Not
long ago I went to visit a friend’s church. It was a great service, full of
loving and welcoming people. The music was good, the Word was preached and I
left being challenged and yet affirmed. I could not help but notice however a
man setting on the other side of the aisle. It was the man with the baseball
hat on. He stuck out like a sore thumb. Not because he wanted to, but it was rather
that he did not belong nor did he want to be there.
He sat
next to his wife or significant other. She was getting into and enjoying the
service. She had her Bible with her and was following along. She was raising
her hands and giving praise to God. All the while, the man stood, sat, and did
his best to try to look interested. He tried to look interested, and yet it was
all he could do to keep his eyes open. It wasn't because he was tired, but
rather because the language of Church was completely foreign to him.
Unfortunately
this man in the hat was not the only one. Across the country every week there
are men that are feeling the same way. These are men who do not understand the
language of church. These are men that see church as a place that is completely
foreign to them. We have taken Christianity and made it so hard for men to
understand that is almost is the point of being repulsive. Let me expand upon
this further in three more blogs. I want to looks at three aspects of the
church that make men uncomfortable. Those three aspects are the church’s music,
the Christian’s terminology and the environment of the local church.
As you
read, please share with me your experience and how we can hopefully make church
more welcoming to men.
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