In recent weeks, a new viral trend has arisen asking women who they would rather meet in the middle of the woods alone—a man or a bear. Like the "Roman Empire" trend we met in 2023, the answer has generated a lot of debate, discussion, and controversy with differing opinions on the subject. As Christians, how should we look at the question, and what should our answer be?
What Is Man Versus Bear?
The question bringing up such a stir is whether women feel safer in the middle of the woods with a man or a wild animal, specifically a bear. Many choose the bear in their answer because they know men are capable of a lot. They can be violent, assault, and cause destruction in their actions. However, men are also capable of being protectors, kind, and loving godly ambassadors of Christ. Bears, on the other hand, will attack if they feel threatened or, in very rare cases, will attack with the intent of consumption. What is key to remember is that bears are also wild animals. If we are looking at this from a Christian worldview, what does this say about men if women trust a wild creature more than a human being capable of profound and cognitive thought?
Habits of Bears
Let's consider the habits of bears to truly compare them to human beings. Typically, bears live deep within the woods, away from humans, because they are seeking to protect their young and themselves. Most interactions occur when humans camp in their territory or when they go into civilization in search of food. According to Bear.org, "Across North America, only about 1 black bear in a million preys on someone, compared with 1 person in 18,000 murdering someone." Most bears seldom seek out someone for dinner; they are more interested in the snacks the human brought along for their venture into the woods. The risks of being attacked or murdered by a bear are unlikely but not out of the question. This is why a proper understanding of how to protect yourself if you do encounter a bear is vital before planning a deep-woods camping trip or encountering one on your property. Bears will innately seek to protect their own life first, so in many ways, they are more afraid of you than you are of them, but they will attack if they see it as an end to ensure their own survival.
Habits of Man
We must also take into account the statistics and habits of human males as well. Humans outnumber wildlife exponentially, but let's consider statistics in the "why" women might take their chances with bears over men. According to studies, 81% of women have experienced assault or attempted assault in their lifetime. This number is staggeringly high. This is not to say that every male is a predator, but what it does say is we need to make efforts to see that number reduced in the future, and much of that work needs to come from the Church. We need to look at accountability and help men strive for better character.
How the Church Can Help
The Bible outlines what it means to be a godly man, one that is trustworthy and safe. As the Church, we can help encourage men, especially young men, to maintain their integrity and character as they navigate life. We must understand that although these conversations can feel uncomfortable or even be seen as taboo, they hold a place in the Church. Encouraging men not to fall into sin is never a mistake. 1 Thessalonians 4: 3-5 is an anchor verse in this, "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God."
The problem with men who commit such heinous acts is that they fall prey to lust and other sins. If the Church can encourage and disciple men early on, it can prevent further damage later on through more significant action. Remember the words of Matthew 5:27-28, ""You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
Something small in thought will eventually grow to be something big in action, so it must be captured in the heart before it becomes something someone acts upon. Every big act begins as a small problem, and we can help men walk a better path by providing support, resources, and good mentorship when they are young so that they do not fall prey to the enemy's lies or the spirit of lust. We must also be aware that there are men who are mentally disturbed and fighting for laws and regulations to keep men who harm someone else away from hurting others is key. We can also encourage women in their worth and to know that if something feels off, unsafe, or wrong in their spirit, there is someone willing and waiting to help; they are not without a voice in this world. As someone who has experienced trauma in this way herself, it can be very scary to speak up about it, and victims need a safe place to go when they need the help the most. The Church collectively and individuality (each of us) can play a pivotal role in helping to prevent assaults in the future.
A Christian Woman's View
As Christian women we must know that God values and cherishes us. It breaks His heart when someone even attempts to harm one of His daughters. Let's help change the narrative when it comes to the "Man Versus Bear" debacle. At the end of the day, women want to be able to trust men over bears; we want this to be a ridiculous debate. For those of us who fall in that 81%, we can understand why someone would more readily say "bear" over "man," but that does not need to be the final answer. We can pray for the men we are around, for the men in our communities and workplaces, and for our world. Prayer changes things, and the hearts of men can change. We cannot expect the hearts of bears to change, but we can for the hearts of men. We can also ensure measures to protect those who might be vulnerable to attack, put safety regulations in place, and provide those who do not have a voice somewhere or someone to talk to. We can hold men accountable and encourage them in their worth so that they can be good and godly leaders. Let's not remain stagnate or apathetic in this debate; let's make a difference and see a difference in time. In the case of man versus bear, let's pray for change so that the answer never has to be "bear."
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Cally Logan is an author and US History teacher from Richmond, Virginia. Her works have been featured on "The 700 Club Interactive," “Jesus Calling Blog,” and “Coffee and Bible Time,” among several notable outlets. She served as a mentor for young women for several years and enjoys challenging women to develop deeper relationships with God and to live fearlessly and authentically. She received her B.A. Degree from Regent University. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time in nature, having genuine chats over coffee, and woodworking. Her new book, The Wallflower That Bloomed, is available everywhere now. Connect with Cally: @CallyLogan Instagram CallyLogan.com