Posted on 04/11/2007 9:02:50 AM PDT by jacknhoo
Men-Only Church Times Sermons, Meets in Gym
Organizers of the Church For Men say that guys are "bored stiff" in many churches today.
Sat, Apr. 07, 2007 Posted: 15:35:38 PM EST
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - No hymnals. No pews. No steeple. No stained glass windows. And no women.
This ain't your grandma's church.
Organizers of the Church For Men say that guys are "bored stiff" in many churches today.
"We try to make it interesting for them. We meet in a gym and we talk about issues that mess men up," said Mike Ellis, 46, the church's founder.
The Church For Men meets one Saturday evening per month, drawing about 70 guys dressed in everything but straight-laced shirts and neckties. The service features a rock band, a shot clock to time the preacher's message and a one-hour in-and-out guarantee.
Ellis' church is part of a national movement to reverse what many Christian pastors and ministers are calling a troubling trend. Studies show that men are less likely than women to show up on Sunday mornings, and the reaction has been an emerging testosterone theology of sorts. Churches nationwide are now reaching out to men.
One study found that the average U.S. adult church congregation is 61 percent female, said David Murrow, author of "Why Men Hate Going To Church." The research shows women are more likely to attend church, Sunday school and small church groups.
"Going to church is perceived as womanly behavior," said Murrow, who is based in Anchorage, Alaska, and travels the country lecturing about the issue. "We don't go to church for the same reason we don't wear pink."
Communication skills, public forms of affection, such as hugs and hand-holding, and other "soft skills" make many men feel incompetent in church, Murrow said.
Long church services also cause men to leave the fold, said Ellis, who first got the idea for a man-only church six years ago.
"I have the attention span of a flea," he said. "They say that if you don't get a man's attention in six to eight minutes, you lost them."
To that end, followers at Church For Men meet on a basketball court, a large scoreboard with a time clock ensures the preacher's message is delivered in 15 minutes, and the same rock band that opened for Bad Company and the Georgia Satellites a month ago bangs out a three-song set of hard-rockin' tunes.
Ellis maintains his church is not a replacement for the traditional weekly service, but an outreach to what he calls the "largest unreached people group."
Guest preacher Tom Trageser, 45, talked about lust during the church's March service. He finished his message, prayer and all, with five seconds left on the clock.
Some women in conventional churches say the movement to actively involve men is positive and they don't feel threatened by the men-only concept.
"It made me excited to see the men getting together and discussing what they need to be doing," said Carolyn Mills, 58, who attends United Brethren in Christ in Holly Hill.
The religion that began 2,000 years ago with Jesus Christ convincing 12 male disciples to travel throughout the Holy Land on foot has been "feminized" during the past century, Murrow said.
Christian comedian and blogger Chris Elrod recently wrote in his blog: "Musically (men) want AC/DC and we give them Celine Dion. Lyrically (men) want Tom Clancy and we give them Danielle Steel. Spiritually (men) want 'Braveheart' and we give them 'Sleepless In Seattle.'"
The transformation of the church, many think, began with the Second Great Awakening during the early 1800s, which helped to advance the liberation of women. Not only were women attracted to the sweeping reforms pushed by revivalists of this period, but the evangelists would also attempt to reach men through their wives, hoping the wives would pressure husbands and sons to join them in the church, writes Leon Podles in his book, "The Church Impotent: The Feminization of Christianity."
The result, Murrow says, is more women in congregations assuming leadership roles and a natural shift toward a service catered to women.
"If the church is going to survive, we have to get men plugged back in," said Chuck McKeown, pastor of the United Brethren in Christ, where about 55 percent of the congregation is female.
McKeown launched a Sunday night service just for men in November. About 60 men convene outside, cook meat on the grill and separate into discussion groups.
"Men have an affinity with the outdoors," McKeown said.
McKeown also made changes to the Sunday morning service, shortening the service time from nearly two hours to about an hour and featuring more upbeat music, all in an attempt to engage men.
Other churches with a male bent include Grove Community Church in Peoria, Ill. Members there don't have a pastor; they have a "coach," who "integrates a healthy, life-giving masculine spirit throughout the entire church," according to the church's Web site.
"Totally unchurched men are now attending church on a regular basis because of this ministry," Trainer said. "It's an absolute turn toward God through using something men are interested in."
McKeown said that women benefit too.
"We just encourage men to do what's right, to love their wives and family and protect their children," McKeown said.
In addition to the time clock, the minister is encouraged to let his parishioners know he’s done with his sermon by belching loudly and scratching himself.
My church has a group called “Men Under Construction” which I have always assumed was a sort of metrosexual how can I cowtow to my wife better sort of thing.
If this works in getting some men engaged with Christ and the Gospel, fine. But, IMHO, a man who can relate to something only if it is sports-themed, and heavy-metallized, and has meat on the grill is a bit stunted. There is something to be said for being all things to all people, but this kind of thing is necessitated by a generation that is pampered and spoiled and won’t be involved in anything unless it’s “their own way.”
My father-in-law fought in the Yugoslav resistance in WW2, took four slugs to the chest, was taken prisoner of war by the Germans and, after he came to America, spent 40 years of his life working in a steel mill. He’s in church every Sunday even though, given his age and physical condition, it’s becoming more and more of an effort. In addition, every day he kneels and prays on knees stiffened by arthritis.
I defy any of these sweaty macho men to say that he is any less of a man than they are.
Yes, it is a generation of feminist men that necessitates this kind of senselessness.
I posted this article with the intent of querying people for their reactions.
When I read this article, at first I felt it could be good because anything that brings someone to Christ is a good. Then, I felt how sad this truly is, because it is self-evident how men have let their role be demeaned and their purpose become vague and impotent. No longer are males overwhelmingly the moral compass for their families, community and world, rather we are most commonly and overwhelmingly frail, sensitive, liberal, humanist, feminist, dumbed-down empty and hollow reeds blowing in the wind refusing to condemn evils we know. All this for a multitude of reasons and absolutely no excuses. All this in an effort to please women, feminist men, atheists, etc. not God and not even real men. God’s intent for men is leadership, protection and strength. Something that one is hard pressed to find in this day. Who is to blame? The ones who raised these generations.
I have to wonder if they have a sports crawl at the bottom of the projection screen showing the latest scores.
Exactly. It is a false masculinity that is at odds not only with traditional masculine virtues, but also with traditional Christian virtues. For example, where does an understanding of and appreciation for true humility fit in here?
I was thinking about their 15-minute rule. Imagine if these guys had been with Christ at Gethsemane. “Could you not stand watch for even an hour?” “Well, Lord, your fifteen minutes were up....”
I think it’s great that they are offering services just for men. Sounds like church has become a bit feminized. And men need to feel free to address issues that men commonly struggle with.
Men-only worship... uh-oh, outside of religious orders, that could be dangerous! (yes, many of these are offensive to Catholicism, but, then, so are most uniquely Protestant practices.)
Holy Water applied by Super Soaker.
“The Word of the Lord” changed to, simply, “Word!”
“Change my heart, O God” replaced with “Drop kick me, Jesus”
Kiss of Peace handshake replaced with High Five, strange grunting.
Communion wine replaced with communion beer.
Salsa dip served with bread.
Bells replaced with gongs.
Insence smells strangely like Mesquite.
Cathedra made by Barca.
Collection basket replaced by open guitar case.
Baptismal font is colored and foamy.
Church organ uses that funky “Prince” sound.
I make it a point that my family kneel for the Consecration without their backsides touching the pew. If Jesus could die for us the least we can do is kneel on padded kneelers.
“Then, I felt how sad this truly is, because it is self-evident how men have let their role be demeaned and their purpose become vague and impotent.”
I think it’s from the feel-good church over-stressing “servant leaders” to the point where men were taught to essentially to be subservient to their wives. Just listen to the brow-beating men get at a Father’s Day service. On Mother’s Day, churches across the U.S. give out roses and gush with adoration for mothers. On Father’s Day, the church talks about how horrible fathers are to their families by being absent or abusive—essentially assuming that every father in the congregation is abusive or absent. The solution presented is to be a lackey slave to their families.
If this church has a different approach, then I’m all for it.
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