Alton Gansky Asks, "Why do you think so few men buy books in Christian bookstores?"

Alton Gansky asks why men frequent Christian book stores less than women.
I recently read an article put out by Biola University that pointed out the increasing feminization of the church. It was titled, "The Feminization of the Church: Why Its Music, Messages, and Ministries Are Driving Men Away." The article points out the fact that there is a well known deficiency of men in the church today caused by the church's inclination to cater to women.

Some say it started with the industrial revolution, when men were required to leave home and enter the work force. Family farming was no longer the most viable of occupations. So, women were left to be the leader of the household while their husbands spent long hours at work. The man was distanced from his family. Isn’t it true that society as a whole is being feminized?

As capitalistic drive increased, so did self interest and greed. Men eventually became rough and rugged heathens instead of strong and admirable spiritual leaders. The responsibility fell on the woman to attend church and rear the children properly. Women began to outnumber men in church services. Church was steadily became more of a place for women and children than it was for men.

In response to this imbalance, many churches began to retool the ministry to accommodate the new audience. Without the presence of strong, decisive men in the church, it was allowed to shift with culture.

Now, take an honest look at your own church. How many events and functions are actually for men? Your church might have a women’s bible study, a women’s craft day, a women’s breakfast, a women’s tea, a women’s support group, three women’s retreats throughout the year, a quilting day, a women’s prayer meeting, an annual women’s banquet, of course many ministries geared toward the children of those women, and one men’s bible study that meets weekly. Oh, and they’re talking about going on a retreat sometime in the future, maybe. Of course, I’m exaggerating a little, but then again, I might be describing your church. Men sometimes see the church as a big ladies' club.

It’s interesting to note that men are much more present in churches that are just getting their start. This is probably because risk and decision making is involved in a new church. Men thrive on this sort of thing. However, once a church is established or has been established a long time, men find themselves out of place.

The truth is that love songs, a romantic relationship with Jesus, crying in prayer, etc., are all things that men don’t always particularly look for in their own lives. The idea is even perpetuated that these more feminine experiences are actually godlier. Men get the idea that the church is a nurturing place that serves to help weaker people in need of support. A man who prides himself for being the head of the household isn’t naturally inclined to present himself as weak. His mind is set to appear strong for his family. The article quotes Mike Erre, director of a men’s ministry at Rock Harbor Church in Costa Mesa California, as saying, “The classic example is the worship pose of the eyes shut and the arms raised in this tender embrace, singing a song that says, ‘I’m desperate for you. You’re the air I breather.’ Guys don’t talk to guys like that.” It’s also notable that men who are in the church are actually portrayed hugging and crying in highly emotional circumstances. Promise Keepers has moved its ministry away from this portrayal and toward a tougher, manlier advertising strategy because they realized that a man doesn’t want to be “reduced” to crying and hand holding. To quote Hank Hill, “It just ain’t right.”

Now, take into consideration the fact that many a Christian book is written in this same spirit of feminization. The writers know in that back of their minds that the audience consists of mostly women, so they write the books for the people who’ll buy them. It’s only common sense that they’d write what sells and what the church is centered around. Thinking, in the first place, that Christianity is for women and wussy men who need a crutch, men who value their strength and manhood are unwilling to even enter such a store. It would risk his image.

So, that may be the reason for men’s absence in Christian book stores, and, for that matter, in the church as well. Promise Keepers has an oft repeated statistic (quoted in the Biola article) that goes as follows: “[W]hen a mother comes to faith in Christ, her family follows 34 percent of the time, but when a father comes to faith, his family follows 93 percent of the time.” Perhaps the church needs to shift back to a good balance again. What can you do?