I have given this a lot of thought for several months now. I have been ministering with the deaf at Fairfax for over seven years now. Since 1999, I have baptized more women than men. There are more women attending and involved in ministry than men. George Barna did a poll and found that there are 61% women in the membership of the church while 39% are men.
When it comes to fulfilling God's 5 Purposes for our lives: WORSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, DISCIPLESHIP, MINISTRY & MISSION, women are far more involved and balanced than men. Let me give you an example, the women are committed to "fellowship" than men. George Barna, in his study on churches in the U.S., found that women are the "backbone" of the Church! I found that Barna did more research on each purposes God has for our lives, both men and women:
Fellowship:
54 percent more women are involved in small groups than men.
Discipleship:
Twice as many women are involved in discipleship relationships or programs, 57 percent more women attend Bible study/discipleship classes.
Ministry:
56 percent more women are involved in leadership (not including the role of minister), 33 percent more women are involved in service, and 23 percent are more involved in financial giving.
Evangelism:
29 percent more women share their faith.
Worship: 39 percent more women have a devotional time, 16 percent more pray, 29 percent more attend church and read their Bible.
I found all this to be very true. That's why I admire women of faith whom devoted much of their time with God and family. Men are more interested in things outside of the spiritual arena. They thirst for something more appealing than what the Living Water (Jesus) can offer. I have been struggling to understand why men don't respond to the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ. Women seems to accept Christ quicker than men.
The question is, "Does the church have the intentional plan for gathering men and driving them deeper into connections and commitments?"
The church need some kind of a "boot camp" style to move men (along with women) deeper into the core of spiritual arena. From there, they'll be able to experience Jesus meeting their felt needs. Another article written by Dave Murrow, "Why Men Hate Going To Church?" writes that when the "MOM" comes to church, the family follows 17 percent of the time but when the "DAD" comes (along with the mom and kids), the family follows a whooping 93 percent of the time. Man! How important is it for men as spiritual role models for Jesus! They have a big, big responsibility and a high percent of the men fail to take it!
Men, if you were to die tomorrow and face Jesus, how would you explain your reason for "NOT" taking that responsibility? Be forewarned, don't give the "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name,.." excuse. (Matthew 7:21) "Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matthew 7:23)
Men are drawn to the power and passion of worship. They abandon unhealthy passions, like hedonism, narcissism, and materialism, and reach for the highest and humblest passions that honor their bloody Savior & Lord Jesus Christ. You need to help the men in your congregation see the "Passion of Christ", and then you must challenge them to develop an unwavering passion for God’s Kingdom and God’s purposes.
Jesus is a "FULL-THROTTLED, FULL-BLOWN MAN" who was driven to living for His Father (our God) and loved Him passionately! He is the best example each of us must follow!
"Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man many will be made righteous." Romans 5:18-19 (niv)
Two men (disobedient & obedient).
Two choices (disobey or obey).
Two different outcomes (sinning or made right).
Are you helping your men to make the hard choices that lead themselves and others away from sin and toward God’s righteousness? Men? Do you have the same passion as Christ? How about the same "obedience" as Jesus? Let's strive to build a sense of brotherhood, a band of brothers for Jesus!
14 comments:
Wow, thanks for posting about this. I find it really revealing, and yet if you just sit back and think about it, very true.
It would be interesting to look at the history of CofC and see when/if this change occured.
too bad only women are reading this post
gina
I agree..I just read an article entitled "Under Cover" by Vincent M. Newfield. It talked about the family (husband, wife and children)and how important the position of the husband is with the Christ.
We need to be aware of God-ordained covering for the family so the father is the keeper of the covering. Firstly, after marriage, Christ becomes the husband his covering and the wife's covering is her husband. Therefore, the husband is responsible to be the one who has the spiritual cover for his family. However, if the husband abandons his position as covering, the umbrella has holes in it. The meaning of this is that the husband does not bring his problems or repents his sins to God and let God help him to give HIS GRACE. Therefore, it can affect on the coverage of the wife and the children and lead them to the door of the enemy and the world. However, I just learned if the husband does not have the inadequate spiritual leadership, the wife is next in line to become the primary cover for the family.
We pray that all of the fathers for their salvation as well as others, too!
Thanks for your comments! I really appreciate your thoughts. In response to "Gina", believe it or not, more women post comments than men.
I recall one "female member" telling me how she wish there were more men to make comments than just women. I told her to personally confront them, encourage them and tell them her thoughts.
A couple years ago, I developed a forum for the deaf ministers within the "churches of Christ" and only three out of 12 men consistently post their questions, concerns or thoughts in the forum. After a month, I decided to call it quits and found blogging more informative than the deaf minister's forum.
"Under Cover" is something worth reading. While I have been seeking the Lord in prayer for all the Christian men in the world, I have also been looking for resources to help us understand the heart of "worldly men" during this time of the century and what does God expects us to do to bring them to Christ amid the alluring and addicting things in the world!
God bless you all!
Forgive me for this long read though it is worth it,
In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus tells the disciples that the harvest is plentiful. That's true in our day as well. But what was the first thing he told them to do? Hire a headhunter? No! The first step is to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send workers for the harvest. Whenever I see someone in church who isn't involved – but should be – I put his name on a list and begin to pray for him. I regularly pray through this list, asking God to thrust these people into the harvest, maybe in the men's ministry or some other area of service. Start praying for men to get out of the pews and into the game.
A second principle I have found very important in mobilizing men is to keep the vision in front of them. Every man I know wants to be involved in something bigger than himself.
A third principle is to personally ask them to get into the game. We have found that men will generally not respond to an ad in the bulletin or a pulpit announcement. The best way to get them involved is through personal invitation.
We like the men to connect to the vision, not a program. Once they grasp the big picture, I share more specifically about the area I see them becoming involved with. It could be heading up the small groups, leading a small group, planning a retreat, or teaching a Sunday school class. I let them know my perspective of why I think they are the right person to serve in this area and how they would fit on the team.
Fourth, any coach knows that for a team to work properly, their players need to be in the right place doing the right thing. It is no different in the church. Each of the men in your church has a "sweet spot," a place where they will be most effective.
Finally, when asking men to get into the game, there must be a willingness on the church's part to provide training. The principle we go by is, "Never ask a man to do anything if you are not willing to train him." Many men have a huge fear of failure. That can absolutely paralyze them it they feel they are not doing a job well.
That really-to-be-too-true FACTS about Men and Women -- to serve for the Dear Lord, as well into involve the Church activities. Since I had been through many many many churches and religions all thru my life, I notice the same pattern all over (mostly), regarding Women are much more willingness to feel "show me and show you (Lord)" tempo.
Yeah the Men should be involved in lot of ways, but the problem lies in what Men had have felt "too busy" or "stress out". Lot of Men work much more hours and feel responsible as Men are the Head of Family. For Women, much easier in lot of common-sense ways -- about half of these ladies (or more frequently) are stay-at-home moms or "be chosen" to be lot closer to home than Men. It could sound like corny or cranky. I guess THATS WHY the Men are more likely staying "backward" or "by the wall" when involving at the Church. I hope thats the main reason i can see those comparisions. Very interesting !!
Mark, i am so glad you got your GUTS out to SAY THAT onto this exciting Blog. Lot of them probably would be "shy out" but i hope your powerful comments ("come on" tempo) for all the Men. Maybe very soon very few Men will come more often or increase involvment. Just like Marines said "Need Few More Men" -- our Dear Lord said that too !!!!!!!!
Very electric-fically comments !!! PTL PTL !!!!
Anomymous (a Man writing this)
Hi .. Monica jumping in here ...
Mark, the research information really interested me. When you present a data like that, it makes us think and rationalize the reasons behind such a data. Thanks for sharing this research results!
I personally have been encouraging one male friend to read this blog when it gets very interesting. He then comes online and reads the posts then doesn't check back until I "nudge" him again. :)
Monica S.
Difficulties should never be excuses for missing church services. Rather, as difficulties arise, we should make an even greater effort to be faithful in attendance.
Howdy Mark
Who is George Barna ?? Is he a pollster or author of something for Women/Men church involvment ?? Is he well-known to the nationwide religious world ? If so, what book or what poll ??
C......
I think it would be nice that the men at the retreat in September discuss this topic and see what they can do to help each other!
Holly
mr. lowenstein, please look up
1 timothy 2:12. what is your response to that verse?
Emily..
You're gonna open a can of worms with that quote!! :) I cannot tell you how many times I have used this verse and that we, endlessly, counter-attack one another with different views and interpretations.
For some, they take it literally because it's the Word of God. I, for one, are those, "some".
For others, it's a "cultural thing" that during the days of Apostle Paul, and they give their argument, views and interpretations of that verse: i.e. women during the first century days aren't the same as women today. But that's a weak argument or point. How do they know that verse doesn't apply to us all today?
Another Scripture like 1 Timothy 2:12 quotes, "..women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says." 1 Corinthians 14:34 (niv)
It's a matter of a topic on what is binding today (communion/Lord's Supper), not binding today (such as footwashing) and a necessary inference. Perhaps, I can explain that on my next blog next week. :)
Here's my understanding:
1. Here is a charge, that women who profess in Christianity should be modest, sober, silent, and submissive, as becomes their place.
2. Women must learn the principles of their religion, learn Christ, learn the scriptures; they must not think that their sex excuses them from that learning which is necessary to salvation.
3. They must be silent, submissive, and subject, and not seize authority (by power or force or persuasion and without legal authority.
We need to be sure to know that there are others out there that will open the door allowing women to do what they want to do, what they want to see, and what they want to hear.
"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." 2 Timothy 4:3 (niv)
If women feel they want to preach and teach "over men", they will never find that position where I am as I am not the man of authority, it's the Bible. They ought to leave and find another church that offers such position.
I think I'm opening a "can of worms" here. We have battled this for years and it does come and go.
I want to make a short comment. You are who you talk to. There will be people who will poison your faith, infect your faith with a disease!
If a two, three, four-time divorcee talks about marriage, don't listen to her. What she says enters your mind and contaminates your thought process.
In the same way, there will be a group of people "talking the talk" about the role of women in the church and their talk poisons your faith. You are who you talk to. So who do you talk to?
If you talk more with others about "religious do's and don'ts", you're more likely end up like them.
So be the Bible people read!
ccm14er,
It's easy to find Barna's book and site via the internet. ;)
www.barna.org
If you go and use the search engine and enter "barna", you'll find alot of links in reference to Barna's books and research. Also, go to Amazon.com and search for "Barna" and you'll get some of his books listed as well..
Hope this helps..
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