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[JFBEagle]

This may be a British thing but, I'll raise it anyway.  One of the things that put men off from going to church is the words used in a lot of modern songs.
"They make it sound like Jesus is my boyfriend," is a common complaint or "Why must I always be surrendering and never taking up arms to fight for the cause?

It has been suggested that with the decline in the number of Men in the Church that the approach to worship has become biassed toward the soft feminine side.

Is this a valid argument or is it just making excuses?? 

[Jason]

Life is so crazy busy for me right now.Anyways, I think contemporary worship is written to be very intimate. I could see how men that are not very affectionate could be turned off by it. I have a couple of men in my church who fit in this category. However, I could'nt see them not coming to church because of it.

I would say that for the majority it might be an excuse.

[donnleviejr]

Hi Lads:

Good to be back on the boards here...I hope God has kept you all safely.

I agree with Jason...I think it's an excuse. Stronger is the man who stands by his convictions than the one who needs masculine rhetoric to prop him up, I say.

Have to say that there is some truth to what John says about church being more feminine in some areas...I think one of the Barna surveys may have touched on this.

Best to all,
Donn

[JFBEagle]

Hi Donn,
Maybe this comes back to the question of whether the Sunday service shold be seen as part of the local church outreach.  The evidence seems to suggest that a not-yet-Christian man who visits a church is less likely to return than a woman. The content is one element, the other is the lack of male faces in the congregation.  The whole image they receive is that church is for girls.

It is different for believers but men believers are a dying breed.

[donnleviejr]

Hi John:

I believe that a different approach (message content) may be needed to get non-Christian men to visit church and embrace the message of the Gospel. I can understand how women gravitate toward church, in particular the nurturing aspect of evangelism that has strong appeal mostly to women but to some men as well. Guys who help coach kids' soccer, football (U.S.), baseball, or whatever help nurture the character development of these boys--seems like the transition to spiritual nurturing for boys and young men should be a parallel.

Interesting topic...be interested to see how others weigh in..

Donn

[motty]

maybe focusing on the Lordship and Kingship of Christ is a solution to this...

[JFBEagle]

Hi Motty,
Yes that is a great thought.  It doesn't in any way take away from our need to submit to a supreme authority and at the same time acknowledges that as subjects we have work to do for the kingdom.  It offers a positive message to the person looking from outside the church.

 

[donnleviejr]

Good points all. One of the big criticisms of Contemporary Christian Pop music used for worship services-particularly songs by female vocalists--is how some use "alluring" vocal techniques when singing about their Lord and Savior. I've heard it--Rebecca St. James' live version of Amazing Love is one prime example. The "Jesus is my boyfriend" concept is heard more strongly in Contemporary Christian Pop than in the traditional hymns that have been staples of worship for centuries.

Donn

[Pastor Colin]

Who was it that said "the modern church has declawed the Lion of Judah and made Him into a lap-cat suitable for old ladies"?

[JFBEagle]

Hi Pastor Colin...
I don't know who said it (a quick google shows a lot of people offering as an original comment) but it is true. 
It isn't however, just the worship music but also as tha number of men drops so the feeedback to preachers comes more from women than men and the overall message of the church becomes feminised.  The touchy feely side of Jesus is emphasised at the expense of the controversy courting man that I read about.

[Jason]

Who was it that said "the modern church has declawed the Lion of Judah and made Him into a lap-cat suitable for old ladies"?

Whoever said it, it is a revelation and the truth

[Pastor Colin]

I saw a new item a year or so ago about a church that targets it's minitry to men (though women are certainly allowed and still make up the majority of the membership & congregation).  The images in the messages and decore of the sancuary and other rooms are specifically masculine and designed to attract men.  They are very successful in their ministries and are growing into a mega-church.