Where have all the good men gone?

I was visiting good friends recently, and I was gently teasing their young adult daughter by asking her if there was any sign of romance on her horizon. She’s a godly, sensible, intelligent, pleasant, accomplished Christian woman with a good sense of humour. She leaned forward and said, ‘Most of the men I meet are snowflakes.’

She means men who melt under pressure. Men who are easily offended, easily frightened, easily misled. Men who can spend three hours debating coffee beans and beard oil, but cannot make a decision, shoulder responsibility, or show spiritual backbone. Men who talk endlessly about ‘finding themselves’ but have never once showed any hint of denying themselves. Men who want the privileges of adulthood without the duties that come with it.

Now, before the angry emails begin, let me clarify. Not every young man fits this description. There are many faithful young Christian men quietly serving Christ with courage and humility. Thanks be to God for them. But enough young women are saying the same thing that we should at least pause long enough to ask whether there is some truth in it. And perhaps there is.