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Response
Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW) is a social movement that originated on the web, focusing on men’s rights. Men who identify as MGTOW are usually single, heterosexual, and dedicated to being true to themselves without the “entanglements” of relationships with women. Men Going Their Own Way is also known as the marriage strike, the marriage boycott, or the sexodus. MGTOW men assert that they comprehend the “games” women play in relationships and choose not to participate. According to their website, MGTOW “is a declaration of self-ownership, where the contemporary man upholds and defends his own autonomy above all else.” It is often viewed as a response to the societal changes brought about by feminism.
Women and society are the primary focuses of MGTOW’s advocacy. Men Going Their Own Way argue that women exploit men for sex and money and then betray them. They also argue that society as a whole has turned its back on men, as demonstrated by family and divorce court decisions that favor women over men. Feminists, “White Knights” (men who are gallant towards women), social justice warriors, the deep state, and LGBTQ advocates are all considered adversaries of any man who simply desires to “be a man.”
There are various levels of engagement within MGTOW. The most evolved MGTOW is referred to as a Level 4. These men reject all relationships with women and the “blue-pill world” (members of their movement are “red-pilled,” while men outside of or opposed to their movement are “blue-pilled”—a nod to Neo’s decision to understand the true nature of the world in the movie The Matrix). Instead of conforming to society’s expectations of masculinity, they live life on their own terms. A Level 4 MGTOW interacts with society only to the extent necessary for survival. The lowest level of MGTOW is Level 0. Men in this category acknowledge the issues with society and women but believe these truths are acceptable risks. Level 1 men reject all societal expectations and strive to live authentically.
Forms of long-term personal relationships with women, such as marriage, cohabitation, common-law marriage, and any other association that could be used in court to make him a woman’s “servant.” A Level 2 man rejects all personal relationships with women—long-term and short-term—even casual ones. Any contact with women is kept strictly professional and minimal. Level 3 individuals share the same views as Levels 1 and 2, in addition to refusing to produce more than what is strictly necessary for society, causing economic production and tax revenue to decrease significantly.
Christians understand that God created mankind as male and female and that marriage is God’s design (Genesis 1:27;Mark 10:6-9). Marriage is a noble institution, and the marriage bed should remain pure “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”, (Hebrews 13:4). The conflicts between the sexes and the issues that arise in relationships stem from sin and people’s refusal to adhere to God’s plan for marriage (see Ephesians 5:22-33). By following God’s guidance and purpose for relationships, no one ends up “burned.”
MGTOW accurately identifies certain societal problems, such as the blurring of gender boundaries, but responds incorrectly. The MGTOW website, along with its social media presence, is rife with vulgar language and animosity toward women. Much of it exudes misogyny. MGTOW also appears to have issues with authority. They desire autonomy and the freedom to wield ultimate authority. Their website declares that MGTOW “is the embodiment of one word: ‘No.’” By rejecting modern culture’s definition of manhood, they decline “to bow, serve, and kneel for the opportunity to be treated lLike a disposable utility.” The MGTOW man looks out for number one, “living according to his own best interests in a world which would rather he didn’t.”
Second Timothy 3:2–4 warns us that in the last days “people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” MGTOW demonstrates this selfishness by glorifying self-autonomy and rejecting God-ordained relationships. They do not follow God’s intentions for relationships, women, and society. Many MGTOW men may have been hurt in the past; some have undoubtedly been treated unfairly, but the answer is not to embrace selfishness, cultivate anger, turn against women, and relinquish responsibility. The answer is forgiveness in Jesus Christ.
God loves women and men equally. He desires that all repent of their sins and come into relationship with Him through faith in Jesus “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”, (2 Peter 3:9). God also desires men and women to have loving and meaningful relationships (John 13:34-35; Hebrews 10:24-25). The Christian life is not a solo existence or a gender-divided venture. Both men and women are made in God’s image “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”, (Genesis 1:27); we reflect Him best when we relate in a healthy, respectful manner.
Christians should view the MGTOW movement for what itIt is a reflection of the human sin nature. MGTOW would like us to address the inequalities men face with a focus on self-interest and apathy towards the needs of women. Christian men must embrace their God-ordained roles with patient endurance. They should love their wives unconditionally and “not grow weary in doing good” «And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. », (Galatians 6:9).
Those involved in the MGTOW movement are enslaved and devastated by sin. They require our prayers. They should be “rooted and established in love [and] have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:17-18). It is only that love that can redirect men from going their own way to going God’s way.
