"WHERE are the MEN?"
Posted by: prophetic <prophetic@...>
of the church, so that many men don't feel comfortable getting
involved. Too much wishy-washy music, tugging at the heart-strings,
and softly-softly preaching. Is there a revolution coming where this is
going to change? The below article brings out some pretty shocking
statistics:
"WHERE are the MEN?"
-extracts by Rodney W. Francis.
In my travels around the world I continually notice in Christian
meetings the shortage of MEN! While putting this article together,
I spoke in a church I had not been to before, and could not help
but notice the shortage of men in the meeting. So I counted up the
adults - and the women outnumbered the men seven to one!
Men always seem to be in the minority. I remember a number of
years ago reading the statistics of people on the mission fields of
the world. It was a staggering sixteen women to every one man!
This does not seem to be right, nor is it God?s will that more and
more responsibility for the proclaiming of the Gospel should be
upon the women (this in no way reflects upon the women - many
are doing a marvellous work). But we do have to ask,
"WHERE are the MEN?"
* Why do men seem to struggle more in making a total commitment
to Jesus Christ than the women?
* Is it because men are somehow "distracted" by their desire to
provide for their families - and therefore go after the security of
what money can bring - rather than proving in a positive and powerful
way that the call of God upon one's life is more satisfying and more
rewarding than anything this world can offer?
* Or, do they allow the natural mindset of logical thinking to
overshadow the supernatural way of the Holy Spirit?
* Or, do they lack the courage to stand up and be counted?
* Or, have they been so disillusioned by the way that Christian
Preachers, Pastors and/or Churches often are unable to impart
vision and leadership skills and challenges in such a way as to
inspire men to want to serve God fully?
The answers will be many and varied. But the end result always
seems to be a shortage of men to make themselves available to
the service of the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ!
DAVID and GOLIATH:
In 1 Samuel 17 we read of a classic case of a very young man
being left to fulfil the responsibility of supposedly mature, trained
men, when those same trained men ran away and hid because
their lives were so fearful of the challenge before them. It is the
well known passage of Scripture that tells us of David and Goliath.
In the story, Goliath steps forward and challenges the men of
Israel to a fight - a one on one encounter and the winner take all!
Where are the men today? We will never ever know the sweetness
of true victory if we are not even prepared to accept the challenge
of our enemy in a "winner take all" fight!
The enemy of God gave a challenge to the nation of God, "Give me
a man, that we may fight together" ? and they could not respond in
a positive way. Where were the men?
Something stirred deeply in the heart of David, for he interpreted
their actions as being a reproach upon the name of the Lord. He
stepped forward boldly and fearlessly, and speaking in faith, and
from experience (as young as he was), he said he would go and
fight "this uncircumcised Philistine that defies the armies of the
living God." (1 Samuel 17:26).
The principles of 1 Samuel 17 are still very relevant today to every
Christian believer. There are many giants out there and all around
us who are challenging us. They are challenging us to demonstrate
that what we say we have as the answers for this generation, that
we can actually demonstrate effectively that this Gospel of Jesus
Christ does work in a powerful and positive way.
Where are the men today? Somehow we Christian men must rethink
our priorities. Life is not about becoming successful or prosperous
and then, after that, we serve God - or "Our task is to make money
so others can do the work of the Gospel." These all become weak
excuses when we see the fruit of our modern Christianity seemingly
not being able to produce real committed, dedicated men, willing to
lay down their lives to demonstrate their love and obedience to the
One who has "called us out of darkness to walk in His marvellous
light" (1 Peter 2:9).
Men, let us rise much higher! Higher than ever before! For there are
many giants challenging us. "Greater is He Who is in you, than he
that is in the world" (1 John 4:4).
-Rodney Francis.
Email: gfm@xtra.co.nz
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