One thing I've been talking about with people lately is the topic of why men don't go to church. Go into any conventional church on a Sunday morning, and you'll notice that the women outnumber the men. Sometimes by as much as 2 to 1. And almost certainly, some of those men are there primarily because their wives want them to go.

It's always interesting to see the reasonings people give for this, and the solutions that are offered. Some pastors try to make the sermons more "guy-friendly" by using sports themes in their sermons, using sports-related jokes, or by just talking about sports or cars as the sermon is getting started. Some churches try to tackle this by changing aesthetics, such as doing music that guys might appreciate more, more of a guy-friendly room decor, etc.

In reality, though, in my experience it goes a lot deeper than the decor, the music, or how much sports lingo that the pastor incorporates.

It's not that men are incompatible with church. Look at the leadership, both paid and volunteer, at most churches - and you'll find that most of the leadership positions are held by men. I think there's an important spiritual principle at play here.

Men are born to be leaders. Men are called to lead their families. There's a natural tendency of men to want to lead. But other than the pastor and a handful of other leadership positions, most churches simply don't give men the opportunity to lead.

Oh, sure, we talk about leadership a lot. But whenever a conventional church gathers, who actually has the opportunity to lead? Primarily the pastor, and you might throw a worship leader into that mix. But all of those men sitting in the sanctuary? They're listening and watching someone else lead. And they're watching their wives follow someone else, and they're powerless to intervene if something is done or said that they feel needs clarification or that they disagree with. The system is closed - meaning that if someone wants to add something to the discussion, they simply can't. The best they can do is complain about it later - but that doesn't put men in a position of leadership, either in the church or in their families.

In churches that practice an open approach, everyone can contribute to the discussion. People are free to speak whatever it is that God is leading them to share. Men aren't simply spectators watching someone else teach their families. They are participants, interjecting when they feel that a point needs to be clarified or corrected. Sharing something specific that God is leading them to say. Women are welcome to do this as well, but the tendency is that men, as leaders, tend to participate more in the discussion than women.

And in churches that practice an open approach - the women do not tend to outnumber the men as much as they do in conventional churches.

The way most conventional churches approach their weekly gatherings, there is no opportunity for a man to practice leadership. When God lays something on someone's heart, they do not have the opportunity to practice expressing that. In the conventional church, we tell men to sit down and listen so they can learn. How does that train them how to lead their families? How does that train someone to go out into the world to share their faith?

The idea of an open format isn't for everyone to give their opinions - it's for people to share what God is putting on their heart to say. Paul clearly outlines this approach to meetings. If we don't teach people to respond to what God is putting on their hearts, and how to communicate that, then we're not equipping them to be God's agents in the world.

Paul specifically states that unbelievers would be amazed at how God works through all the believers, and would become believers as a result.

But if all prophesy, an unbeliever or outsider who enters is reproved by all and called to account by all. After the secrets of the unbeliever's heart are disclosed, that person will bow down before God and worship him, declaring, "God is really among you." (1 Corinthians 14:24-25, NRSV)

The only way Paul's scenario can play out in today's world is if unbelievers see God working through more than just the pastor and/or worship leader, and for people to learn how to follow God's leading and speak the things that God has laid on their heart. Open formats are about whether or not we're going to have one or two people control the flow of worship, or allow God to control the flow, through the Spirit, via whoever He wants to use. I choose the latter.

Labels: church, house church, open formats