A FEW GOOD MEN!

Recently I read through an issue of Christianity Today and one of the articles featured a controversial megachurch in the northwest. The church’s approach to the community and their style of ministry is both extremely contemporary and conservatively evangelical. One of the controversial issues with the pastor and his style of leadership is how adamant he is about “no women in leadership.” This church does not allow any women to serve as church elders. As I read that part of the article, I thought, “So what else is new? This position certainly is not new; it is merely a tired and hotly debated issue.”

Chauvinism is very much a part of the evangelical community. In recent polls by ABC News and the Barna Organization, statistics show that the U.S. evangelical community is roughly 60% female and 40% “other” (mostly males and a few Canadians). Isn’t it interesting that a predominately chauvinistic church structure is less attractive to men? One would think that with all the strutting and posturing of the “male” leadership in the church, more men would be attracted but such is not the case. As a result, we see that another of the reasons why the American church is sputtering and without power is that we have so few “mighty men.”

Earlier in my life I was deeply influenced by Pastor Jack Hayford, founding pastor of The Church on the Way, Van Nuys, CA. One of the things that profoundly impacted me was a statement that I heard Pastor Jack make in person, and also repeat in his book, The Church on the Way. The statement was, “Without strong men, you cannot have a strong church!” Hayford not only verbalized the statement, he believed it and made it an integral part of The Church on the Way ministry.

My family attended The Church on the Way for 14 years. The entire time we were there, regular teaching times just for the men of the church were conducted. One Saturday morning a month about 500 to 600 men would come together for three to four hours for fellowship and food, but mostly for teaching. This was a time of teaching men how to be godly men, strong husbands, strong fathers, strong leaders. After a time of worship, Dr. Hayford almost always taught the first session of the day and then we would break for coffee and a simple breakfast, after which we would break into smaller elective groups taught by others. I remember one session that Pastor Jack taught on “why men should sing in church.” I don’t think I have ever heard anybody else teach on this and he made it an important truth for the men to understand and act on. The next day the church reached a new level in its worship time as hundreds of men that had previously wimped out when it came to opening their mouths and worshipping with singing absolutely let fly, whether they were on tune or not. It was incredible!

Month after month Pastor Hayford and his staff taught the men of the church how to be men of God. Solid biblical teaching on everything from worship, sex, family, discipline, giving, prayer, study…you name it and we received teaching on it. Pastor Jack made it a priority to train the men of his church and, as a consequence, he saw the development of hundreds of men growing into a band of “mighty men.” The Church on the Way grew to be one of the strongest congregations in the southern California area not only in size but in spiritual impact.

I was thrilled with the strong men’s ministries that we saw develop in the 80’s and 90’s when thousands of men would gather in stadiums and arenas for a day of worship and teaching. Unfortunately, it seems that it was more of a fad than it was a reformation. It appears to me that we are almost back to where we were before all this began.

Men’s ministry belongs in the local church. Men’s ministry is, under the best of circumstances, difficult. A few weeks ago the church that my wife and I attend released the fall and winter schedule of teaching classes (electives) available for the church. Listed were eight elective classes for the ladies of the church and three for the men. In our current state of mind in the western church, that’s about right and it’s absolutely wrong.

If the current wimpish attitude by church leadership doesn’t change toward training men, we will never have a really strong church. (Let me apologize to any leaders who might read this and feel like I am criticizing them. I am sorry that you feel that way, but the truth is the truth, so get over it). A key that I learned at The Church on the Way was “If men’s ministry is not a priority with the senior pastor, it will not be with the church.” As the head goes, so goes the body!

I read a chapter like 2 Samuel 23 which is a listing of David’s mighty men and their exploits and I am left with a sense of awe and huge nagging questions. “Why don’t we see more of this today? Where are the great heroes of today? Why are we not seeing a new generation of leaders rising? Why are we not seeing a rising of ‘mighty men’ like 50 and 100 years ago?” For all the talk of faith and growth and success, in many circles it is just “empty” talk!

Where are a few good men?