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Yesterday I found an article linked from a friend’s Facebook status.  It was entitled “Where Are All The Men?” I found the subject matter interesting and “clicked through”. It starts out talking about a Facebook page called “Praying People” and the fact that about 81% of the “fans” of that page are female.  From there the author goes on to remark on the disparate numbers of women vs men in the church.  This is a phenomenon I’ve noticed in churches, although not in the ones where we minister.  Back about 1997 I took part in a city wide gathering of church leaders. When the deacons were asked to stand there were three men standing amoungst the  crowd of women.  Those three were men from our congregation, the rest of the city’s deacons (at that particular meeting) were all women.

So, I subscribed to the comment section of the the article referenced above.  Little did I know the flood of emails that would reach my inbox!  The author really struck a chord with people around the world with this article.  A lot of people (especially women) lament the absence of males in the church.  Others seem to almost rejoice – one going to the point of publishing links to radical feminist “We Don’t Need No Stinky Males” type websites.  But also a lot of people report experiences more like our own – where men mostly take a leading role in their family and the church. In fact, a website called “Men Of Jesus” was also linked to by one of the commentators.

The Apostle Paul’s words to Timothy reflect the call of God upon men – men who desire to be REAL men and to follow our Lord and Savior in a manly way.  He wrote: “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.” (2 Timothy 2:1-7)

God’s calling on us is strong.  He is calling us to a New Life in which we learn to be true soldiers of His Cross and warriors in the spiritual battle around us. But too many Christian men get “involved in civilian affairs” rather than serving as true soldiers of our Lord.  How many can reel off long strings of statistics about their favorite professional or college sport – but have no clue about what the Word of God says?  How many are proficient in winning video games – but are on the path to “Game Over” in the life of their children?

A Man of God – what a title!  What an honor to be worthy of such a description – if we would but BE such a man.  A man of God is like unto David the king.  He was a “man’s man” who occasionally goofed up, just like we do too.  BUT he didn’t stay down – he repented and turned back to God with a whole heart.  And that was the key to him being known as “a man after God’s own heart”.  His willingness to learn and his loyalty to his God and King.

Would that I had the answers to how to attract men not only to the church but to active roles of leadership.  We’re working on that.  What I do know is that as we allow men to BE men and encourage them to allow God to make them over in His image, families are changed.  The battle is tough as we battle against the social pressures around us.  But in Christ the victory is ours!