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I just got a book for the library entitled "Why men hate going to church," by David Murrow. His premise is that men do not find areas of connection. He maintains that churches should be more "man friendly" in order to attract men.

However, I have not yet read the book but I am in a state of conflict. On the one hand I think when I got saved (June 27, 1975) I became a member of a church and I was active. When I went to college, although I did backslide, I attended church. When I left college and became a part of the regular workforce I still attended church and became more active. Attending church was a duty, responsibility and privilege, I believe that if a person is a true believer the Holy Spirit will convict them to either attend church or a Bible study. Salvation should bring about an interest in the things of God.

However, on the other hand, I can see doing things and having programs in place for out reach and evangelism that are unique and even border on radical.

So what is one to do - besides read the book - Should churches be more man-friendly or do we pray that the Holy Spirit works and convicts people to involved in the things of God??

The premise of the book is that the manner in which we present the things of God have tended to be traditionally effeminate. It is about being more thoughtful in our presentation of the good news and in our worship as the Church. While I think the book goes too far (IMO), I still appreciated his call to be thoughtful in how we practice life as the Church.

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Brother GaryM: Shalom and an excellant post!!! Christ said the Kingdom of God is Not here or there... But IS IN YOU... !!! We as humans are connected to God By the "Breath of Life - Spirit" ... that the Lord has given every Human here on Earth!!! Matthew 12:48-50 KJV; tells of Jesus's Mother and brethren desiring to speak to Jesus ... Jesus said this: Behold my mother and my brethren ... For Whosoever shall DO the Will of my Father which is in Heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and Mother!!! Matthew 15:8-9 tells of Jesus saying "Why people believe in God with their Lips, but their Hearts are far away from Jesus..." Teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men"!!! That is Why Most Men Don't Like going to Church...!!! The Churches have LOST... the True Teachings of Jesus!!! The Lord Be Praised, bless everyone, pray for the Peace of Jerusalem amen shalom!!!

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ !!! Shalom to all , i am Not Posting this to Ridicule or Mock those " Churches " ... Period !!! But to Bring to Light this ; The Blood in our Viens and body is the " Knowledge of Good and Evil " !!! Cain Killed his brother Abel - Gen. 4 : 8 - * 10 * KJV : The Lord Spoke : And He Said , What hast thou done ??? the voice of thy brother*s * BLOOD * Crieth unto Me from the ground !!! Personifacation happens from Mount Zion , God*s Holy Hill !!! Psalms 1 : 1 - * 6 - 7 * God be Praised through Jesus Christ , Bless everyone , peace and love from up above amen shalom !!!

OOPsss Psalms 2 : 1 - * 6 - 7 * !!!

I have started reading the book and I agree with antipater. I am always a little skeptical of someone who has some new idea about evaluating church and church practice. However, I will read the book with an open mind.

Paul presented to Gospel in different ways to different audiences so he could reach more for Christ -- however, once Saved, how the Gospel is presented should be irrelevant IF it is doctrinally sound -- so the book's premise may be misguided

some men are worn out -- some are lazy -- some do not see the importance...they're Saved so g2g

i personally dislike churches that have as their focus topical sermons -- these are too easy to jack up the context & there's seemingly no plan to the messages -- however, when a preacher goes through a Book, all that changes! -- you have context, you have a Plan, & i don't want to miss the next sermon! -- it's like night & day to me & my personal motivation

now, there are areas where 1 can delve off into topics while going through a Book -- but the reverse never happens

if you are a preacher that does a week on commitment & a week on stewardship & a week on holiness, etc -- try announcing you're beginning a Book series next month & see what happens -- guys dig Romans so try that & you'll have them lining up around the block..!

Hi . . . I read the reviews of this book on amazon.com and unless someone really puts in a plug for this book I'm gonna pass.

Look . . . our Pastor cries several time during the service and meh . . . whatever. His sermons are okay. There is a bunch of the usual hand holding while praying, hugging, etc. during which I feel pretty uncomfortable. If you want to call me mal-adjusted fine.

The Pastor that I really like we left in Washington . . . he used the stomp up and down the front waving a Bible over his head taking about Spiritual War.

Guess which one I like most.

I know this is about discipline which I don't have enough of . . . and I have health issues so its a real bugger to get me out of the house for anything. However, if I thought we were going to spiritual war I think I'd probably be able to get up of my behind and build a house for the needy.

1 need not have a preacher proclaim this to know we're in a war TODAY & have been since Gen. 3:15

Eph. 6:11-12
1 Pet. 5:8

GFR1718- Why men hate to go to church , well I think it is because one ] we were made in GOD'S image and we feel that we are his equal so why go to church , 2] late night work hours 3] the work that is involved in church 3] I know when I first had gotten saved I sat and learned and listened and did my bible studies. Two I donated tithes to help make repairs, educational material , food items for the pantry, went out on missions to hurricane victims , helped build family's new homes . Yet some of the church members looked down on me because they thought that I wasn't the church going type. When I had a death in the family church members gave me odd looks because they couldn't understand my emotions , so I do more bible studies at home yet over my services to the church . Some of the churches in the area where I live have home-less people in them and when to step forward to volunteer to teach a class they what you to do it their way , economicaly I believe the churches are falling away and I have tried to correct member's not to steal from the tithe plate but they do it anyway is there any more reason's why men hate to go to church . Oh I forgot football season.

GFR1718,
This discussion is not simply about why men hate going to church but about a specific book by that title. Have you read it?

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This is a very interesting topic. Perhaps you would not mind if I opined from a Catholic point of view?

From experience, if one attends a daily Mass at a typical Catholic parish, one will often find it is attended mostly by women. I have often pondered why this is. In my opinion, the reason why men may be turned off from the typical Catholic Mass (that is what you would call our worship service) is because the liturgy has become feminized. From the music, to the prayers to even the architecture of the actual building, there is a feminine characteristic that has overtaken the modern Catholic parish.

Man's mind (and in turn his spirituality) is much different than that of a woman. The older liturgy of the Catholic Church in the West, with it's Latin, chants, organs piping out the great works of Palestrina, the priest offering doctrinally precise prayers which beautifully articulate the truths of holy religion, to the actual architecture of the building itself, all have a very masculine spirituality. In Catholic parishes where the liturgy is "high", they are populated mostly by men.

My contention is the average man is turned off by feminine spirituality. Thus, he chooses to stay away.

Just my observations.

God bless,
Campion

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Contemplare et contemplata aliis tradere. - St. Thomas Aquinas

am curious if the men flock to LDS & JW services...

i go for the sermon -- if i'm being fed, the rest of the service can be something outside my personal preferences

am still trying to figure out what feminine architecture is -- if it's functional, great <shrug>

I couldn't tell you...I don't even know what an LDS or JW service is.




I go to receive the Eucharist, the living bread that came down from heaven.




Take the following two examples. Having just got back from Pilgrimage in France, I'll use as an example the great Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris. Here is a picture of the naive:



Compared to a modern parish where I attend daily Mass:



(This is a picture of a men's conference, thus the large number of men present in the photo)


Can you not see a significant difference? A Catholic Church should reflect Catholic theology. A Church is not merely a functional space, a meeting place. Rather, it should signify and make visible the dwelling of God with men who are reconciled and united in Christ. It should reflect the transcendentals: the good, the beautiful and the true. Beauty itself, by definition, should be a reflection of truth. Granted I am not arguing all churches should be Gothic or Romanesque, but rather I would make the argument more general in terms of the philosophy of the nature of things.

Campion

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Contemplare et contemplata aliis tradere. - St. Thomas Aquinas

ditto
we're Commanded to do this tho our respected Churches view the specifics differently -- it's imp, agreed
here's where we disagree -- the Church (i.e., saints) is part of the Body of Christ -- where they meet on Sundays is merely a bldg, nothing more

if the bldg has cool architecture that provides a spiritual ambience, or "reflects transcendentals", it's bonus pts -- but i'd rather see the $ spent on missions than an extravagant structure

the early Church met in homes & did just fine <shrug>

getting back to the OP...i haven't read the book & doubt i will because i think the argument is wrong -- preach the Word & you'll be fine -- now, if teachers take the wishy washy Osteen approach, then i can see real Christians avoiding the place