andy cottingham

The feminization of the gospel primary in answering the question, why don’t men go to church?

Jesus first followers were fishermen, they related to him immediately and followed him wholeheartedly.

The image we are often sold of Jesus is one of a slightly effeminate white man, in a dress, who wafted from town to town in Palestine telling people that love will find a way.

There is an image if Jesus that the Apostle John shares with us in Revelation.

“11I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”^[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Revelation 19 v 11-16

We have here a terrifying image of a tattooed warrior, poised to make war on his enemies. This is Jesus.

Not only are we sold a grossly feminised image of Jesus we have also taken huge liberties with the gospel it’s self.

“Give your heart to Jesus”

“God will meet your felt needs”

“God will make you health and wealthy”

“Jesus will make you the best you can be”

None of these ‘gospels’ attract big crowds on building sites.

Jesus said “follow me!” – Three years later he was crucified on a Roman cross

STOP PREACHING “GIVE YOUR HEART TO JESUS”!!!! START PREACHING “FOLLOW ME!!” THEN DO SOMETHING!!

There are many crisis in our society, many are worthy of serious consideration and concerted action. There are few more pressing with regard to the gospel than the crisis facing the masculinity of men.The rise of militant feminism and it’s relentless attack on masculinity has left men feeling guilty, and in it’s extreme forms, surplus to requirements. Masculinity has been attacked from almost every conceivable angle with men being degraded to ’sperm donor’ and blamed for almost all the evil in the world.This kind of thinking can affect the church and over time is has. In the following list (by no means exhaustive) are some of the ways a concerted attack on masculinity has undermined biblical teaching and the preaching of the gospel.

• The feminization of the gospel – phrases like ‘give your heart to Jesus’ and an emphasis on God meeting the hearers felt needs.
• A challenge to male headship – an egalitarian approach to church leadership which much apart from missing the point of the wonderful differences between men and women, undermines leadership authority.
• Gender confusion among boys – what is required of the boy as he grows and develops into the man.
• A dearth of confident leaders – man who will follow Jesus and lead his people with vision and faith.

In the next few posts I want to address these issues and explore what the bible has to say with regard to them.