You may have noticed that clergymen in 18th-19th century British novels are often absurd characters. Mr. Collins in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is a good example of this.
Mr. Collins was punctual to his time, and was received with great politeness by the whole family. Mr. Bennet indeed said little; but the ladies were ready enough to talk, and Mr. Collins seemed neither in need of encouragement, nor inclined to be silent himself. He was a tall, heavy-looking young man of five-and-twenty. His air was grave and stately, and his manners were very formal. He had not been long seated before he complimented Mrs. Bennet on having so fine a family of daughters, said he had heard much of their beauty, but that, in this instance, fame had fallen short of the truth; and added, that he did not doubt her seeing them all in due time well disposed of in marriage….
They were not the only objects of Mr. Collins’s admiration. The hall, the dining-room, and all its furniture, were examined and praised; and his commendation of everything would have touched Mrs. Bennet’s heart, but for the mortifying supposition of his viewing it all as his own future property. The dinner, too, in its turn, was highly admired; and he begged to know to which of his fair cousins the excellence of its cookery was owing. But here he was set right by Mrs. Bennet, who assured him, with some asperity, that they were very well able to keep a good cook, and that her daughters had nothing to do in the kitchen. He begged pardon for having displeased her. In a softened tone she declared herself not at all offended; but he continued to apologize for about a quarter of an hour.
I do not think it is possible to really read Pride and Prejudice without grins and periodic guffaws (or more feminine giggles, if you are a lady). Mr. Bennet later compliments Mr. Collins on his talent for “flattering with delicacy,” and the ridiculous rector explained:
“They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time; and though I sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging such little elegant compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to give them as unstudied an air as possible.”
Of course, Mr. Collins was an Anglican—what the Presbyterian Mattie Ross in Charles Portis’s mid-20th century American novel would derisively call a “kneeler”—but his horror at reading novels would have found approbation among the Scottish Covenanters, even if they would have never approved of him.
By tea-time… Mr. Bennet was glad to take his guest into the drawing-room again, and when tea was over, glad to invite him to read aloud to the ladies. Mr. Collins readily assented, and a book was produced; but on beholding it (for everything announced it to be from a circulating library) he started back, and, begging pardon, protested that he never read novels. Kitty stared at him, and Lydia exclaimed. Other books were produced, and after some deliberation he chose “Fordyce’s Sermons.”
Of course he did. If you fail to get the joke, look up the two volumes published by James Fordyce (another Presbyterian) in 1766. Whether you scowl or chuckle, you will know who you are in the story.
Now there is a good reason that clergymen are portrayed as somewhat ridiculous in these novels, and it is not only that some of the authors were a bit worldly in their character. It is that clergymen often have been ridiculous. Like Mr. Collins, they can sometimes be stuffy, self-important, and ingratiating. Many of them were, and are, absurd. If I had a dollar for every minister I know who is slightly effeminate, I would have a lot of dollars.
Now compare this image to the OT prophets. How does Mr. Collins measure up to Moses, Elijah, or Jeremiah? Can you imagine Amos amusing himself in his downtime by “suggesting and arranging such little elegant compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions”? What about the meek and gentle Jesus whose hands were strong and calloused from carpentry and who was known to flip over tables and run people out of the Temple with a whip on occasion? (We have been assured by our theological betters that the Lord would not have used the whip on any people. He only waved it around to scare them.) How would Mr. Collins and his brand of winsome, womanish, womanizers compare to the apostle Paul, his body scarred from being whipped and stoned, his eyes dim and his voice quiet but his pen sparking like fire? What might we say about Polycarp, Ignatius, Athanasius, St. Nick, St. Patrick, John Knox, and John Paton? The truth is God’s men throughout history have been men, not soft bellied milquetoasts who happen to be male.
The fact is that Christian religion in the West has been increasingly feminized for centuries. Listen to the difference between the ancient psalms and medieval hymns and the 19th century revival tunes. Can you understand how we now have contemporary “Christian” music that sounds like a Taylor Swift song? In most churches that I have served over the last 25 years, the women were the backbone of the congregation. That is no longer true where I serve now, and I hope it never will be again. Thank God for strong, faith-filled women who pray even when their men don’t, but when Israel’s strength lies in their women, something is dreadfully wrong.
Can you imagine Mr. Collins confronting King Saul, rebuking his disobedience, and then grabbing a sword and hacking King Agag into pieces? Father Mapple would have keelhauled him, Agag that is. I can’t imagine what he would do with someone like Mr. Collins. He probably would have simply walked away in disgust.
Dads, be a model of strong, masculine godliness for your children every day in your home. Take your children to church every Lord’s Day, and lead them in worship. They need to hear you sing, not timidly and not like a woman, but like a sailor, like a warrior, like a king. They need to hear you say, “Amen!”, to see you follow along in your Bible and pay attention during the sermon. They need you to ask them about it when you return home to see what they learned, because you are expecting them to learn, and they need to know that you are excited about what you are learning too. They need to see you smile and laugh, enjoying the fellowship of the saints, not scowling and dour. They need to see that the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Moms, help your children understand that Christianity is not a ladies’ social club where men are invited. This is God’s kingdom and ruled by a mighty King. Your sons are warriors, your daughters are shield maidens, and they are arrows in the hands of a warrior to be aimed, drawn, and fired downrange.
Brothers and sisters, it is an awesome privilege and duty to which we are called by our Lord. We need to bring the proper mindset. Christianity is not ridiculous, even if some of its representatives and popular portrayals may be. Laugh at the absurdity of weak sauce versions of Christianity, but do not let them determine your perspective or participation in the joyful service of the King. When Paul commanded the Corinthians to “quit like men” (play the man or be strong, 1Cor. 16:13), he did not mean pretend to pull a hamstring or get in touch with your feminine side, and he addressed that exhortation to the women too. It is for all of us, sons and daughters, to serve manfully, live joyfully, fight honorably, and die bravely. Boldly rejoice in Christ Jesus, the risen King! --JME
