And the other reason, of course, is competing religions and philosophies. Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion and it’s very popular with men. Among pseudo-Christian religions, Mormonism is the fastest growing faith and what do you know — very attractive to a large number of men. Secularism is growing in our society and what do you know — it’s dominated by men. So if we want to continue to grow the church we have to reengage men. Women alone cannot comprise the body of Christ.

Preaching: As we look at these alternative movements — for example Islam or Mormonism — what are the characteristics that appeal to men?

Advertisement

Murrow: In some of the more extreme elements of Islam every Muslim man understands that he is locked in a great battle between good and evil and that he has a vital role to play in that battle. When you step into a mosque that’s the type of rhetoric you hear. Every Muslim and Mormon man is expected to go on a pilgrimage. The Mormons call it a mission. The Muslims call it a hajj. If you look at the Bible you’ll see also there were these pilgrimages. When God spoke to Abraham he said, “Go and leave your people and go to the land I have called you to.” David went on an exile when Saul threw him out of the court. Jesus went on a 40-day fast in the wilderness. The apostle Paul spent three years in Arabia after his conversion. Almost every great patriarch of the Bible went on an epic journey, and we no longer require that of men.

We are starting to recover that with these short term mission trips — and I think that’s a very positive thing — but I think one of the things we are going to need to do is reinstall the expectation that when a man comes to Christ that an epic journey needs to follow.

There are other elements. Islam has five pillars and every man is expected to uphold those pillars. They are demands placed on people. I know that in Christianity we’re under grace and I would not want our faith to resort to legalism but there has to be a way that we can create a more demanding environment, especially for young men. Maybe sort of a boot camp environment — put men through some sort of ordeal and cement their faith that way — the way the Mormons do with their two-year mission trips for young men.

Preaching: I noticed even as you talked that the language is masculine — pillars, epic journey, battle. Is language part of the problem?

Murrow: Language is very much a part of the problem. All Christians — and Christian men in particular — use words that no normal guy would say. When you hear a bunch of gang members talking about their exploits they wouldn’t say, “Hello, Brother Theo. Would you share with us how you jacked that Mercedes?” Instead in the church we’re always saying: would you please share what the Lord has placed on your heart? Guys don’t talk that way. Men have their own language, they have their own culture. Although it’s not as pronounced as a foreign culture or something, we can do a lot just with the terms we use.