Men and fathers have a responsibility to create a church of all people.
By Moabi Pitsi
A few days ago, we celebrated Father's Day. One cannot ignore such an important day in the history of men. It is one of the few days that acknowledge and celebrate men and fathers in a positive way. Besides the drive to make sure we buy all sorts of things to appease men and father's in our lives, there should be more to the story of men on Father's Day, especially in the church and the Kingdom of God.
Men, fathers and the church of all people
Men and fathers have a responsibility to make sure that the church accommodates all people. At one church, 97 % of congregants are women, and only 3 % male. The contrast is 80 % of church elders are males, but somehow driven through a largely women-based value system. What this means is that often, we are creating more and more values of woman-dominated church at the exclusion of the man. As a result, the churches find it difficult to appeal to the male-figure, let alone being male-friendly. On the flip side, we also have a church of old people only. These two scenarios do not help the church of God to be what Jesus intended it to be - A church of all people.
Beware of an unhealthy church tendencies
A church of old people in leadership and various ministries is an unhealthy church. A church of young people only is truly unbalanced. We owe it for generation to today, and generations to come to have a church of ALL PEOPLE, ALL AGES! God loves diversity, no wonder He created all there is there way that He did.
It is also biblical that all species need each other, so it is with human beings. More than ever before, we need to increase the involvement of men in the Kingdom of God. We must socialise our men to know that it is masculine to love, to have patience, to cry, and to practice servant leadership as shown by our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The best present men can give to their children, wife,
colleagues, neighbours is personal holiness “for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy” 1 Peter 1 :16.
Men must lead and read
Reading gives so much power to the informed mind. Leaders are readers. At times, the level of reading and application of what you read will be reflected by the type of leadership displayed in the church, at home, at the workplace. Before leadership, there is also follower. This is so because from followers, organisation normally elect leaders. Even so, leadership is never about a position. In his book, " Mobilising Men for one-on-one Ministry", Steve Sonderman says, "The quality of a church’s leadership is directly proportional to the quality of men they have as disciples. We should not be surprised when we have poor leadership. Today few men are stepping up to take the reins of the church and steer it in a godly direction. We must aim to lead exceptionally". Men must serve. As they do so, they will set an example to others about the ministry of their passion.
The church of God is not for A-students
Everyone in the body of Christ has a role to play, especially men. Men have so much to offer to the Kingdom of God. This also been so since creation. Add the spirit of God to what men offer, then the church will continue to make disciples spread the gospel of God. We do not need A-plus/excellent men and fathers in the Kingdom of God. What we need are men who acknowledge that they can do all things through Christ who strengthen them and surrender themselves under His throne.
Men and fathers have a responsibility to create a church of all people, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, gifted or not.
Additional Source: Mobilising men for one-on-one Ministry: By S Sonderman
A few days ago, we celebrated Father's Day. One cannot ignore such an important day in the history of men. It is one of the few days that acknowledge and celebrate men and fathers in a positive way. Besides the drive to make sure we buy all sorts of things to appease men and father's in our lives, there should be more to the story of men on Father's Day, especially in the church and the Kingdom of God.
Men, fathers and the church of all people
Men and fathers have a responsibility to make sure that the church accommodates all people. At one church, 97 % of congregants are women, and only 3 % male. The contrast is 80 % of church elders are males, but somehow driven through a largely women-based value system. What this means is that often, we are creating more and more values of woman-dominated church at the exclusion of the man. As a result, the churches find it difficult to appeal to the male-figure, let alone being male-friendly. On the flip side, we also have a church of old people only. These two scenarios do not help the church of God to be what Jesus intended it to be - A church of all people.
Beware of an unhealthy church tendencies
A church of old people in leadership and various ministries is an unhealthy church. A church of young people only is truly unbalanced. We owe it for generation to today, and generations to come to have a church of ALL PEOPLE, ALL AGES! God loves diversity, no wonder He created all there is there way that He did.
It is also biblical that all species need each other, so it is with human beings. More than ever before, we need to increase the involvement of men in the Kingdom of God. We must socialise our men to know that it is masculine to love, to have patience, to cry, and to practice servant leadership as shown by our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The best present men can give to their children, wife,
colleagues, neighbours is personal holiness “for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy” 1 Peter 1 :16.
Men must lead and read
Reading gives so much power to the informed mind. Leaders are readers. At times, the level of reading and application of what you read will be reflected by the type of leadership displayed in the church, at home, at the workplace. Before leadership, there is also follower. This is so because from followers, organisation normally elect leaders. Even so, leadership is never about a position. In his book, " Mobilising Men for one-on-one Ministry", Steve Sonderman says, "The quality of a church’s leadership is directly proportional to the quality of men they have as disciples. We should not be surprised when we have poor leadership. Today few men are stepping up to take the reins of the church and steer it in a godly direction. We must aim to lead exceptionally". Men must serve. As they do so, they will set an example to others about the ministry of their passion.
The church of God is not for A-students
Everyone in the body of Christ has a role to play, especially men. Men have so much to offer to the Kingdom of God. This also been so since creation. Add the spirit of God to what men offer, then the church will continue to make disciples spread the gospel of God. We do not need A-plus/excellent men and fathers in the Kingdom of God. What we need are men who acknowledge that they can do all things through Christ who strengthen them and surrender themselves under His throne.
Men and fathers have a responsibility to create a church of all people, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, gifted or not.
Additional Source: Mobilising men for one-on-one Ministry: By S Sonderman
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