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Crisis in Masculinity
A call to fathers to affirm their children--even when they have never experienced affirmation from their own fathers-- Crisis in Masculinity points the way to wholeness for men and the women in their lives.
140 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 1985
About the author
Leanne Payne
37 books29 followersMrs. Payne has been active in the ministry of healing prayer for over thirty years. She is the founder and president of Pastoral Care Ministries.
Her books include: Real Presence, The Broken Image, Healing the Homosexual, Crisis in Masculinity, Healing Presence, Restoring the Christian Soul, and Listening Prayer.
She has taught for Wheaton College, in the graduate program in Christian Spirituality at Creighton University, as well as for University of the Nations. She holds both a BA and MA from Wheaton College as well as an MA from the University of Arkansas. Mrs. Payne was also a research fellow at Yale Divinity School.
Her books include: Real Presence, The Broken Image, Healing the Homosexual, Crisis in Masculinity, Healing Presence, Restoring the Christian Soul, and Listening Prayer.
She has taught for Wheaton College, in the graduate program in Christian Spirituality at Creighton University, as well as for University of the Nations. She holds both a BA and MA from Wheaton College as well as an MA from the University of Arkansas. Mrs. Payne was also a research fellow at Yale Divinity School.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 24, 2020
In "Crisis in Masculinity," Leanne Payne asserts that many of our most difficult social problems are rooted in a loss of masculinity which has occurred in our society over the last century. The book was originally published in 1985, then re-published again in 1995. Her thesis seems even more applicable 25 years later in 2020.
Payne's ideas on masculinity and femininity are influenced by two primary sources: a rather obscure 1965 book by Karl Stern entitled "The Flight From Woman," and Payne's own unique perspective on the writings of C.S. Lewis. Ms. Payne went to college later in life and during her college years served as an assistant to C.S. Lewis scholar Clyde Kilby. Dr. Kilby was instrumental in establishing the Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College which has collected many of the writings and letters of the "Inklings," a group of famous Christian authors associated with C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. As Dr. Kilby's assistant, Ms. Payne cataloged many of Lewis' letters and writings. In the process she became intimately acquainted with his work.
Leanne Payne brought her expertise on C. S. Lewis to bear in her first book "Real Presence," an examination of Lewis' theology and philosophy, particularly as it relates to man's psychological well-being. In "Crisis in Masculinity" Payne uses her extensive knowledge of Lewis' writings to explore his thoughts on gender and sexuality in relation to both human beings and the divine. From this and other sources Payne synthesizes a full-orbed theology of gender and sexuality as a reflection of masculine and feminine characteristics originating in God Himself.
While the book does draw on Scripture, particularly the teaching in Genesis 1:26f. that human beings, as male and female, were created in the image of God, many of Payne's core concepts on masculinity and femininity are based on the writings of Stern, Lewis, and others, as noted above. This fact no doubt leaves the book open to criticism by some as not being entirely biblically based, or of being too dependent on extra-biblical sources. It's likely that the extent to which one will like, understand, and appreciate this book will depend in great measure on what one thinks of C. S. Lewis.
First it's important to note that Ms. Payne draws a distinction between male vs. female on the one hand, and masculine vs. feminine on the other. Male and female are determined by biology, but masculinity and femininity are not exactly the same as being male or female.
One of Payne's core assumptions is that every human being, regardless of gender, is born with both masculine and feminine attributes, and that the proper balance of these qualities in any given individual depends on their biological gender. Thus, a healthy woman will primarily display feminine attributes while having masculine traits as well, but the masculine qualities will be on the lesser side of the ledger. Similarly, a healthy man will exhibit primarily masculine attributes, with his more feminine traits present but less prominent.
In Payne's view, many psychological and social problems are the result of the masculine and feminine qualities in a person getting out of their proper balance (and she includes homosexuality as one example of such a problem). This can manifest in opposite ways. For example, in Payne's thinking it's equally unhealthy for a man to be dominated solely by masculine characteristics to the exclusion of his feminine side as it is for his masculinity to be entirely muted, leaving only feminine characteristics. Likewise, a woman in whom the masculine has been completely suppressed is just as unhealthy as a woman who displays only masculine qualities. In Payne's view, gender is a biologically determined by nature and each gender has its proper balance between the masculine and the feminine. Emotional health is achieved by bringing persons back into the proper God-ordained balance of masculinity and femininity within. This is accomplished through prayer and the willingness of the individual to cooperate with God in the process.
Our society today is very polarized on topics of sexuality and gender. Many of Payne’s views, while commonplace just a few decades ago, have fallen out of fashion today. For example, Payne, following Karl Stern, is convinced that the male and female genders are not only inherent in our biology, but also integral to our identity as persons. Payne says our biological gender is essential to our personhood--we are human beings only as either male or female. For this reason, some today may find Payne’s views on gender and sexuality regressive.
Similarly, Ms. Payne accepts Scripture’s teaching that Christ is the head of the man, and man is the head of the woman (see 1 Corinthians 11:3). Likewise, she follows the Bible’s teaching that women are to submit to their husbands as the church submits to Christ (see Ephesians 5:21-24). However, Payne qualifies both of these teachings. She frames a woman’s submission to her husband in the context of Paul’s prior admonition to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21). Regarding a husband’s headship Payne claims that a husband whose masculinity is in healthy balance with his femininity will invite his wife to share in his headship—an idea Payne doesn’t really explain. So Payne’s understandings of male headship and female submission may not pass muster with those who are strict complementarians regarding biblical gender roles. In fact, Payne says that before we consider gender roles at all we must consider individuals (specifically women) as persons and not allow their personhood to be subsumed under their gender roles. Again she’s not entirely clear about how personhood and gender roles fit together. However, I think what she meant is that people (and women in particular) must understand and become secure in their identity, through achieving the right balance of feminine and masculine in their personalities, before they try to fill a gender role.
For these reasons, one quality the reader needs in order to fully appreciate Payne’s views is nuance. Progressives may be tempted to dismiss her as regressive and outmoded, while conservative evangelicals may be tempted to writer Payne off as a feminist. However, knee-jerk responses such as these fail to do Payne justice from either side. On the one hand Payne roundly rejects the teachings of feminism as the result of a femininity that has rejected the masculine; yet on the other hand she clearly displays a deep compassion and empathy for the plight of women. I personally feel the book is very valuable in defending and explaining the importance of gender as a binary category, and also of healthy masculinity and femininity.
“Crisis in Masculinity” is Leanne Payne’s shortest book. All of her writings are deep and complex, and this one is no less so. I think the book would’ve benefitted from Ms. Payne explaining herself more clearly on certain points, in particular what she means by husbands inviting their wives to join in their headship, and what it means to consider women as persons before considering their gender roles. That said, despite its idiosyncrasies I feel Payne’s work is very needed today and fills in a significant gap by explaining how a renewal of healthy masculinity is a necessary antidote to society’s ills, and also shows what’s needed in order for this to happen.
Payne's ideas on masculinity and femininity are influenced by two primary sources: a rather obscure 1965 book by Karl Stern entitled "The Flight From Woman," and Payne's own unique perspective on the writings of C.S. Lewis. Ms. Payne went to college later in life and during her college years served as an assistant to C.S. Lewis scholar Clyde Kilby. Dr. Kilby was instrumental in establishing the Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College which has collected many of the writings and letters of the "Inklings," a group of famous Christian authors associated with C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. As Dr. Kilby's assistant, Ms. Payne cataloged many of Lewis' letters and writings. In the process she became intimately acquainted with his work.
Leanne Payne brought her expertise on C. S. Lewis to bear in her first book "Real Presence," an examination of Lewis' theology and philosophy, particularly as it relates to man's psychological well-being. In "Crisis in Masculinity" Payne uses her extensive knowledge of Lewis' writings to explore his thoughts on gender and sexuality in relation to both human beings and the divine. From this and other sources Payne synthesizes a full-orbed theology of gender and sexuality as a reflection of masculine and feminine characteristics originating in God Himself.
While the book does draw on Scripture, particularly the teaching in Genesis 1:26f. that human beings, as male and female, were created in the image of God, many of Payne's core concepts on masculinity and femininity are based on the writings of Stern, Lewis, and others, as noted above. This fact no doubt leaves the book open to criticism by some as not being entirely biblically based, or of being too dependent on extra-biblical sources. It's likely that the extent to which one will like, understand, and appreciate this book will depend in great measure on what one thinks of C. S. Lewis.
First it's important to note that Ms. Payne draws a distinction between male vs. female on the one hand, and masculine vs. feminine on the other. Male and female are determined by biology, but masculinity and femininity are not exactly the same as being male or female.
One of Payne's core assumptions is that every human being, regardless of gender, is born with both masculine and feminine attributes, and that the proper balance of these qualities in any given individual depends on their biological gender. Thus, a healthy woman will primarily display feminine attributes while having masculine traits as well, but the masculine qualities will be on the lesser side of the ledger. Similarly, a healthy man will exhibit primarily masculine attributes, with his more feminine traits present but less prominent.
In Payne's view, many psychological and social problems are the result of the masculine and feminine qualities in a person getting out of their proper balance (and she includes homosexuality as one example of such a problem). This can manifest in opposite ways. For example, in Payne's thinking it's equally unhealthy for a man to be dominated solely by masculine characteristics to the exclusion of his feminine side as it is for his masculinity to be entirely muted, leaving only feminine characteristics. Likewise, a woman in whom the masculine has been completely suppressed is just as unhealthy as a woman who displays only masculine qualities. In Payne's view, gender is a biologically determined by nature and each gender has its proper balance between the masculine and the feminine. Emotional health is achieved by bringing persons back into the proper God-ordained balance of masculinity and femininity within. This is accomplished through prayer and the willingness of the individual to cooperate with God in the process.
Our society today is very polarized on topics of sexuality and gender. Many of Payne’s views, while commonplace just a few decades ago, have fallen out of fashion today. For example, Payne, following Karl Stern, is convinced that the male and female genders are not only inherent in our biology, but also integral to our identity as persons. Payne says our biological gender is essential to our personhood--we are human beings only as either male or female. For this reason, some today may find Payne’s views on gender and sexuality regressive.
Similarly, Ms. Payne accepts Scripture’s teaching that Christ is the head of the man, and man is the head of the woman (see 1 Corinthians 11:3). Likewise, she follows the Bible’s teaching that women are to submit to their husbands as the church submits to Christ (see Ephesians 5:21-24). However, Payne qualifies both of these teachings. She frames a woman’s submission to her husband in the context of Paul’s prior admonition to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21). Regarding a husband’s headship Payne claims that a husband whose masculinity is in healthy balance with his femininity will invite his wife to share in his headship—an idea Payne doesn’t really explain. So Payne’s understandings of male headship and female submission may not pass muster with those who are strict complementarians regarding biblical gender roles. In fact, Payne says that before we consider gender roles at all we must consider individuals (specifically women) as persons and not allow their personhood to be subsumed under their gender roles. Again she’s not entirely clear about how personhood and gender roles fit together. However, I think what she meant is that people (and women in particular) must understand and become secure in their identity, through achieving the right balance of feminine and masculine in their personalities, before they try to fill a gender role.
For these reasons, one quality the reader needs in order to fully appreciate Payne’s views is nuance. Progressives may be tempted to dismiss her as regressive and outmoded, while conservative evangelicals may be tempted to writer Payne off as a feminist. However, knee-jerk responses such as these fail to do Payne justice from either side. On the one hand Payne roundly rejects the teachings of feminism as the result of a femininity that has rejected the masculine; yet on the other hand she clearly displays a deep compassion and empathy for the plight of women. I personally feel the book is very valuable in defending and explaining the importance of gender as a binary category, and also of healthy masculinity and femininity.
“Crisis in Masculinity” is Leanne Payne’s shortest book. All of her writings are deep and complex, and this one is no less so. I think the book would’ve benefitted from Ms. Payne explaining herself more clearly on certain points, in particular what she means by husbands inviting their wives to join in their headship, and what it means to consider women as persons before considering their gender roles. That said, despite its idiosyncrasies I feel Payne’s work is very needed today and fills in a significant gap by explaining how a renewal of healthy masculinity is a necessary antidote to society’s ills, and also shows what’s needed in order for this to happen.
January 12, 2021
As I read Payne for my PhD dissertation in queer theology, I am grateful that this is among her clearest writings in terms of her assumptions and the authorities upon whom she leans. However, I cannot recommend this book, not least for its Neo-platonic heterosexism and outdated science about how human gametes behave (which is indicative, for Payne, of a larger metaphysical and cultural polarity).
For Christians who want to take testimony-as-theology seriously, we must not only read testimonies like these, but also those of equally committed Christians who believe that there is “such a thing” as a queer person, and especially those who report problems and deep harm with models like those that Payne advocates as allegedly Biblically and theologically orthodox.
One good place to start for a different perspective might be Ken Wilson, Letter to My Congregation, 2nd edition.
For Christians who want to take testimony-as-theology seriously, we must not only read testimonies like these, but also those of equally committed Christians who believe that there is “such a thing” as a queer person, and especially those who report problems and deep harm with models like those that Payne advocates as allegedly Biblically and theologically orthodox.
One good place to start for a different perspective might be Ken Wilson, Letter to My Congregation, 2nd edition.
March 18, 2024
🤯
Came across this book by chance... Controversial. But probably not as controversial as other books by her.
I would love to discuss what I just read. I have to admit I was afraid to read it in public in Berlin 🙃
Very insightful and some shocking revelations for me, though sometimes structure leaves something to be desired.
Came across this book by chance... Controversial. But probably not as controversial as other books by her.
I would love to discuss what I just read. I have to admit I was afraid to read it in public in Berlin 🙃
Very insightful and some shocking revelations for me, though sometimes structure leaves something to be desired.
September 8, 2023
Payne does a great job at outlining the differences between men and women. This book is a must read for anyone seeking to understand the human soul and how broken today’s society is (and in which way)
September 22, 2017
Leanne Payne is a breakthrough writer. She has great insight - particularly into what goes wrong with the male.
December 30, 2021
Very insightful dive into prayer and masculinity/Feminity. Definitely recommend coupling this small book with deep prayer to get the most out of it.
January 16, 2026
Had a hard time following all of it but honestly loved the appendix explaining the research in the field.
not-in-a-million-fucking-years
August 17, 2012
No. Just Fucking No.
November 1, 2013
I have a feeling what she has to say is very meaningful and important, but I can't quite grasp what her point is. this book needs much help in its structure. Still, I am interested to read her Broken Image book.
September 24, 2014
Incredibly insightful and deep handling of how gender impacts mental health. If you can get past some of the simplistic components, like "pray and your problem will be gone" this book provides a foundation for understanding how healing occurs.
May 9, 2012
It was very good. Sometimes it was hard to get through the charismatic sense that it has, but overall it has a great message. It has a lot of stories and really is applicable to all readers.
May 20, 2016
One the best books at explaining the male soul and identity struggles... even more surprising coming from a female writer.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews