What's Next for the Church by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 10/02/2006 at 2:28 PM

Christianity Today recently interviewed 114 leaders from 11 ministry spheres about evangelical priorities for the next 50 years. In the first article, "What's Next: Local Church," pastors Dale Burke, John Huffman, John Sommerville, Joshua Harris, Mark Driscoll, Michael Horton, Robert Lewis, Will Willimon, Mark Dever, and John Piper weigh in.

While the pastors discussed challenges ranging from preaching to a pluralistic society to combating consumerism, one concern that stood out to me was the future of men and the church.

Few pastors mention gender, but Robert Lewis of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle both see ministry to men as the future's key challenge. Lewis considers men "the lost gender," while Driscoll highlights a crying need for proclaiming a manly Jesus, lest "increasingly impotent churches [become] filled with mere handfuls of nice church boys standing around drinking decaf while the world goes to hell."

Some of my male friends have expressed frustration with the church — that many ministry opportunities seem designed for women. I've observed, however, that when a man steps into a position of leadership, whether it be teaching Sunday School or visiting the sick, he automatically infuses that position with his manliness.

Utilizing both men and women in the church is crucial to its survival. But is proclaiming a manly Jesus the answer? Presenting a superhero Jesus so men will want to emulate Him seems a bit contrived. Certainly we shouldn't neglect examining the characteristics of courage and strength that made Jesus the most influential man of all time. But above his distinctives as a man, Jesus found His primary identity in proclaiming His Father. It seems the church would be better served by encouraging its members — men and women — to do the same. What do you think?

HT: Justin Taylor

What's Next for the Church by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 10/02/2006 at 2:28 PM

Christianity Today recently interviewed 114 leaders from 11 ministry spheres about evangelical priorities for the next 50 years. In the first article, "What's Next: Local Church," pastors Dale Burke, John Huffman, John Sommerville, Joshua Harris, Mark Driscoll, Michael Horton, Robert Lewis, Will Willimon, Mark Dever, and John Piper weigh in.

While the pastors discussed challenges ranging from preaching to a pluralistic society to combating consumerism, one concern that stood out to me was the future of men and the church.

Few pastors mention gender, but Robert Lewis of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle both see ministry to men as the future's key challenge. Lewis considers men "the lost gender," while Driscoll highlights a crying need for proclaiming a manly Jesus, lest "increasingly impotent churches [become] filled with mere handfuls of nice church boys standing around drinking decaf while the world goes to hell."

Some of my male friends have expressed frustration with the church — that many ministry opportunities seem designed for women. I've observed, however, that when a man steps into a position of leadership, whether it be teaching Sunday School or visiting the sick, he automatically infuses that position with his manliness.

Utilizing both men and women in the church is crucial to its survival. But is proclaiming a manly Jesus the answer? Presenting a superhero Jesus so men will want to emulate Him seems a bit contrived. Certainly we shouldn't neglect examining the characteristics of courage and strength that made Jesus the most influential man of all time. But above his distinctives as a man, Jesus found His primary identity in proclaiming His Father. It seems the church would be better served by encouraging its members — men and women — to do the same. What do you think?

HT: Justin Taylor