I read an article from Christianity Today commenting on recent books that promote the masculinizing of churches as a means of drawing men in. Some of these books blame women for feminizing the church, which seems a bit surprising if you consider the power structure in most American churches is overwhelmingly male.
I refer to the masculinizing efforts of men like Mark Driscoll as the “Brokeback Mountain Model” of Christianity.
I come from a family with a high percentage of non-churchgoing men. Though the men in my family would qualify as rebels, it’s not because they’re hyper-masculine. What sets them apart from most Christian men I know isn’t masculinity but birth order. In my experience, non-churchgoing men tend to be middle children, second sons, or in Christ’s words, prodigal sons.
I’ve heard sermons in which ministers acknowledged they couldn’t understand the Parable of the Prodigal Son, couldn’t understand why the father was so partial toward his rebellious younger son, while not appreciating his obedient elder son.
This raises a question: Is it any wonder more men don’t attend church?
I think Jesus had a particular interest in attracting prodigal sons into the church. Because these men are often risk-takers, and unconcerned about what others think of them, they tend to be natural prophets.
What turns off men like these toward religion isn’t femininity, but authoritarianism. Tell a prodigal son how he should vote and he’ll be out the door in two minutes. Up until recently, most Christian political efforts have centered on gender roles and sexuality.
In your gut you know: real men aren’t peevish about sex.
My family stopped attending church over the past few years. My husband left because he felt the men’s group was too focused on discussing masculinity rather than the Bible. My sons chose to stay home with their father.
The Bible portrays the church as feminine, the metaphorical Bride of Christ. American churches aren’t lacking in masculine traits so much as feminine qualities like empathy. Indeed, if Christ were to return today he’d be forced into a gay marriage.
I refer to the masculinizing efforts of men like Mark Driscoll as the “Brokeback Mountain Model” of Christianity.
I come from a family with a high percentage of non-churchgoing men. Though the men in my family would qualify as rebels, it’s not because they’re hyper-masculine. What sets them apart from most Christian men I know isn’t masculinity but birth order. In my experience, non-churchgoing men tend to be middle children, second sons, or in Christ’s words, prodigal sons.
I’ve heard sermons in which ministers acknowledged they couldn’t understand the Parable of the Prodigal Son, couldn’t understand why the father was so partial toward his rebellious younger son, while not appreciating his obedient elder son.
This raises a question: Is it any wonder more men don’t attend church?
I think Jesus had a particular interest in attracting prodigal sons into the church. Because these men are often risk-takers, and unconcerned about what others think of them, they tend to be natural prophets.
What turns off men like these toward religion isn’t femininity, but authoritarianism. Tell a prodigal son how he should vote and he’ll be out the door in two minutes. Up until recently, most Christian political efforts have centered on gender roles and sexuality.
In your gut you know: real men aren’t peevish about sex.
My family stopped attending church over the past few years. My husband left because he felt the men’s group was too focused on discussing masculinity rather than the Bible. My sons chose to stay home with their father.
The Bible portrays the church as feminine, the metaphorical Bride of Christ. American churches aren’t lacking in masculine traits so much as feminine qualities like empathy. Indeed, if Christ were to return today he’d be forced into a gay marriage.
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