Podcast Summary: Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey
Episode: 1264 | Muscular Christianity: Debunking the Manosphere's Lies
Date: November 7, 2025
Host: Allie Beth Stuckey
Guest: Nick Freitas
Episode Overview
This episode explores the concept of biblical masculinity against the backdrop of the so-called "manosphere" and cultural confusion about gender roles. Host Allie Beth Stuckey and guest Nick Freitas, a politician and social media commentator, investigate how Christianity speaks to men and women in a time of cultural upheaval over masculinity and femininity. Together, they discuss traditional and countercultural perspectives, dangers of secular influences like Andrew Tate, raising children with gendered wisdom, and practical Christian principles for public and family life.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Nick Freitas’ Background and Faith Journey
- (02:11) Nick shares a snapshot of his life: husband, father of three, Special Forces veteran, politician, and faith-focused commentator.
- (03:13) His upbringing was in the church, but real spiritual leadership came later, spurred by examples of strong, bold Christian men.
- The turning point was realizing his daughter didn’t know what church was, prompting a return to church and deeper apologetics study for a holistic faith (mind, heart, strength, spirit).
2. The State of Masculinity in the Church
- (05:23) Nick asserts the Western church has often failed men, becoming "so seeker friendly" that it lost relevance, especially to young men.
- Critiques feminism’s impact on the church and the double standard in messaging, e.g. Mother’s Day is praise, Father’s Day is critique.
- Quote: “If you actually want to disciple young men to be the sort of leaders that God expects ... that needs to be reflected within the men in the church.” (06:49)
3. The Manosphere and Secular Counterfeits of Masculinity
- (09:52) Discussion of why figures like Andrew Tate and others in the "manosphere" appeal to young men. Their main attraction: perceived loyalty, boldness, “having young men’s backs.”
- Quote: “Men associate loyalty with love. ... A lot of young men look at guys like Andrew Tate and say, 'That guy had my back when none of you people in the church were mentioning any of this.'” – Nick (10:23)
- Nick warns against emulating their destructive, hedonistic, and ultimately unfulfilling masculinity.
- Contrasts this with Christ: “The sort of leadership, the sort of strength that we see within Christianity is the kind which ... is sacrificial in nature, it is a kind of servant leadership.” (11:28)
- Memorable Moment: Nick describes getting meaning as a husband and father—"I've never had to question my identity ... because I always know it was found in Christ." (13:18)
4. Boldness, Clarity & Truth in Christianity vs. Secular Boldness
- (14:08–15:14) Allie and Nick note how secular figures (Tate, Fuentes) attract young people by "just saying it" with no caveats, while many pastors appear to lack boldness and clarity.
- Quote: “Nobody wants to follow a coward. Nobody wants to follow a thousand caveats into battle. They want to follow decisiveness.” – Nick (16:02)
- Nick advocates abhorring evil, not just being “nice” or tolerant—a misreading of Romans 12.
5. Meekness vs. Weakness; True Strength
- (17:50) They clarify the difference between meekness (power under control) and weakness.
- Nick references Jesus in the temple: self-control doesn't mean lack of action, but using force righteously and with discipline (18:27–19:05).
- Stresses all moral and relational advice comes from God, “not Nick's grandiose idea.” (19:47)
6. Muscular Christianity and Historical Context
- (20:14) Allie raises the tension between “doormat” Christianity and the Christian history of martial defense (e.g. against Islam); Nick finds a balance.
- Christians have no biblical mandate to spread faith through violence, but have a duty to “properly defend and provide,” which may, under certain conditions, require force (21:12–22:13).
- Projecting mere docility or weakness is “not an accurate reflection of the Gospel.”
7. Parenting Boys vs. Girls
- (23:17–24:53) Nick shares lessons from being a "girl dad,” e.g. telling daughters they’re loved, being emotionally available, and the impact of a father's relationship with his daughter on her future standards for men.
- Quote: “Tell her you love her because if you don’t, someone like me will and she’ll believe him.” – advice from Nick's military buddy (24:42)
- Importance of building trust and truth-telling early; modeling healthy marriage sets the standard daughters later rely on (27:33–30:07).
- With sons, emphasis shifts: “I'm raising my replacement in the world.” Sons must learn their own obligations to God, wife, children, and embody strength for protection and provision (30:08–31:18).
8. Risk, Pain, and Growth for Children
- (33:25–35:45) Nick: “Age appropriate challenges.”
- Protect from permanent harm, but allow bruises and lessons. “My job was to protect them from scars, not bruises.”
- Encourages parents not to rush in to rescue; kids must handle setbacks and failure to mature.
- Allie references Jordan Peterson: “You can either have brave kids or safe kids.” (35:52)
9. Lessons from Politics & Christian Engagement
- (37:03–39:43) Nick draws parallels between military/political service and faith.
- Warns those entering politics: “What are you willing to lose your seat over?”—know your convictions in advance.
- “If the moment you start getting your identity from the elected office you hold, it's time to leave.” (38:55)
- Christian love does not equal popularity. “A totally innocent man was crucified because he offended the local political leaders ... So stop with this idea that if you just do everything right, everyone's going to like you.” (39:44)
10. Obedience Over Ambition
- (41:35–42:46) Advice to Christians seeking public office: “You're being called into it for His purposes, not yours ... Your job is to be obedient to the purpose He put before you. That's it.”
- Nick recounts losing a congressional race after apparent victory, only to realize years later that the loss enabled greater purpose elsewhere—“I had to meet them in order to gather all the right people together for what we're doing right now. But I had to lose in order to do it.” (45:20)
- Stresses daily obedience: “God is not in heaven going, I really hope Nick comes through for me on this. He doesn't require me to do these things in order to achieve His will. But man, he invites me to come along.” (45:59–46:13)
- “Don't pick some noble mission and ask God to join you. Ask God what he's doing and ask if you can join him.” (46:13)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On fathers and daughters:
“Tell her you love her because if you don’t, someone like me will and she’ll believe him.” – Nick’s military buddy (24:42) -
On true masculinity:
“He [Jesus] was compassionate and ... could be tender. He was also strong, bold, courageous, willing to die and suffer for what he loved.” – Nick (12:22) -
On the church’s messaging gap:
“Mother’s Day is all about how women are wonderful ... Father’s Day is all about how men suck and we need to do better.” – Nick (05:53) -
On boldness and clarity:
“Nobody wants to follow a coward. Nobody wants to follow a thousand caveats into battle. They want to follow decisiveness.” – Nick (16:02) -
On politics and obedience:
"Your job is to be obedient to the purpose He put before you. That's it." – Nick (41:47)
Important Timestamps
- 02:11 — Nick’s background and family introduction
- 03:13 — Journey from nominal to active faith, importance of apologetics
- 05:23 — Critique of church culture’s neglect of men
- 09:52 — Analysis of the manosphere’s appeal and crisis of secular masculinity
- 14:08 — Demand for clarity and boldness, influence of secular figures
- 17:50 — Explaining meekness vs. weakness; Christ-like strength
- 20:14 — Muscular Christianity and historical Christian defense
- 23:29 — Parenting: differences, building bonds and standards for daughters
- 33:25 — Age-appropriate risk and resilience for children
- 37:03 — What politics teaches about conviction and faith
- 41:35 — Ultimate advice: obedience in vocation and life
- 45:20 — The lesson in apparent political defeat: obedience over outcome
Conclusion & Takeaways
This episode offers an unflinching look at cultural confusion over masculinity, providing a biblical framework for manhood, womanhood, and leadership. Nick and Allie challenge the church to reclaim bold, loving strength rooted in Christ rather than secular or reactionary models. The practical advice for raising sons and daughters and for public engagement is grounded in humility and obedience to God’s call, emphasizing that real identity, purpose, and strength come not from cultural tides, but from Christ alone.
Listeners are left with both inspiration and concrete wisdom for family life, faith, and public service in today’s world.