The Feminization of the Church

Biola Magazie ^ | June 14 | Holly Pivec

[SkyPilot]

The leaders of a new, Christian movement think they’ve solved a centuries-old mystery: why men are absent from church. But their answer isn’t politically correct.

They believe Christianity has become feminized.

There are generally more women than men in every type of church, in every part of the world, according to church growth experts like Patrick Johnstone, author of Operation World.

A traditional explanation is that women are more spiritual than men. But the leaders of this new movement suggest that the church’s music, messages and ministries cater to women. One of the leaders is David Murrow, author of a provocative book Why Men Hate Going to Church (Nelson Books), who spoke with Biola Connections.

The result of this feminization is that many men, even Christian men, view churches as “ladies clubs” and don’t go — or they often go to please their wives. Murrow’s solution is to restore a masculine ethos. Many men’s ministers, including some Biolans, agree.

But isn’t the reverse true — that the church is controlled by men?

True, 93 percent of senior pastors in America are men, according to evangelical pollster George Barna. But, the majority of attendees in a typical church are women. Barna goes so far as to refer to women as “the backbone of the Christian congregations in America.”

“[I]t’s not too hard to discern the target audience of the modern church: a middle-aged to elderly woman,” Murrow said in an interview with Faithreader.com.

The same claim was made by an earlier, more academic book, The Church Impotent: The Feminization of Christianity (Spence Publishing Company), by Leon J. Podles, a senior editor of Touchstone Magazine. But Murrow’s book has had a bigger impact among evangelicals and has been featured by the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal.

[SkyPilot]

Interesting article. It was republished this summer. I had not heard of the book before, but there are several out there now that deal with the same subject.

I believe it needs to be stated that worship is something that is not about us. It is about God. We should be there for Him. He deserves our praise and thanks.

Having said that, I see the author's main point. Much of the Christian church has, I believe, been feminized. Instead of sermons on God's power, honor, truth, and justice (subjects that appeal to men), we get far too many sermons on intimacy, relationships, and emotions (subjects that appeal to women).

Moreover, I am often drawn to the 19th century hymns more and more - as too much of Christian worship has become the "Seven Eleven" song. The same seven words, repeated eleven times.

Again - all worship is good and just that gives our Creator thanks and praise.

But I believe the church needs to seriously re-examine whether or not it has become overly feminized in its message and worship services.

[SkyPilot]

Ping for your opinion.

[MeshugeMikey]

were this not the case..... we would not HAVE beheadings In Oklahoma...nor Police getting shot in ferguson missouri

Men as the spiritual leaders of their [ intact ] FAMILIES...is an imperative

[Bryanw92]

I recently moved from the UMC to the PCA. The UMC is heavily feminized, even though most pastors are men. In the PCA, women cannot serve as Elders or Deacons, so men are much more involved and the preaching is a lot more meat and potatoes Christianity than the Smoothie-style Christianity in the UMC.

[P-Marlowe]

Everything in our culture has become over feminized.

Being a man is politically incorrect.

[ElectionInspector]

...used the book a few years ago while part of a group redesigning the “men’s ministry”. Well done thesis about the temperature of your church building and how to get men to come, and stay as well as lead their families.

Too many pastors are soft and overly emotional males, so Christ like men are needed running the lay groups in such a way that the leaders of industry, business etc will be part of the Body... especially to model for the young men of the church. Not an easy road to follow but worth the battle, and the book has a pretty good blueprint!

[wintertime]

Re: Insipid modern hymns

How about ?

“He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; ...”

This powerful and rich language won’t be found in any modern hymn.

[melsec]

One of the things that used to prevent me from going to work so often was shiftwork. I was either sleeping from the night before or working day shift and then every now and again I would fit a service in.

Men are not just their own masters but have the call of work etc. I think when women worked less and everything, at home, was taken care of men were more likely to be able to treat Sunday as the day of rest and going to church was part of the whole weekend/family experience!

[OrangeHoof]

Women, in general, are conditioned to let others provide for them - from daddy as a child to hubby as an adult. It is easier for them to accept that there is a Heavenly Father who dispenses to us according to our needs if we will just submit to Him and confess out need.

Men, in general, are raised not to depend on others but depend on themselves to survive. Accepting a Heavenly Father who wants us to submit to Him is a harder sell because men expect to be masters of their universe and walk with self-determination.

It is only as men are beaten down by life do many reach their knees and accede that they need a Heavenly Father to provide for their needs.

I don't know if the church is more feminized or not but a key both to Salvation and happiness in Christ is the acknowledgement of our willingness to submit to Him and the development of a personal relationship with Christ.

I agree that a lot of the modern Christian music seems bent towards the "Good News" without any mention of cost or submission but, overall, the Christian message is one that ought to appeal more naturally to women than to men. But it is the Holy Spirit that works in all of us who desire a relationship with Christ, regardless of gender. He seeks those who are willing to be led.

[junta]

IMO the 503s are women lead charities. I know of one extremely capable woman who is Catholic and her job at the church was running its housing charity which she took up with vigor. So one day I asked he isn’t the job of the church to care for the immortal soul and she looked at me like I was Martian. Now I’m no theologian but frankly she took her charity work far more serious than the theology.

[RipSawyer]

“Everything in our culture has become over feminized.

Being a man is politically incorrect.”
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Amen, brother, there it is. P-Marlowe has said in two sentences what so many would write a novel on and still get it wrong. Being a real man is not easy, regardless of what some may think. It is one of the most difficult undertakings imaginable and when a society punishes boys who become real men rather than rewarding them you get what we have today. We have reached the point that we have an entire government structure dominated by the man-child and the witch-hag. Anyone who can’t see that is part of it.

[tiki]

No one ever sings “Onward Christian Soldier” anymore.

[olepap]

The last thing I want is to sit and listen to a woman preacher. I already have a woman preaching to me at home.

[olepap]

haha! Great line Rip!
We have reached the point that we have an entire government structure dominated by the man-child and the witch-hags

[olepap]

My Grandpa, a magnificent man, would say, when asked about religion: “You better talk to Naomi ( grandma ) about that. She knows all about that stuff”

[polymuser]

Feminization of church, schools, government and media. Yep. Sure has helped America progress - suicidal teens, half of adults unmarried, tatted and pierced girls, millenial lost boys, bastard children galore, rampant queerness.

Side bar: Know anyone that like angels a lot? Angel figurines and such?
What do those angels look like? Beautiful girls and women, little boys, chubby cherubim?
Ever see the kind that has to say “Fear not!”?
Go online and try to find a realistic or even just adult male angel figurine.

[P-Marlowe]

It sounds even less politically correct when sung in the original German.

[DH]

feminization of the church has destroyed the will to follow the doctrines of the Bible as written.

A perfect example of that is the change against homosexuals to one of absolute acceptance and inclusion into the church...even as pastors and preachers.

It’s just like our government: The more women voted for (or appointed to) government jobs, positions or elected office, the more liberal the government became.

It’s not called “the nanny government” today by mistake.

Obama and his fellow communists don’t obey the law simply because no one will do anything about it. And those are mostly women due to their belief of “NO PUNISHMENT” but unpleasant things such as “time outs” and putting things out of the reach so they can’t be touched. Never mind the rules or laws because they might be too harsh.

Now, look at the damage it has done to our culture and life styles. Life back in 1960 can’t even be imagined by the generation today. Why? Because Political Correctness has taught us to be sensitive to everyone’s needs and wishes and to trade off laws to the way we feel.

Laws verses Feelings...that’s what it has come to by the change from a masculine to a feminine order of our society.

[Lorianne]

This may be true but if women stopped going to church would the men go back? I wish we could run that experiment and find out.

If it were not for (older) women the Christian church would have completely died out in Russia and probably places like Spain and Italy. When I’ve traveled, in Europe especially, there is a noticeable absence of men and I’ve been told by European friends that it has been that way for a long time.

Would there even be a Church if women did not keep up the traditions and raise their children in the faith?

[Lorianne]

I love the older hymns.