Men Missing In Church
Have you noticed the absence of men in Christian prayer groups, churches and singles events? Where are they? And, how are Christian women supposed to be "equally yoked" if the men are missing in church? Christian services are quite a different scene from the male-dominated mosques.....not that I would want to be in a male-dominated mosque.
Well, guess what? There is now a new tribe of brothers trying to make the Christian church more "man-friendly." God Men spokespersons have been on Good Morning America and Nightline saying that the reason why 60 percent of church-goers are women is because services are geared to women. Do you think Christian churces are too girly-girl? They also say that the church's image of Jesus is too meek for most men to relate to. So they stay away.
Some of these followers - like David Murrow, author of Why Men Hate Going to Church - claim that today's Christian praise music targets "love-starved women" with lyrics that sing about Christ's extravagant love. He says, "Gals buy about 75% of the praise and worship CDs. I don't know any man who follows Christ for his "intoxicating fragrance."
OK. I confess. I am one of those love-starved women. Yes, I'm always starved for more of Christ's love. It's an insatiable hunger! More, more, more!
The scripture that comes to mind from the amplified version says:
"The Lord gives the word {of power}; the women who bear and publish {the news} are a great host." Psalm 68: 11.
Could that be why there are more women in Christian churches? Or why the first evangelist of the risen Christ was a woman?
Or are there more women in church because men need a tougher image of Christ like the strong, robust and angry Jesus at the temple? Is it because they are tired of "a bearded lady" image of Jesus - that's actually what one of them said on the Nightline piece!
Frankly, I'm always happy to hear about places or events where men can come together and have honest guy-talk that they normally wouldn't feel comfortable sharing otherwise.
Call it women's intuition...but God Men seems to have a different approach than that of Promise Keepers that used to fill stadiums with praying men seeking to become Christ-like men of integrity.
Yes, we need to examine why men are missing in church, but is God Men the answer?
Well, guess what? There is now a new tribe of brothers trying to make the Christian church more "man-friendly." God Men spokespersons have been on Good Morning America and Nightline saying that the reason why 60 percent of church-goers are women is because services are geared to women. Do you think Christian churces are too girly-girl? They also say that the church's image of Jesus is too meek for most men to relate to. So they stay away.
Some of these followers - like David Murrow, author of Why Men Hate Going to Church - claim that today's Christian praise music targets "love-starved women" with lyrics that sing about Christ's extravagant love. He says, "Gals buy about 75% of the praise and worship CDs. I don't know any man who follows Christ for his "intoxicating fragrance."
OK. I confess. I am one of those love-starved women. Yes, I'm always starved for more of Christ's love. It's an insatiable hunger! More, more, more!
The scripture that comes to mind from the amplified version says:
"The Lord gives the word {of power}; the women who bear and publish {the news} are a great host." Psalm 68: 11.
Could that be why there are more women in Christian churches? Or why the first evangelist of the risen Christ was a woman?
Or are there more women in church because men need a tougher image of Christ like the strong, robust and angry Jesus at the temple? Is it because they are tired of "a bearded lady" image of Jesus - that's actually what one of them said on the Nightline piece!
Frankly, I'm always happy to hear about places or events where men can come together and have honest guy-talk that they normally wouldn't feel comfortable sharing otherwise.
Call it women's intuition...but God Men seems to have a different approach than that of Promise Keepers that used to fill stadiums with praying men seeking to become Christ-like men of integrity.
Yes, we need to examine why men are missing in church, but is God Men the answer?
Labels: Guys
2 Comments:
I am a love-starved man. I have come to terms with it and so strongly desire to be vulnerable before my wife (when she arrives) and my God. I buy tons of P & W music and listen to it constantly. I dont fear being broken by the Spirit of God, nor is my manhood threatened. I am also a guys-guy, a man's man. I just know that there are many ways to express worship and intimacy with and too God. Why are there fewer men in the church? Some of the reasons listed in your blog answer it partially. But the truth is, maybe men are harder to convert? Jesus doesn't lose one sheep the Father gives him. Maybe we need to pray more men into the bible to fall in love with Jesus so they'd be equally yoked with you to fall in love with!
AMEN! Ladies, I think Dave is right. We need to pray for the guys!
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