Backbroke Mountain and Male Friendships

Dr. Albert Mohler has written an excellent article here about the movie Backbroke Mountain. He quotes extensively from Anthony Esolen, English professor at Providence College, about how society's acceptance of homosexuality has resulted in the breakdown of male friendships.

I will never forget, as a single man living with two male roomates, how a rommate of mine, whom I will not embarrass, used to be embarrassed to walk in the mall or eat at a restaurant with me, for fear we would be labeled as gay. Now, as a church planter, I give my guys a hard time when they're nervous to give me or another man a hug. Mohler and Esolen are right. This acceptance of homosexuality has led to a skepticism regarding male friendship. Now emotional or spiritual intimacy, true camaraderie among males, is looked at, by heterosexuals, as possible homosexuality.

My passion here in Columbia, Missouri is to raise up strong men-- those who can lead their families and churches. This will only be accomplished by men gathering together, sharing together, and praying together. Columbia needs men who encourage one another in the gospel of grace. We don't need more belching and farting and high-fives.

Before the new Johnny Cash film, Walk the Line, a preview ran for Brokeback Mountain. After the preview, in this progressive, quite liberal, college town, the crowd erupted in laughter. Brothers, we can't allow this laughter to prevent us from standing together, as males, confident in our sexuality, building brotherhood with one another for the sake of the gospel and the glory of God. Let us show the city and the world what true masculinity looks like.