A good man is hard to find at church

The Baptist Standard ^ | August 14, 2008 | Lee Ann Marcel

[PAR35]

Well I can think of a lot of really cool things that are not lame that would attract ment, even if they are non scriptural....

I'd have to disagree with your marketing plan. Think Usherettes in Daisy Dukes and halter tops.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

He must watch his language, mind his manners and be extra polite. It’s hard for a man to be real in church

So a "real man" is not polite or courteous according to this fellow.

Strange. We used to refer to such men as gentlemen and it was the highest class that a men could aspire to.

In fact there was a book written around the turn of the 20th century called, "The Religion of a Gentlemen" that pointed out that immersion in Christianity was the best way to reach such a high level of culture and civility.

But apparently that has gone by the wayside. "Real men" scratch their privates and spit on the floor while yelling obscenities. And any church that would stifle such true expressions of masculinity is "womanized"

Bunk.

The problem with men in the church is that too many of them are lazy. They will come to the cook outs but if there is a Sunday School class that needs a teacher or a fund raiser needs volunteers they have "to much to do".

About two years ago the leader of the men's group in my church came to this realization and decided that the men needed to spend less time having fun and contribute more to the body as a whole.

We now have men teaching Sunday school and classes in the church school. The men work in the food pantry. Men coach the Bible Quizzers. This has greatly expanded the amount of activities that are available to the young people and children of the church. Perhaps a quarter of the children they work with are not generation members. Their parents do not attend services at all. A lot of these kids come from fractured homes. Because of our mens group stepping up they now have strong Christian men as male role models.

And most importantly they have moved from observers to active members. It is now their church. There are still lots of fun and games but it is no longer the main focus.

[dfwgator]

“But now worship sounds like a Top-40 love song,” Murrow said.

We refer to them as "Jesus Is My Boyfriend" songs.

[Dan Middleton]

"Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

I hate to be a wet blanket, and this is rather off-topic, but I've seen this verse misused enough that I have to speak up: the subject of the verse is church discipline. It comes at the end of the passage where Christ tells us to confront a sinning brother first on our own, then with witnesses, then in front of the whole congregation.

[guitarplayer1953]

Another name of a good book to read is the Open Church it tells of all the traditions that have crept in and how they don't relate to the 1st century Church.

[guitarplayer1953]

Amen!!!!!!!!!!!

[stevio]

Go to a Catholic church, we don’t jump up and down.

[bboop]

I do, but I always go to the NO MUSIC mass early in the morning if at all possible.

[Calm_Cool_and_Elected]

It's the Gospel, stupid!

Galatians 3:28:

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

[Calm_Cool_and_Elected]

It's the Gospel, stupid!

I wasn't referring to anyone as STUPID, just after that old bumper sticker "It's the economy, stupid".

[steve86]

You may not be jumping up and down but unless you’re attending a TLM there’s still too much influence from the prottie hand-holding dinner services.

[TexanToTheCore]

A lot of our men’s programs are attended by non members and some of them eventually come to Jesus.

Common first question:

What do you mean, “Our Bible Study class is going target shooting this weekend?”.

Another way of looking at this is Paul’s admonishment to preach where ever you go, and if need be, use words.

[tang-soo]

In reference to the title of this thread..

A good friend of mine, who was a Baptist pastor, once told me that, "if you hear a pastor refer to a person as a 'good man' at his funeral, your heart should sink. This is because that is how many pastors refer to the deceased if they are unsure of the person's salvation. This was to give some comfort to the family, without proclaiming one way or the other what was in the man's heart." Point being, never leave any question about your salvation by being a living testimony to The Gift offered by Christ and openly declare your acceptance of Salvation.

[onedoug]

A minyon at Orthodox synagogue is formed by 10 or more men.

[Marysecretary]

You are absolutely correct. My first husband wouldn’t go to church and I’ve had a heck of a time convincing my three sons that they are supposed to be the heads of their homes. Haven’t succeeded yet, but my middle son is more open to the things of Christ than the other two. We have a lot of really good families in our church and the men are wonderful. Lots of babies, good children’s ministry. We’ve done some Edwin Cole material with the men as well. You do have to offer men some ministries to help them grow into their headship as they should. Not easy, but things are available to help churches do that.

[Marysecretary]

AMEN, STEVIO.

[Marysecretary]

That is exactly right. If my first husband had been a church goer, I’m sure my sons would be. Only one is, and he doesn’t come every week. Fathers have much more influence over their sons and church than women do.

[Marysecretary]

I believe that in end times God WILL call out his remnant from the denominations. When panic comes to America, and it will, it’s not going to matter what church you went to. It WILL matter if you press into God and trust Him for the answers to what is going on around us. Only God will give us the peace we need to face tribulations.

[Marysecretary]

Amen, Normy!

[Marysecretary]

Amen, Normy!