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I think the question of why more men don’t attend worship is more of a “western” trend in the U.S. and in Western Europe than it is world-wide.

In the rest of the world, the “third world” countries, being a Christian costs something - sometimes your freedom, your physical comfort - even your life.

There is no doubt that the liberal ideology that has permeated some Christian denominations has had a negative effect on the witness of the Church (both Protestant and Catholic) in our world.

Typically the more liberal the church in doctrine and in message, the less attendance by both men and women. The more Biblically sound the church - the more attendence of both men and women.

I would like to say that this was because people tend to respond to God’s real truth when they hear it. I would also like to attribute greater attendance and growth among conservative churches and denominations to their being more orthodox, teaching sound Biblical doctrine, living sincere (as opposed to hypocritical) Christian lives - but, unfortunately, that is not always the case.

It isn’t the worship style, or the language, the color of the carpets, the “chickafication” of the church, the inexperience of the pastor or priest - it isn’t because one church only sings traditional gospel songs/hymns or another does more contemporary music as the reason why some churches lack growth or experience explosive growth. I wish it were that easy to figure out.

Some of the largest churches where I live ask very little of their membership - in fact, the bigger they are, the easier it is to “hide” from others. Some of these mega-churches are “fuzzy” about adhereing to certain unpopular Christian doctrines - like salvation through Christ alone, the inerrancy of the Bible, unwavering rejection of abortion, homosexuality, sexual purity before marriage, heck - being married before couples live together!

Some of these mega-churches are very “market-driven” in how they present their church to the community (what “programs” the church will establish in order to attract non-church people). The so-called “seeker-sensitive” churches who attempt to conform their church to the culture around them.

These churches ofentimes thrive while other, more conservative churches seem to just struggle on or even lose more and more attendence.

The point is - growth doesn’t always mean that a church is doctrinally sound. Many of the churches (sometimes called cults) experience tremendous growth.

But, as I mentioned previously - this is mostly true of what is happening in western countries like the U.S. and western Europe. We often hear that Christianity is “losing” to other faiths, like Islam, or eastern religions - but just the opposite is true. Christianity is outgrowing all other faiths world-wide, but only in the third world countries or even in typically hostile countries like China. Eastern European countries have experience growth in Christianity as well.

Everyone has their own theories as to why Christianity is losing ground in America and western Europe, but I think what is obvious is that many people in our country do not feel the need for God. We pretty much have what we want when we want it (for the most part). There is little if any real “cost” of discipleship because our people won’t put up with very much interference or inconvenience in their lives or their familties lives.

Church attendence had better be convenient and as “cheap” as possible or it’s deemed too intrusive. Soundness of doctrine is not so important, but rather how much does a church want more and more of MY time and MY money?

Doctrinally sound, Biblical churches are seen as archaic, “out of touch” with the times, “narrow”, “bigoted”, - too hard.

After all, being Biblically sound or correct doesn’t guarantee that people will respond positively to you. Moses led by God’s power and command, yet many rejected his leadership and authority. Jesus Himself, from our typical view of “success” was a total failure in His ministry. He was rejected by most people toward the end of His earthly ministry - even His own disciples left Him when He was arrested and crucified (note it was the women that stuck with Him, at the cross - and, it was three women that found the empty tomb - it was also a woman who first saw Jesus resurrected). He was even betrayed by one of His disciples.

My point is that not everyone will “endure sound doctrine”. The Apostle Paul tells us that in the last times people will reject all Godly authority. All we can do is keep on telling the truth to whomever is willling to listen. We must leave the rest to God.