More coverage is being given to the recent survey done on behalf the christian “Lads Mag” Sorted. This time it can be found on Reuters website (Here). The survey was taken by 400 christian men in the UK and has come up with a few surprises… or not as the case may be.
75% go to church to be intellectually and Spiritualy Challenged
50% donk like dancing in church
60% disliked flowers and embrodery in church
They also said they would prefer to discuss spiritual matters in the pub over a pint rather than in a church discussion grroup.
I think I am going to purchases a copy of Sorted and see what its like.
I’m a Christian woman and would often prefer talking about God over a beer than in an awkward discussion group…
And embroidery belongs in an old person’s home. Contrary to the stereotype in the secular stereotype, churches are not filled with old ladies in floral dresses.
Arnt they darn it i must be going to the wrong place ….
Actual Tamara when I was saved…. 20 years ago! I was a punk / skin head who was saved into a church that was populated by middle class women in laura ashley dresses… flowers everywhere….. Very stepford wives it was.
I did not fit in but I had come to love Jesus and stuck it out. But it was very hard.
.. The point about intellectual and spiritual challenge is a very interesting one. Evangelical churches have developed an anti-intellectual culture, in response to the perceived intellectualism of “liberal” Christians. This means that there is limited room for hearing alternative viewpoints or debating serious issues about theology and the church unless it is within the very narrowly defined parameters. It’s a bit like being a Tory and reading nothing but the “Telegraph” ( or a leftie and reading nothing but the “Guardian”) , we rarely hear anything that challenges our preconceptions , and sick into an intellectual torpor.
Wouldn’t it make a refreshing change to go to Church , hear a totally “off-message” sermon that we disagree with and have some hearty debates about it’s message. If men rarely hear anything surprising , controversial or difficult to understand being preached , then it should be no surprise if are bored with church.
Ok as an ex-sociology student I am compelled to question the reliability of a survey of only 400 people. Added to that they are (presumably) all readers of Sorted, and there for are going to share similarities (if they are all interested in reading the same magazine) and therefore this would affect the results of a survey.
However I am going to pretend that isn’t an issue.
I agree that we should be spiritually and intellectually challenged in church. If we are not being, then how can we be being changed? Is there actually any point in going if we are not learning, developing and growing?
50% don’t like dancing. However 50% are either not bothered or enjoy it. This 50% would not represent half of the church congregation. Dancing doesn’t happen in all churches. It doesn’t tend to in the one I go to. What about those who feel that they really connect with the spirit through dancing? should they not be allowed to do so because some of the men may not like it?
I think that discussing spiritual matters in the pub over a drink is more then valid. I love doing so, usually end up on the subject at some point whoever I go for a drink with.
If this is the case then a men’s group in the church could organise this as a weekly or monthly activity. I supposed it could be like a cell group, in a different setting.
I remember seeing an item on the local news about a pioneer minister (in Bridlington, I think) who spends his Sunday evening in the pub (in dog collar, if I remember rightly) chatting to the locals, giving them an opportunity to interact with Jesus in an environment they were comfortable in, the opportunity to hear the message and be changed. I think that the pub is a very good place to discus spiritual matters both with those of faith, and those without faith!
I have just ordered a copy of Sorted to see what it is like
I am about to start a mens ‘ministry’ in my church whoich will be based on fellowship and chewing the fat together.
MArk I take your points on board and I may incorporate some of that sort of thing into what we do.
Firstly we are going to do a lot of social things, like film nights, walks, pub nights, maybe some painballing or karting. The aim to bring the guys closer together, then when that is done we will do a little teaching on being a man of god or a husband or a father.
Thanks for your input James I like the idea of a discussion in a pub, Ill have to do some research around the pubs n durham to see where we can hold such a thing.
i think PAINballing is the right name for it after the last time i went.
don’t get me wrong on this point i love the idea of researching pub venues if only because it means going in many pubs, but for a pub discussion group doesn’t it just need a table and beer and maybe not deafening music, i can think of around 10 pubs in Durham of the top of my head that meet this criteria.
just seems like once something that is great when organically put together could have the life throttled out of it when put into a more ‘official’ format
this comment probably makes no sense so feel free to ignore.
Jock I am trying to work myway through this and I would rather not make it an official discussion as it were but a more natural discussion about where people are at and what they are currently takling in the word or with doctrine. I want it to live and breath not be death served up on a plate!
I am not that familier with the pubs in durham so I am more than happt to work with your to ’study’ their form
Im guess some of durhams student pubs would be a good place to start as some of the students might come along.
glad it’s something you’re being careful as i think your term death on a plate describes an awful lot of meetings that i’ve been to.
as long as it’s not like one alpha course meeting i attended where it was 3 christians versus 1 not yet christian. that was painful
Not pretty or wanted. I would have left to even up the numbers or kicked the others out
Jock I would want this at least as a starter to be just christians men together.
Me to mate, it has to come naturally from the ‘group’ I guess the first few would have to be ‘kick started’ but after that I would hope they would flow. I guess the other question is the composition or make up of the group