One concern I have had for a long time is the lack of committed men in our churches. I have often wondered if the problem has anything to do with the format of our worship services. How do we communicate to men that there is a role for them in God’s Kingdom? I am reminded of one Father’s Day service in a church we were visiting that brought this problem to the forefront. To honour the men, the women were conducting the service that morning. There was a tangible presence of the Lord in the praise and worship service. The theme was “dancing with the Father”. As a man, it is difficult for me to visualize myself dancing with the Lord as His Bride. It is not difficult, however, to see myself as a carefree child dancing with my Father. Being part of the Bride of Christ is very real to me, but I tend to focus more on the authority side of that relationship. We are seated with Him in heavenly places and we will reign with him in the age to come.
The song service went on for a long time. After about twenty minutes, I was ready to move on to a different theme, but the lady leading the praise and worship was quite pleased to continue with the same. A common mistake we make is to give others what we would like to receive, rather than what they would like. How many husbands have thought to bless their wives with an expensive tool for the kitchen, only to discover that their wives do not see that as a suitable gift for Christmas or a birthday. We grow in our relationships when we increase our understanding of each other. As I was observing the service, I told the Lord in an apologetic manner that dancing was not really a “man” thing; instead, we like to build things. Very clearly in my soul I heard Him say that He also liked to build things: He is building a house for God. He was not disapproving of the dancing, only affirming that He also likes to do things that a man likes. If we want more men to be involved in Church, we need to find ways to welcome them. I have always enjoyed the presence of the Lord in praise and worship. My way of getting into the worship is, as I have mentioned above, through the exercising of authority. As I worship the Lord in His majesty, I see Him lifted up and His enemies scattered. I imagine and sense the presence of His angels assisting us in establishing His kingdom on the earth. I participate in the warfare aspect of prayer, praise, and worship. It is not that I do not enjoy fellowshipping with the Lord, it is that my relationship is more active than passive.
As much as there is a responsibility for us to welcome men to our services, there is also a responsibility with men to participate. Men must make the effort to seek the Lord and serve Him. This includes the removal of any hindrances in their spiritual walk. They must make straight paths for their feet (Heb. 12:13). I was reminded recently of a problem that many men have but few will talk about it until they have a measure of control over it. We all deal with the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (1Jn. 2:16). One area that seems to be more of a stronghold for men, because of their natural make-up, is the lust of the flesh. It was after finding out that someone I knew was part of a support group for sex addictions that I was motivated to start this blog. I wanted to make available to others the insights the Lord had given me for victory over sin.
Recently, another Christian man was sharing with me how his marriage struggles were related to the pornography problem he had a few years ago. I am always surprised to find out that someone has been dealing with this sin while still active in Church. If we only find out about these problems after God’s help has been obtained, how many are secretly struggling with it and are still weighted down with guilt? I am not saying this to arouse suspicions, or to bring condemnation. We can only help if we seek to understand. We all struggle with sin in one form or another. If someone struggles with something we do not struggle with, that does not necessarily make them weaker than us. We should not compare ourselves to others (2Cor. 10:12). The strongholds in our lives depend on many things like our experiences, our training, and even our heritage. We cannot judge others, but we can seek discernment and exercise mercy. Part of creating a welcoming environment is to offer help without condemnation. We are not to tolerate sin, but rather help to restore those who are overtaken by it, being careful ourselves that we are not also tempted. (Gal. 6:1). “Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. (1Cor. 10:12). The path that sin normally takes is through pride. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov. 16:18). We maintain our victory by grace through faith, but if we get into pride, God will withhold His grace for us (Jas. 4:6).
There is a place in God’s Kingdom for everyone, male or female. We are all members of Christ with a special function (Ro. 12:3,4). It is important for us to realize that we have different gifts of grace. We must serve with the gift we have received (1Pe. 4:10). Our service to God is not limited to church services. The Church is a living Body. The first step in discovering our purpose is realizing that it is not for us, but for God. Serving with our particular gift is our true worship and it only begins in surrender. “I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Rom. 12:1). It is my goal in these messages to prepare the way of the Lord by removing hindrances for believers and encouraging them to follow the Way of the Lord. We are all called to be “Repairers of the Breach”; to restore the ancient paths. (See Isa. 58:12 and Jer. 18:15). I encourage you to read some of the other articles in this web site to help you fulfill your purpose in God. If you are struggling with an unwanted habit, I would especially recommend the series on the Eight Steps to Maturity.
Highway in the Wilderness 