Threw together a breakfast for some men in our church on Saturday morning. If I'm passionate about anything these days, it's stirring up men to fight for spiritual causes. Keeping our church portable and mostly volunteer run and led just might be the only way to keep guys engaged in the battle. John Eldredge suggests that guys don't fall because of the spiritual battle... but because of boredom. Look at David and Bathsheba. He stayed home from the battle.
I'm tired of pamby church environments that don't let men wrinkle their kakhis or spill anything but creamy coffee on their Dockers. The only men on stage have european rock mullets, share their poetry, and get regular pedicures. We have an obligation to present the Christian life as something more than just small groups and rock shows on Sunday morning. We've gotta put the fight back in church.
Gotta hand it to my home church, London Bridge Baptist, in Virginia Beach though ~ looks like they hosted a Man Camp for several evenings featuring talks by professional fishermen, hunters, golfers and gamesmen. Deep down, God designed every man to be a warrior, hunter and gatherer.
Well put! The mullet comment made me laugh because it's so true.
Thanks for fighting for men.
Posted by: Matt Singley | September 03, 2007 at 10:59 AM
Amen.
Posted by: danielle | September 03, 2007 at 12:47 PM
So true. Men in the church need so desperately to be men.
Thanks for fighting for the men of the church!!!!
Posted by: deneenwhite | September 03, 2007 at 03:27 PM
Did you say European Rock Mullet?
Posted by: Robert Pooley | September 03, 2007 at 04:56 PM
awesome. challenge the men and build and army. if we want to see churches grow you have to get the men. you can get the kids and parents get free baby sitting. you get the wife and she tithes off the grocery money. you get the man and engage him, and he will bring his whole family and devote everything to the ministry including his finances
Posted by: Chris | September 04, 2007 at 12:27 AM
Your wrote -- "If I'm passionate about anything these days, it's stirring up men to fight for spiritual causes"
Can you everyone an idea of what this has looked like -- what you've talked about.
I hear a lot of this type of dialog -- especially being in A29. So I'm curious as to what this looks like practically from others.
Posted by: Jason Roberts | September 04, 2007 at 09:55 AM
it's expanding our tech ministry just for the purpose of involving guys, who love toys. it's men's outings like camping trips and sports... meaty breakfasts on saturday morning. it's using the word "passion" less in messages (note to self =). it's putting as many guys on stage as we can to give them face time. it's being a man to attract men (no better reason to buy a Harley =). hmmm...
Posted by: Ben Arment | September 04, 2007 at 05:22 PM
it's constantly reminding guys that the christian life is a battle. it's taking our "man day" and making it regular fare...
Posted by: Ben Arment | September 04, 2007 at 05:23 PM
"you get the wife and she tithes off the grocery money."
Wow. Did you really mean to say that, Chris? The man is the spiritual head of the family, absolutely. I agree with what Ben is getting at with this post. But this comment is a dangerous attitude to display towards godly wives and mothers (not to mention single women). Women are capable of serving the church in a great number of valuable ways, so I would be careful not to dismiss them with such a callous remark. Alienate the women in your church with a remark like that and trust me, the rest won't even matter. You'll never get a chance with most of the guys I know who value their wives (and sisters and moms and female friends) and don't appreciate it when they are treated without respect.
Posted by: Kitty | September 04, 2007 at 06:42 PM
hey kitty, i think chris was trying to say that it's a bad thing when that happens. it means the husband isn't leading spiritually in the family.
Posted by: Ben Arment | September 04, 2007 at 07:29 PM
hey Ben--Man Camp didn't have as big a turnout as they wanted--but the ones who went were blessed! I have a unique position in the church as I'm the pianist for the "Men of Worship" group of non-singers =) (They call me the rose among the thorns, lol). They have such a heart for discipling men in following Jesus, it's a blessing to be among them. I'm praying for you guys up there! =)
Posted by: Shawna | September 05, 2007 at 10:41 AM
Hey dude, just catching up on some posts. Good stuff. I'm trying to get our church passionate about reaching men. :)
Posted by: Gary | September 07, 2007 at 02:31 PM