In what is not a total surprise for those of us who are involved in church life, new data from the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, conducted by the Pew Research Center, shows 86% of women are affiliated with a religion vs. 79% of men.
When the answer to the question, “Do you believe in God or a universal spirit?” was affirmative, survey participants were then asked, “Are you absolutely certain, fairly certain, not too certain or not at all certain?” 77% of women and 65% of men were absolutely certain. Those who believe in God were subsequently asked, “Which comes closest to your view of God: God is a person with whom people can have a relationship, or God is an impersonal Force?” 58% of the women believe in a personal God vs. 45% of men. 66% of women compared to 49% of men pray at least daily; 63% of women compared to 49% of men say religion is very important in their lives; and 44% of women attend worship services at least weekly vs. 34% of men.
Men have been missing from the religious landscape for the past three decades. Since the rise in popularity of four wheelers, NASCAR, paint ball, NFL expansion teams, and online porn, more church going guys are staying away to pursue their pleasures. Hope you found the humor in that last statement. The fact is, men guard their personal time more now than ever and second, many men see the church as place for guys who are, what’s the word? Weak! The church has not knocked a home run in teaching what an authentic man really is. Also, the high profile preacher types who have fallen from their lofty perches hasn’t helped the cause either.
I believe men would be affiliated with God if the church gave them a reason to be. Please don’t give me the reason they need to be, is that they will go to hell if thy are not. Going to heaven or hell is based on a whether a person has accepted the free gift of salvation that comes through Christ, not religion.
So, give me your thoughts – how can the church engage men who apparently are the minority in religion, to be more involved in the life of the church or better to be involved with their families in the life of the church? Leave a comment and let’s get a conversation started!
I think more men would be willing to invest their lives in church if:
1. There is a clearly defined vision to pursue.
2. That the vision provides opportunity to leave a local legacy FIRST, then global.
3. The church involved men, allowing them to use their gifts to make a difference. (We need to just involve men, and allow the desire to serve come out of that).
4. That when the word of God is preached, it’s made relevant for them in their circumstances.
5That we “get smart” in creating an atmosphere that calls men to a higher purpose so they don’t feel like a participant at a PTA meeting.
a. Maybe our songs could reflect more about God’s attributes than our “love” for Him. That’s tough for the immature.
b. Leader led intimacy usually feels forced. Encourage mature men to engage immature men one on one and allow masculine intimacy to self-develop.
Many years ago now, the Promise Keepers movement of the Holy Spirt did a lot to tap into the nature of men. To encourage and release them powerfully in the work of the Kingdom. To engage them in a manner which speaks to them as men uniquely.
I remember my husband couldn’t wait to pack into a van with 9 other guys after a long week of work, drive 17 hours straight to get to a stadium in Denver. The draw? To join with thousands of other men in a very “male oriented” style of church.
Worship was in a manner that tapped into the warrior nature of men, to fight, to overcome, to become a army with a mighty Warrior as the General. The team aspect was encouraged with the back-slapping, high-fiveing, “go get’em” attitude as they huddled together in prayer. Men were encouraged in their God given maleness and the purpose of that nature in the realm of the Kingdom.
My husband came home from those weekends as a soldier on a mission. Engaged and activated by the power that came from the Holy Spirit and other men affirming his maleness. Our marriage was strengthened, our family life blessed, and he found new energy and vision for advancing the Kingdom.
Let’s pray for another powerful move of the Spirit to energize, affirm and release the men of today into a new excitement and passion for our Lord and His Purposes on earth for these days.