While going through my usual blog-browsing, I ran across this article posted over on Patchouli Ponderings -- "Real Men Talk About God." It certainly made for quite an interesting read, and in a way it was a big shock to me. When did we have to start resorting to gimmicks to attract people to church?
As I posted on Patchouli, and as regular readers here are aware, I am a cradle Episcopalian, and have spent my entire life seeking out and worshipping in very traditional ("Anglican") settings. As I've gotten older, I have opened my mind up to some new areas and styles of worship -- not for permanent change, but just to see what else is out there -- but I have to admit that what I read in this column isn't really something that I have looked for (or honestly expected to find if I was looking). There's no doubt in my mind that a man can be a faithful and active Christian, a good husband, and a good father without having to go out and burn loads of testosterone and act like a fool (stunts a la "Jackass?").
The whole point of this blog -- as was my original intent, and as I've posted in the introductory paragraph -- is to discover how to be a better Christian, father, and husband. I don't think kung-fu, rap music, and a flashy light show are the way for me to do it. Can't say that I would ever attend one of these events.
Give this article a read -- I'm curious to see what others have to say.
I'm with you. Faith is one thing that is not subject to "marketing" ploys.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, this is the way of all the mega-churches, with their "shows". . .there's one really close to us, and the people go there in droves. . .rock n' roll, places to leave the kids and have a cup of coffee, big screens, you know all this.
ReplyDeleteI went to the website of the GodMen because I didn't want to base an opinion on a magazine article...I don't care for their name...but their beliefs and the whole site are much less inflammatory and offensive than the article portrayed them, so I'm not too bent out of shape over them.