Pastor Telmo Martinello is launching the book Be a manwith the proposal to offer reflections that help rebuild the correct perception of masculinity in a world whose most noisy ideologies have elected this role as a villain.
Published by Editora Vida, the book Be a man proposes to dialogue with “men who wish to connect in a deeper way with God, people in search of spiritual and material growth and prosperity in the means of coexistence”.
Martinello gave an exclusive interview to GospelMais to talk about the concepts present in the work, its proposals and objectives. Check out:
GospelMais: Considering that the role of men in the family has been increasingly attacked, how do you see the importance of your book in this context?
Telmo Martinello: “I believe that the book will become a tool, not a ready answer, but biblical directive reflections so that man can assume his role, his posture, his priesthood, his calling, his vocation starting from his family. So, naturally, you also reposition yourself, in the church, in society and in all spheres that require and are important to your position, your role, your calling”.
GospelMais: In a generation where there is a lot of talk about “toxic masculinity”, how can we distinguish the meaning of “being a man” in the light of the Bible, without this resulting in a misunderstanding of modern feminist ideology?
Martinello: “Toxic masculinity is a modern word for sexism. Machismo is an excess, it is an extreme. Every extreme will provoke another extreme. All extremes have chasms. Feminism is a cry of response to machismo, or toxic masculinity.
I believe that the best way to take a stand, to bring out the truth, is not to attack something that is not necessarily true. The best way to report a crooked building is to build a straight one. So, the intent of the book, I believe the Lord has called us these days, to set man right. Not attacking what is wrong, but positioning what is right. When something that is right is lifted, you denounce what is crooked without necessarily attacking. Feminism is a cry, an expression, a “please, something is wrong”. Really machismo, toxic masculinity, are extremes where the man is placed in a position of superiority, not in a different position. There is a difference between being in a different position and being in a superior position. Man is not superior, man is different, he has different functions, different callings, different vocations, whether in a family, individually or in a society”.
GospelMais: Do you believe that today’s society is experiencing a masculine identity crisis within homes?
Martinello: “Yes, this identity crisis, not only male, but female, results from a family breakdown. The family is the foundation of any society. The civilizing base and from there the marriage, the family. A sick family, a sick society, a sick church, all spheres suffer.
Fatherhood, the absence of a father and a healthy fatherhood result in dysfunctional children and families that will generate dysfunctional societies. When a father, for example, is absent from home, he will generate consequences and gaps that only a father can provide. The father has the power to give destiny, limit and protection. When a father leaves home, children grow up without a destination, without limits and without protection. It makes room for so many things. Preaching for many years in prisons and halfway houses, I have observed that the orphan rate in these places is between 90% and 95%. Soon, I realize that the lack of paternity creates a hole where drug addiction, other evils and enemies end up occupying this space.
Naturally, the lack of identity generated by family breakdown, by the dysfunctionality of men and women, generates violent sequelae in both men and women”.
GospelMais: There is a secular movement of opposition to feminism that has been gaining contours of radicalism against women, with some men starting to despise the female figure. Does your book bring approaches to this other extreme?
Martinello: “The purpose of the book is not to attack these extremes. But, of course, when you create an extreme, as I said before, another extreme is born. The purpose is not to attack an extreme, it is to bring balance. Virtue is in the middle. When the man put his name correctly, he will position himself as a protector, safeguard, for example, of the woman. He will not attack, nor despise. Attack or contempt are two extremes. The opposite of love is not necessarily hate, it is contempt.
So, when a man is positioned correctly, he will understand his function, his call, his vocation, his priesthood and the care he will have with his family, with his wife, with women, with everything that is in the his hand, with his gardens which God has entrusted to him to tend. They will all flourish because he understood his place. The object is not to attack any extreme, but to correctly position the man in his place. I believe that the man positioned correctly can change a generation.”
GospelMais: In what way can your book contribute to make Christian men more aware of the responsibility of being an example for their children?
Martinello: “The word convinces, the example draws. The intention of the book is to place and make men realize their place as an example, as a model. When a man protects his wife, he is setting an example. When he loves his wife, he is forming his children. When he protects his wife, he sets standards. The correct posture will generate model. Our children will not do what we tell them to do, they will do what they see us doing.
So, the intention, my purpose for writing this book, is to say to men: ‘Man, be a man! God made you man. God gave you characteristics, functions, missions, honors, privileges, responsibilities, so that you can exercise this noble function with hombrity and character’. I believe that we will generate healthy children. Healthy children will touch and influence a society. That’s why I believe that a well-placed man can really influence his generation from his home.”