I’m a guy!
And like most normal guys, I like guy-things, such as baseball, basketball, football and other sports where men compete and sweat a lot.
I like John Wayne, shoot-’em up movies, war flicks and mysteries written by male authors.
I like well-worn Levis, faded tee-shirts, old sweatshirts and baseball caps that have bills which have been hand-shaped for that perfect guy look.
My communication skills are perfect for talking to other guys, not too much description, very few adjectives and uncoupled trains of thoughts tossed out here and there throughout my conversations.
As you can see, I’m just a normal guy who likes hanging out with other guys.
So, how has this guy-thing been working out for me?
Actually, not well!
Since my salvation in 1985, I have been mainly a part of a woman’s world. My pastors and group leaders, with rare exceptions, have been women. Yes, they have been godly believers; and yes, I believe that they were appointed to their positions by the Lord. But still, they have been women.
I like to pray, and guess what? Prayer groups are almost invariably filled with women. In fact, it’s almost as if prayer groups were gender-specifically designed by the Lord to be a women-only ministry; or at least, it seems that way to me.
And I like to worship, but once again, guess what? Most of my worship leaders have been women. And not only that, almost all of the worship songs have been touchy, feely, emotionally-charged, feminized love songs. There has not been a worship song, like an Onward Christian Soldiers or Battle Hymn of the Republic, written in the last twenty years that would stir the hearts of guys to move out of the pews.
But even more, out of the hundreds of prophetic and encouraging words that I have given over the last twenty-four years, approximately ninety percent of them have been given to women.
I have prophesied to women about their ministries, about marrying godly husbands, about having babies and about this and that. But seldom, have I given words to men.
Now, what is all of this about?
P. S. Just so you know from the outset: I also like women and do not care at all whether the leader has an XX or XY chromosome makeup. This series is not a put-down of Christian women.
(Continued in Part 2)
Larry Who 
I found an article that may interest you. It’s Eastern Orthodox, but it explains much of what draws men to Church.
Sorry, I forgot to place the link.
http://www.frederica.com/writings/men-and-church.html
russianoc,
Thanks. I read the article and agree that men like to be challenged and enjoy the hunt.
And also, you might want to check out a great series by Shelby McQuilken. And while you are there, check out her photos:
http://shelbyphoto.com/category/artist-within/
Larry,
I am right there with you, but guess what, prayer isn’t a womans sport, it is a manly/Godly thing. The reason you feel so misplaced is because you are one of the “few” who “get it”. My place of worship preaches to “men” specifically, but the sermons work for women too. The reason is the statistics of family conversion when the man gets saved. Our church doesn’t do touchy feely, and it is the biggest church I have ever seen. We gained two thousand last year alone. You have the right idea Larry, you need to lead, mentor, and show this younger group of up and coming men that they need to be Spiritual leaders in their homes, and not become Spiritual slackers like are so prevalent in our generation. God Bless
Jim
blesseddad,
Thanks. My writing reflects my experiences, but it sadly, reflects what is happening throughout most of American Christianity…and in many other nations.
Larry,
I guess again…you have me hooked on this one. Waiting for more.
Blessings,
gladwell,
Thanks.
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Hi Larry — sometimes I think that our American church / culture has really damaged men in that listening to the Holy Spirit is an “intuitive” thing, which is a trait more often associated with the female gender. But a good reading of the New Testament will show that almost every man in it acted on those intuitive nudges of the Spirit.
Interesting series — I’m looking forward to watching it play out.
Anna
anna,
I agree.
But also, my guess is that if we studied church history, we would discover that – over all – women have been more faithful to the leading of the Holy Spirit than man have. I can’t tell you exactly why this is so, but I’d guess that it has to do with women having a more submissive nature than us men.
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