Actress Emma Thompson, 58, recently spoke out about film producer Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual harassment and predatory behavior against women, saying he is just the tip of the iceberg in Hollywood. According to Thompson, men abusing their power to force sexual relations with women is a manifestation of our cultural "crisis of masculinity.".

How many more of these "vultures" are prowling Hollywood hotels?

«"A lot," Thompson replies. "Maybe not on that scale, but does it matter? Does it only matter if he does it with a lot of women? Does it count if he does it with at least one woman once?"»

«"This has been part of our world — the world of women — since ancient times."»

The flood of recent news leaves us with many questions. Will the Weinstein scandal escalate into a massive one, similar to the one that rocked the Catholic Church? How far will the repercussions spread? How many powerful Hollywood elites will be exposed and indicted? And how did Weinstein, known for his unwanted sexual advances, have enjoyed support in liberal political circles for so long?

The events of the past year have clearly shown that powerful men who abuse their positions by exploiting women's vulnerabilities are found in all walks of life, on both the right and the left. It is clear that we are facing a crisis of masculinity that affects all social classes.

And, as Thompson points out, this problem has existed since time immemorial.

David and Bathsheba

The story of a powerful film producer inviting a young actress to his hotel room, emerging from the bathroom in a bathrobe and asking her to give him a massage (or worse) should make us uncomfortable. But the plot is not new.

In its most infamous version, we read of King David’s predatory behavior, his abuse of power, and his violence against a woman (2 Samuel 11:1–12:23). Standing on the roof of his palace, David looked down upon the city under his control and saw a woman bathing. However, what he saw was not simply an image of a woman enjoying a relaxing bath after a hard day. Like any other devout Jewess, Bathsheba likely bathed once a month—it was a ceremonial necessity, part of her faith tied to a specific biological cycle (2 Samuel 11:4).

First, David observed Bathsheba’s act of sacred obedience to God’s command, which was an important part of her faith and purity. This bath symbolized the restoration of her sexual availability to her husband, who was at war at the time.

But David turns this very private moment of her fidelity into an object of his lust, leading to fantasies and personal gratification. This is a story that should make us deeply uncomfortable.

We know what this shameful story led to: from a lustful eye to the abuse of royal power, when David ordered Bathsheba to be brought to the palace, where she became his mistress. The consequences followed: pregnancy, the murder of her husband, the death of a child, and family strife that haunted David’s house for many years. One sin led to another, creating a whole chain of tragic events.

Sin

What makes this tragedy even more vivid are the detailed descriptions of David’s spiritual remorse and repentance after he is exposed for his crime. The prophet Nathan, using the parable of the rapist, opens David’s eyes, making him see himself as a selfish thief who has stolen forbidden pleasure (2 Samuel 12:1–15). This moment is full of greed and obsession, typical of human sinfulness, which manifests itself in the behavior of predators like Weinstein in Hollywood or conservative talk show hosts in New York.

In addition, we have an entire psalm in which David confesses his sin to God, whom he has most offended. In this psalm, David acknowledges that his sin is always before Him. He has sinned against the woman, against her husband, against his army, and against his people. Yet all these sins pale in comparison to his guilt before God. In prayer, David confesses: «Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight» (Psalm 51:5).

David’s lustful gaze upon Bathsheba was a sin against God, for he took advantage of her obedience to Him. She was keeping God’s commandments, living in a moment when her faithfulness required self-care. It was then that David saw an opportunity to use her for his own pleasure.

Blinded by lust, David failed to see in her a woman who honored God. His failure as a man (and as a ruler) was that he failed to protect her devotion to God. And this is the heart of our modern crisis of masculinity: men whose selfish desire prevents them from seeing the holy beauty of a woman in her obedience to God’s calling. Whether she is an actress called and gifted by God, a singer, or a woman working under the authority of a powerful man, every woman needs to be protected in her obedience to God’s plan for her life.

True courage

Whether it's Roman Catholic priests, influential television hosts, Hollywood directors, male leaders in women's gymnastics, or other figures in power, there is an undeniable crisis of masculinity—a crisis in the understanding that true manhood lies in sacrificing oneself for the well-being and prosperity of women.

We are called to teach our boys that the girls in their schools are living before God and are likely to be called to become the wives of other men. We must constantly remind married men that your wife is not your property but God's, and you are to protect and cherish her while she is performing her faithful service before the Lord.

This crisis of masculinity is an old story, an old tragedy that has been going on since time immemorial. It affects both the left and the right. And all of us men would be hopelessly stricken by this sin if it weren't for another King, greater than David, who met a vulnerable woman at a remote well - not to exploit her weakness, but to give her eternal joy.

In Him we can hope for a revival of the glorious manhood that God intended—a manhood that does not seek to take but seeks to give. It is the manhood of men who are not focused on personal gratification but are willing to sacrifice themselves for the good of women.