I’m a man.
Not a metro-sexual, hyper-sensitive, skinny-jean, manicured nails, poster boy. Don’t
confuse me, I realize that we are all different, having unique personalities,
gifts, tastes, and proclivities that create a cacophony of humanity. I also
realize that I have a tendency to glamourize the true Renaissance man, the guy
that can speak fluently using just the right words at the right time, play a
musical instrument, be a crack-shot with a gun or bow and arrow, and have a physical
demeanor that would make an enemy second-guess messing with him. You know, a well-rounded
man, just the right amount of brute strength and cultural poise. The reason I
am drawn to such is because they usually produce the greatest number of
world-changing champions. However, these guys are not typically drawn to our
current church environments. Why? Here is issue number 2.
The second
characteristic that is has become mainstream in the current church model and
that is oblivious to its leadership is the overemphasis on emotions. Although
real men have emotions and know exactly how to use them and control them, they
are NOT the lead! In most of our modern Worship Services emotions are the
pinnacle of the Sunday experience. We strive for more and more emotive
responses from start to finish! Let me explain my thesis.
The most
important part of our Sunday Service is … what? Well, it’s NOT the reading of
the Scriptures, the explanation of the text, the application of the message, or
the giving of the tithe. We certainly don’t
stand up and get excited about that
part of the service! In my frequent travels I observe most congregants are very
disconnected with the aforementioned elements of the typical service. See for
yourself, the most important part of the Sunday morning experience is the song
service. We all stand up for that part. Interestingly the only time the
congregation of Israel ever stood up was during the reading of the Law (Nehemiah 8:5), not the song service! You see we
are placing a higher value on music than God ever intended! We should be
standing when God’s Word is read, displaying physical agreement to those
precious holy words that are infallible, inerrant, and God-breathed. Today we worship music, which is why we now call
music, “Worship!” The shift was
subtle, but effective – men are less inclined to be involved in something that
is mostly “emotive” and less substantive. Music is emotional. An emotional
response only lasts a brief moment, and though it is important to include
emotions in our service, it should NOT be the pinnacle, the apex, or the linchpin
since it does not last. A changed heart, a changed mind will always outlast an
emotional high. God’s Word is the tool that changes hearts and minds, not well
performed, emotionally charged music. Let me explain it another way. Instead of feelings-based activities, sound doctrine boldly proclaimed and connected to applicable, relevant opportunities should be the center of our Worship experience. Each worshipper should find as the highest part of the service the Word of God being connected directly to the daily applications in their lives giving them answers and mental pictures of how they can fulfill God’s will for their life. They should be given a vision, a calling, and a purpose for their special abilities, insights, and gifts. Men tend to find little opportunity for the exercise of their unique wiring. Few programs are offered that allows manly men to be given a challenge. For the modern Renaissance man, the disappointment is the watering down of the godly mandates of Scripture. We are so afraid to offend that we actually offend the very nature of the typical, practical-driven man. Real men want genuine facts, clearly and boldly proclaimed, and applications for their lives. In other words, these guys want their coffee black but we’re serving them some fancy party drink and wondering why they’re not happy.
More to
follow.
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