Reposts on Men’s Issues
September 7, 2006
Posted by Dan Edelen in : Repost Functions : Trackback,
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Three for Thursday, all dealing with issues confronting men. Please feel free to comment back at the original posts, or if you would like to comment on all three, go ahead and leave a comprehensive one at this post.
The Church’s Missing Men
Another Look at the Church’s Missing Men
The Humble Warrior
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I love reading what you write! You challenge me and I find myself agreeing so much with what you have to say. Thanks for these reposts. I really appreciated “The Church’s Missing Men”. The list of expectations was right on. Don’t you think that the “church” and pastors are to blame for actually adding to the busyness of men’s schedules? We continue to think that “more” is the answer to our problems and we pile greater responsibilities and expectations on people (not just men). Therefore pulling them away from the things that are most important. I have found that the average church member believes that the answer to every problem in life & church is to be found in a program. We continue to search for solutions in “ministries”, while authentic Christianity fades further into the distance. Do you agree or am I alone on this one? Thanks again for challenging my thinking.
I have been thnking about the absence of men in the church and comparing it to my experience over the last 20 years, and one thing stands out: I noticed that in two churches I attended that did primarily expository teaching instead of topical teaching, the number of men that attended and participated was noticeably higher than in those churches that do topical teaching. (The two churches are Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto, CA, headed by Ray Steadman at the time, but still going strong since Ray’s death, and Christ Community Church in Tucson, AZ, under Bill Womersley then.)
Topical teaching is fine, but there are many of us who thrive, and long for, clear explanations of Biblical passages, with application to current life. The pastor is going to spend the next six months teaching from Ephesians? Fine. Let us hear it. What is God saying, and what should we do about it? For me, topical teaching is like watching 1/2 hour TV shows — good info, but the lack of long term continuity seriously dilutes the message’s affect.
I have lived about 15 miles NW of Denver for the past 13 years, and have given up on finding expository teaching around here. Over the past two years, I have considered starting a church for just that, but I’m not quite ready. I don’t know if it will ever happen, but this area needs it.
Uh, very good stuff . . . The previous two insights i found very engaging as well.
Something that struck me as I read over the three posts was simply that men are longer taught how to men - Not by our culture, not by our churches.
This point was brought out by Piper’s series, “Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.”
I also recall ‘Rush’ making the same point a few years ago . . .
As one who serves in the church and teaches men, I am really at a loss for any insight other than what you have posted. It trully is the most interesting post I have read in quite some time.
Thank you for taking the time to re-post / post this valuable and albeit lost concept . . .