What Is 'Feminine' And 'Masculine'?

As I was looking over this post, I realized that I did not explain myself very well. I added a little. I may come back and change some more. If you think it is unclear, tell me. I don't want any misunderstanding.

Who decides what the standards are for femininity or masculinity? God does, up to a certain point. He made the male body different from the female body. He made the male and female psyches different, as a whole. Beyond that, it is determined by the person himself/herself. Each man or woman is different from every other person, male or female. I am not talking about what is male or female, or a husband or a wife. I'm talking more along the lines of attitude, dress, career, likes and dislikes.

Aside from those who have real personality disorders and those who need healing or deliverance in their inmost selves, anyone's personality is the way they are supposed to be. I say this because I was watching Joyce Meyer on television the other day and she talked about how people judge her because of the way she looks and acts. I also once heard a man on television say he liked such-and-such an evangelist because she preached without losing her 'femininity'.

Who gave him the right to say who is feminine and who's not? No one should say someone is not being who they are meant to be. Joyce Meyer herself said that she tried to be like all the other 'good' Christian women around her. She tried to be more demure. She tried to take up sewing. She tried to talk with a softer voice. She tried lots of things and was so disappointed in herself when she couldn't be the way she thought she was supposed to be.

Until one day God came along and told her to stop. He said she wasn't supposed to be like anyone else. She was supposed to be the way he made her to be. So she let go. Now she has a great ministry. I think some people might say she isn't very 'feminine'. So what? God made her female, so everything she does is feminine by that very fact. She can't but be feminine. It doesn't matter that she she may not live up to your idea of what is feminine. Your definition is not broad enough.

I know men who are more 'feminine' than some women, and vice versa. I, myself have some traits that are more feminine and others that are very masculine. Sometimes I don't like the personality of certain people. I just don't 'click' with them. That does not mean they are not who God made them to be.

Sometimes people set these standards for themselves. They try to do everything that shows that they are a 'man' or a 'woman' and nothing that seems inappropriate. They end up like caricatures of men and women. They are trying to be what they already are!

No one has the right to set up a standard of what they think other people (or even themselves) should be. God gaves us the basics. Everything else is up to us!

God loves diversity. In Himself there are three! One, but three! He made different flavors, colors, textures, personalities. Everyone is different from everyone else.

Thanks be to God for our differences! Without them life would be very boring indeed.