of fresh air. James thoughtfully develops the theme of the 'Blessed Alliance' between the genders, instituted fully at creation, which has been destroyed through systems of patriarchy. The vision she puts forward for true Kingdom partnership between male and female is exciting, and should be taken seriously by people on all sides of these conversations today.
August 26, 2022
Overall good. My biggest issue is with her examples of masculine violence, and the fact that most of her examples came from the Middle East. I know that ISIS was a big concern when she was writing this, but she mentioned Ferguson and pointed out that that protests sometimes turned violent without also pointing out that the protests were against police brutality. That was a homegrown example of (largely) masculine violence that she could have commented on. Considering 1 in 4 cops are domestic abusers, she could have used cops as examples of both public and private violence in our own communities. Similarly, when she discusses what Saul of Tarsus may have been like if he lived in current times, she compares him to a member of the Taliban, rather than to Christian Nationalist, which is honestly a closer comparison.
September 9, 2019
Excellent book by one of my favorite authors! I was certainly not paying attention to this book all the time, as I would read it in small windows of time or just get distracted, BUT I still have takeaways from it! 1) the Bible was actually a little anti-patriarchal...we call the OT patriarchal when God actually defies the culture quite a bit. Maybe an obvious fact, but just clicked with me as she pointed it out more and more. 2) Paul is such a great example of grace. 3) discipleship is SO IMPORTANT!!!! I wish more Christian men would disciple young men. She talks about violence (this was written in 2014) and it has certainly only increased since then. I could be wrong, but most shooters seem to be men...why don't more men step up and minister to these hurting boys? *steps off box*
June 29, 2018
While James does what she can to bring light to a topic that can be prone to repulsion neglect in today's world, there are far too many points where a solid argument with sound reasoning is mucked up by a sweeping generalization based on asumption - all to fit the narrative of the book. I think the frequency with which this occurs holds back Malestrom from being anything more than a cursory look at a hard-to-tackle problem, rather than an end-all conclusion. No one would be hurt to read the book, but its more of a head-scratcher than a brain-wrinkler.
November 21, 2023
Loved much of her conclusions and character sketches. Having said that, I think some of her foundational arguments and statements might suffer from anachronism and may not actually align with the arguments that the Bible itself is making in a given narrative.
I give 3 stars because I’d give 4-5 for her conclusions, but 2 starts for her foundational arguments. This could lead people either away or towards the Scripture’s foundation.
All said, I pray men would seriously consider the conclusions of this book and come out of the malesteom into the light and freedom of Jesus.
I give 3 stars because I’d give 4-5 for her conclusions, but 2 starts for her foundational arguments. This could lead people either away or towards the Scripture’s foundation.
All said, I pray men would seriously consider the conclusions of this book and come out of the malesteom into the light and freedom of Jesus.
December 8, 2023
Such a shame I listened to this on audiobook bc I would have highlighted the entire thing, I swear. Not sure how to do a good review on this, I'll just say, if you're a man in the church you should read this. If you're not a man but are in the church you should also read this. We, women and men, are image bearers of God and designed for so much more than society and thousands of years of patriarchal culture would have us believe
March 15, 2024
Solid unpacking of patriarchy as the backdrop, not the message, of the Bible. Nothing new here, but packaged in an accessible way.
She effectively starts towards a reframing of masculinity in light of the Gospel, as exemplified in Jesus, Matthew, and Paul, but feels still lacking (which, to her credit, she acknowledges in the postscript). Specific characteristics of this new masculinity could ultimately help bolster this read
She effectively starts towards a reframing of masculinity in light of the Gospel, as exemplified in Jesus, Matthew, and Paul, but feels still lacking (which, to her credit, she acknowledges in the postscript). Specific characteristics of this new masculinity could ultimately help bolster this read
December 31, 2024
I’m so glad I read Malestrom. While there were a few places that left me with questions, I also found many portions profound and moving. I suggest it for anyone curious about patriarchy in the church, but specifically for people who are grappling with what healthy manhood looks like in a culture where it is both threatening and threatened. This book was a new way for me to encounter the topic and it was worth the read.
February 3, 2018
So good - in tracing some of the Scriptures' anti-patriarchal subtext, finding models for true manhood in biblical characters like Boaz and Joseph and Saul/Paul, in exploring the picture of true manhood we see in Jesus, and in exploring the power of the gospel to restore men to manhood that is gentle and humble and kind. I want to read this book again with a men's group.
April 20, 2021
Another excellent work by CCJ, right up there with my other favorites of hers. I’ve been increasingly interested in male-female dynamics while I’ve started diving into romance reading and writing, and I appreciated the author’s richly scripture-story-based exploration of the challenges facing male leads today, as well as hope for a way forward together with female and non-binary children of God.
November 27, 2023
Really thoughtful and eye opening insight. Overall it was hard for me to finish though, it didnt engage me to where I look forward to reading it. Also, some of the consistent exotisism/orientalism of the Middle East and obsession with ISIS felt distracting.
Nonetheless, a really helpful book with many nuggets.
Nonetheless, a really helpful book with many nuggets.
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January 4, 2024Hopeful…Jesus’s kingdom is not like the world; He invites us to something more beautiful. I didn’t agree with all of this book, but it left more hopeful than other books have. I don’t have to fix things. I can simply share the good news, live in light of it, and trust my King to do His work in the lives of His people.
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