Comments on: Men: The minority in the church http://www.blackinformant.com/uncategorized/men-the-minority-in-the-church Engaging the culture by challenging the status quo Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:52:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Keith http://www.blackinformant.com/uncategorized/men-the-minority-in-the-church/comment-page-1#comment-1249 Keith Thu, 25 Aug 2005 17:45:25 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/?p=1094#comment-1249 I guess I am in the minority because in the small church ( I guess I am in the minority because in the small church (

]]> By: Duane http://www.blackinformant.com/uncategorized/men-the-minority-in-the-church/comment-page-1#comment-1248 Duane Thu, 25 Aug 2005 02:30:24 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/?p=1094#comment-1248 <i>Pastors should have a core group of men around them that will hold him accountable and are looking after the congregation as well not just looking after him (Body guards). </i> I agree with you 100%<em> in theory</em>. The "in theory" part comes from the fact that I have yet to see with my own eyes a group of men that are bold and free enough to challenge the pastor when he is wrong without being kicked to the curb. I have seen Many (with a capital <strong>M</strong>) well-intentioned groups start out with this goal in mind, but they almost always turn into the pastors mini "dog pound". I think the main contributing factor to this are two fold: <strong>A lot of Money The size of the crowd</strong> <em>Both feed into any man's ego</em> The pastors of the early church did not have to really deal with either because the churches were very small and based out of the home. Money was easily distributed without the red tape and the size of crowd was distributed via the cell based model. What the mega church model has done is to lump these two things together creating the negative trend that we are discussing today. Pastors should have a core group of men around them that will hold him accountable and are looking after the congregation as well not just looking after him (Body guards).

I agree with you 100% in theory. The “in theory” part comes from the fact that I have yet to see with my own eyes a group of men that are bold and free enough to challenge the pastor when he is wrong without being kicked to the curb. I have seen Many (with a capital M) well-intentioned groups start out with this goal in mind, but they almost always turn into the pastors mini “dog pound”.

I think the main contributing factor to this are two fold:

A lot of Money

The size of the crowd

Both feed into any man’s ego

The pastors of the early church did not have to really deal with either because the churches were very small and based out of the home. Money was easily distributed without the red tape and the size of crowd was distributed via the cell based model. What the mega church model has done is to lump these two things together creating the negative trend that we are discussing today.

]]> By: Keith http://www.blackinformant.com/uncategorized/men-the-minority-in-the-church/comment-page-1#comment-1247 Keith Tue, 23 Aug 2005 16:33:27 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/?p=1094#comment-1247 The standard for men in the Church for too long has been too low. We are not teaching men to be men because we don't want to offend them by calling them to be Godly men. We don't seem to expect men to do any better than they are doing. A lot of times this is the pastors fault because he may be an insecure man or he likes the adoration of his women so much that he is not willing to give up the illusion that he is the great man that they think he is. Just like we don't want the pastor to think he is all that we cant make him all that by putting the growth of the flock on his shoulders alone. Pastors should have a core group of men around them that will hold him accountable and are looking after the congregation as well not just looking after him (Body guards). I have not found the "swiss army knife" pastor who can do it all. If he is weak in the area of counseling someone must come along side of him and help. Once other men see that the Church is not a one man show but a body of believers working together for the kingdom, then and only then will they come back. The work of the Church must be tangible to men, they have to see more than what goes on on Sunday morining they need to see the Church at work. The standard for men in the Church for too long has been too low. We are not teaching men to be men because we don’t want to offend them by calling them to be Godly men. We don’t seem to expect men to do any better than they are doing. A lot of times this is the pastors fault because he may be an insecure man or he likes the adoration of his women so much that he is not willing to give up the illusion that he is the great man that they think he is.

Just like we don’t want the pastor to think he is all that we cant make him all that by putting the growth of the flock on his shoulders alone. Pastors should have a core group of men around them that will hold him accountable and are looking after the congregation as well not just looking after him (Body guards). I have not found the “swiss army knife” pastor who can do it all. If he is weak in the area of counseling someone must come along side of him and help.

Once other men see that the Church is not a one man show but a body of believers working together for the kingdom, then and only then will they come back. The work of the Church must be tangible to men, they have to see more than what goes on on Sunday morining they need to see the Church at work.

]]> By: Chris Gill http://www.blackinformant.com/uncategorized/men-the-minority-in-the-church/comment-page-1#comment-1246 Chris Gill Tue, 23 Aug 2005 13:04:42 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/?p=1094#comment-1246 If I may also add, if most Black men were asked "how would you like to serve and honor God, without all of the theatrics and cliques?", many would respond "Where do I sign up?". I have been members of all Black churches, and majority white churches (although greatly intergrated with African and Hispanic members). And the dynamic is the same for all of the men. Once given the challenge to take ownership of their service within the Body, the response is enthusiastic. So the question may be, do some pastors want yes men to act as syncopants, or Godly men of iron? If I may also add, if most Black men were asked “how would you like to serve and honor God, without all of the theatrics and cliques?”, many would respond “Where do I sign up?”. I have been members of all Black churches, and majority white churches (although greatly intergrated with African and Hispanic members). And the dynamic is the same for all of the men. Once given the challenge to take ownership of their service within the Body, the response is enthusiastic. So the question may be, do some pastors want yes men to act as syncopants, or Godly men of iron?

]]> By: Michele http://www.blackinformant.com/uncategorized/men-the-minority-in-the-church/comment-page-1#comment-1245 Michele Tue, 23 Aug 2005 04:14:48 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/?p=1094#comment-1245 Wow. Great article. A lot of people seem bitter when discussing what the church isn't doing. Thanks for presenting your opinion free of darts. Wow. Great article. A lot of people seem bitter when discussing what the church isn’t doing. Thanks for presenting your opinion free of darts.

]]> By: sandra http://www.blackinformant.com/uncategorized/men-the-minority-in-the-church/comment-page-1#comment-1241 sandra Mon, 22 Aug 2005 23:22:13 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/?p=1094#comment-1241 What is the deeper message the church is sending? The paster,or alpha male, has some special relationship with God? and the male congregants should be out sweeping the parking lot. This is so wrong. I know so many sisters praying for God to find them a man, and it doesn't look like it's going to be in the church(unless it's the minister) My other concern is the power, women have in the church,because of their numbers. I wonder how many men,if truth be told, don't want to contend with women (at home , let alone church) who run everything. I recognize this is not a popular opinion. But what is a man? who has power? Are we saying only the "Pastor" of the flock is a "real man". Didactic leadership doesn't work for me. I can think of few people who want to be "lectured to" or "told what to do". I think church should be a place where all are treated as equals with equal respect. I want to see a day when people can "talk back" , "ask questions" and give their input at the service. Revolutionary. I don't think so. Perhaps we should look at quaker services. Don't laugh. They all have an opportunity to speak (when they have something to say) Sometimes those church meetings are "real quiet". What is the deeper message the church is sending? The paster,or alpha male, has some special relationship with God? and the male congregants should be out sweeping the parking lot. This is so wrong. I know so many sisters praying for God to find them a man, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to be in the church(unless it’s the minister) My other concern is the power, women have in the church,because of their numbers. I wonder how many men,if truth be told, don’t want to contend with women (at home , let alone church) who run everything. I recognize this is not a popular opinion. But what is a man? who has power? Are we saying only the “Pastor” of the flock is a “real man”. Didactic leadership doesn’t work for me. I can think of few people who want to be “lectured to” or “told what to do”. I think church should be a place where all are treated as equals with equal respect. I want to see a day when people can “talk back” , “ask questions” and give their input at the service. Revolutionary. I don’t think so. Perhaps we should look at quaker services. Don’t laugh. They all have an opportunity to speak (when they have something to say) Sometimes those church meetings are “real quiet”.

]]> By: Duane http://www.blackinformant.com/uncategorized/men-the-minority-in-the-church/comment-page-1#comment-1244 Duane Mon, 22 Aug 2005 20:47:08 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/?p=1094#comment-1244 <i>Some pastors present themselves as the Alpha male, and the center of all love and adoration within the congregation.</i> Very, very good point! I could not have said it any better. Some pastors present themselves as the Alpha male, and the center of all love and adoration within the congregation.

Very, very good point! I could not have said it any better.

]]> By: Chris Gill http://www.blackinformant.com/uncategorized/men-the-minority-in-the-church/comment-page-1#comment-1243 Chris Gill Mon, 22 Aug 2005 20:27:43 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/?p=1094#comment-1243 Unfortunately, the whole cult of personality that affects black parishoners differently than other races, rubs some men the wrong way. Some pastors present themselves as the Alpha male, and the center of all love and adoration within the congregation. It ends up being a competition between the pastor and his crew, and the other men within the flock. Some of whom have a little more backbone and sense of independent thinking than the pastor cares for. And I hate to generalize, but I have heard too many stories of pastors who are flirtatious with the women, but are protected by the congregation, while the women in question are vilified. There are some pastors that take on the whole "hip-hop personality" of huge cliques, flashy clothes, and a sense of exclusiveness (Won't let anyone touch them, lest their anointing be compromised). Unfortunately, the whole cult of personality that affects black parishoners differently than other races, rubs some men the wrong way. Some pastors present themselves as the Alpha male, and the center of all love and adoration within the congregation. It ends up being a competition between the pastor and his crew, and the other men within the flock. Some of whom have a little more backbone and sense of independent thinking than the pastor cares for. And I hate to generalize, but I have heard too many stories of pastors who are flirtatious with the women, but are protected by the congregation, while the women in question are vilified. There are some pastors that take on the whole “hip-hop personality” of huge cliques, flashy clothes, and a sense of exclusiveness (Won’t let anyone touch them, lest their anointing be compromised).

]]> By: Chris Gill http://www.blackinformant.com/uncategorized/men-the-minority-in-the-church/comment-page-1#comment-1242 Chris Gill Mon, 22 Aug 2005 20:26:56 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/?p=1094#comment-1242 I can personally attest to the need of being challenged within the worship environment. Although I accepted Christ in 1991, at the age of 21, I spent too many years as a babe in Christ. In 1999, I had a man challenge me to not only be "saved", but be also a Godly man. Meaning, be accountable to other Chriatian males, seek to assume leadership responsibilities such as the spiritual head of the household and serving within the Body of Christ. While some would have gotten offended at getting read for being luke-warm, I loved it and embraced it. It was a rebuke that I feel changed my life for the better. I can personally attest to the need of being challenged within the worship environment. Although I accepted Christ in 1991, at the age of 21, I spent too many years as a babe in Christ. In 1999, I had a man challenge me to not only be “saved”, but be also a Godly man. Meaning, be accountable to other Chriatian males, seek to assume leadership responsibilities such as the spiritual head of the household and serving within the Body of Christ. While some would have gotten offended at getting read for being luke-warm, I loved it and embraced it. It was a rebuke that I feel changed my life for the better.

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