Religion and Men

In a recent article titled “Men: Do you avoid religious commitment?” several questions were raised and statistics quoted from a study pointing out the lack of commitment and interest of men in religion. The article also pointed out the growing number of young men finding little relevance for their lives in church or purpose for spirituality. I would like to share some hope with the readers who may have like I been left with a sense of hopelessness and doubt as to the future spiritual health of our men, families and communities.

In the six years since 2000 there has been an explosion of ministries whose mission it is to reach men for Christ and teach them what it means Godly men. Ministries such as New Wilderness Adventures of Shelby NC and ManAdventures of Lancaster, Texas are led by men committed to the biblical truth that men are called to be spiritual leaders. Ministries such as NWA and ManAdventures use male relevant activities such as adventuring, hunting, father/son weekends etc. as practical ways to teach men the meaning of being God’s image bearers ( Gen:1:27) These growing ministries free men to be spiritual in activities otherwise considered irrelevant and distracting by most religious institutions.

The statistics concerning young men and their having nowhere to go for relevant spiritual experiences as they grow into adulthood paints a dismal trend. This trend has and will continue as long as boys are sat in rooms and taught that to be good little boys they must sit quietly for two hours and listen to stories. A boy doesn’t want to listen to stories he wants to live a story. Every fiber of his body is geared for movement, danger and adventure and if there is a doubt as to the spirituality of these attributes ask yourself who created the lion, tiger or bear oh my. Religion must seek to engage young men where they come alive and sanctify there God given characteristics by allowing masculinity a place to bestowed and fostered.

God made man in his image and he said it was very good (Gen. 1:31). Maybe it is time we start inviting men to commit to the God whose image he bears instead of to a religion.