For those of you who weren’t there, Godfrey Birtill came to Greenwich on Sunday night to lead a service of worship and intercession at the Ichthus Celebration. There was a really good turnout and I felt the congregation was really pressing in to God in prayer for the land, particularly in the second section, after Godfrey had taken a few minutes to share what God had been saying to him. During that short talk though, Godfrey made a couple of comments that I wasn’t sure I was totally behind. He said that, as a whole, modern worship has become too feminine (‘a bit Laura Ashley’) and is in need of a stronger masculine emphasis. First of all, I know that some of the people there would have found that quite a controversial thing to hear. And secondly (and more importantly), how true is it as a statement?
Where some of the congregation would have found controversy is in the application of the label of ‘masculine’ or ‘feminine’ to worship songs. I think part of the problem there is in our general understanding of the words. Sometimes we think that to call something masculine means that really, it’s for men; women can enjoy it if they’re of the more assertive type, but on the whole, it will be understood, appreciated and embraced more by the guys. But describing something – even a person – as masculine is not the same as calling it male. The music we classify as ‘black music’ is by no means exclusive to black people; we call it that (partly) because it describes something about its qualities – rhythmically, melodically, and so on. So describing worship as masculine or feminine shouldn’t make us think of some kind of gender-divide in our appreciation of or inclination towards types of music; it should only help us understand the music’s traits. In that respect, I think it was fine for Godfrey to describe worship in that way – any offence taken by the words he chose would have been down only to different understandings of the words ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’. That said though – and even though Godfrey is the kind of person who tells it to you straight, and whose calling includes a duty to lay down challenges for the church – maybe it wasn’t helpful to bring it up at all, given that a good number of people were going to take it the wrong way; I’m not sure.
The main issue though, is whether or not worship is in fact too feminine. It is true that – outside of Godfrey’s output – there are a lot of worship songs being written today that are influenced by the likes of Vineyard and Hillsongs, and carry a more emotional musical style with lyrical content to match (see songs like ‘This is the Air I Breathe’ and ‘Draw Me Close to You’ for extreme examples of this). Soul Survivor, probably the other main force in mainstream worship, isn’t producing songs that are quite so touchy-feely but then Tim Hughes and the gang are not exactly 80s Noel Richards either. So maybe there is a case to be made for the worship scene to toughen itself up.
Then again, Godfrey is by no means the only person writing songs that (you know, depending on your definition) are more masculine in nature. Hillsongs – the one-time guardians of gushing sentiment – now seem to be the ones nudging things away from expressions of personal love towards a more proclamational and mission-oriented place, through their Hillsongs United youth stream. You may not love their brand of Busted-influenced power-pop, but it’s definitely a more masculine style, and it’s definitely having an influence that would be expected from the likes of Hillsongs; even Matt Redman’s new stuff sounds like it’s vying for position on some American college radio station. As I write this, I’m listening to a new compilation from Soul Survivor that came into the office. While very few of the songs would stand any chance of making my Desert Island Hymns, I reckon there’s a pretty even balance in there. Of course, one album isn’t really a fair sample size and I’m not really listening to as much contemporary worship music as you may be, so how do you all see the balance at the moment?
Either way, there are other considerations to be made; even if worship is feminine at the moment, we could also be asking whether we, living in such a male-dominant society as we do, should be picking up on one of the few areas where there is a more pronounced feminine aspect. Isn’t it a bigger problem that this country, for example, has only ever has one female prime minister who – as time goes on – is proving to have been the great exception that proved the rule of male dominance in politics? The vast majority of leaders the world over – be they in big business, the media, sport, or wherever – are men, and in terms of leaders, the church is no different. James Brown was right; we live in a man’s world, so is it right that we concern ourselves particularly with any feminine edge that might be dominating the current world of worship?
Of course we need balance in our worship, and of course the answer to one imbalance is not another imbalance, it is proper balance – a holistic worship experience. But what do you think: is there a need to recover the masculine in worship? How can we do so while still making sure we don’t neglect other, vital areas of our communion with God? Or is the whole thing just a distracting non-issue, only reflecting a consumerist approach to worship? Let’s get into this, church.
Excelsior!
Dan
Wow thats a really long entry. I’ll read it later lovely! H.
Hmm. Good stuff Dan!
I read a book over the summer call “Why Men Hate Going to Church” and it really challenged me. It was quite American and so not necessarily very relevant to the UK church, but I think it raised some important points. It’s basic premise was that the ‘temperature’ of church is set so that it appeals to women and children (who make up the majority of churchgoers) rather than to men. Therefore we end up with the problem that most churches have got a lack of men. I think this is true in Ichthus to an extent; house group last night was 8 women and 3 guys. This book suggests that rather than blaming it on men (men should be more spiritual, men should learn how to talk about their feelings, men are just more rebellious and proud), we should alter the way we do church so that men feel it’s a good place to come to. If men have to come to church and hold hands, sing gushing love songs, talk about their feelings, have ‘a personal relationship with Jesus’ (phraseology not used in the church…’follow Jesus’, yes, but ‘personal relationship’, no!) etc., they’re not going to like it. Or they’ll still come, but have to leave their masculinity at the door.
So Dan, I think this isn’t a non-issue. I think it’s really key. If we are failing to reach men then we are failing to reach half the population of the planet. Godly, godly women who want to marry are having to stay single or marry outside of the church because there aren’t any men. Our children don’t have positive male role models in the church and so young people leave the church in droves because adult=moving away from mummy to be a grown up like daddy=not going to church (simplified I know, but that’s the gist).
I see the problem also in Primary schools: they can be very anti-masculine places. Boys naturally like running around and being active, due to more testosterone, yet they have to sit still all day and so are at a disadvantage to girls who can more easily sit still. Boys also like stories to do with violence and aggression, yet this is discouraged. Yet we don’t discouraged girls from playing with dolls because it’s condoning teenage pregnancy. It’s nearly always the boys who are ‘naughty’, but maybe this is to do with the system and the goal-posts rather than the boys.
The answer is to find the radical middle ground, but I think we will be surprised how much a shift is needed to make church a place where your average male can come without feeling completely out of place. I don’t think the early church had this problem; Jesus managed to find 12 men who would follow him to the death, and a lot more after that. Perhaps if our call to discipleship was pitched more as “Come and die!” rather than “Jesus will make everything nice and fuzzy” we would see more men?
This is why I love Godfrey. He’s not the only one doing ‘masculine’ worship, but he’s an important figure in it. He’s taken hold of the need to for the church to rise up, to be challenged, to embrace the warrior-heart of God. It’s good stuff.
I love the way that over the last 30 years or so, the Holy Spirit has recovered a place for women to bring their gifts as women into the church, to be preachers and leaders etc. But my heart’s desire is to see church as a place where men can bring their gifts as men. I love how in New Life there has been two ‘DIY Sundays’ where anyone can come and help do up the building. But who has come? The men! Because it’s an area where they feel their skills and interests are useful.
Anyway, that’s enough from me. What do people think?
Mmmm – very interesting. Like Tim, I don’t think it is a “non-issue”, though whether it’s particularly our style of worship that puts men off, or whether it’s a whole raft of things, I’m not so sure. Why not ask some men outside the church why they don’t go to church? Maybe ask some of the men inside the church which aspects of church life they’re less comfortable with?
Anything that now follows is the opinion of a woman, so feel free to shout me down and tell me I’ve got it all wrong! I do agree with Tim that there are problems for men in our society generally. Like him, I see it in primary schools; boys who need to learn by exploration are being expected at far to early an age to sit still and work on handwriting and other things which are counter-productive for young children. (Mind you, girls would benefit from more hands-on experimental learning: all young children need this to develop their brains properly.) Returning to the theme of adult men, the kind of society in which we live does not call for the traditionally “masculine” attributes: physical strength and endurance; courage in the face of danger etc. Our lives are sedentary and men are not required to hunt wild animals, use their strength to dig the ground or defend their families from marauding lions. Instead, we are removed from the soil from which we came, and removed from the dangers which assail us (terrorist threats etc), so that men in the “developed” world are left searching for a meaning to their lives. THIS IS WHERE THE CHURCH SHOULD COME IN. IF WE CAN’T GIVE MEANING TO PEOPLE’S LIVES, WHO CAN? Therefore, if by emphasising the warfare side of our worship we can attract more men in, that would be great, but surely our worship should be EMPHASISING WHATEVER WE BELIEVE TO BE ON GOD’S HEART RIGHT NOW, not just singing songs because we think they’ll serve a useful purpose. (Also, as a woman I can say that I love the warfare songs: I may not be able to go and wrestle with a bear, but I’m glad I can grapple with Satan in prayer and worship! Neither am I particularly keen on all the “gushy” songs, though some have really brought me into a deeper place with God. It’s partly about personal taste (not defined by gender) and more importantly it’s about the spirit behind the song.
I do think it could be useful to have a really good look at the Psalms. Obviously we can’t have much clue about what the music was like, but the lyrics can lead us into the heart and mind of a man who knew both the hue and cry of battle and an amazing tender intimacy with God. I think I’m going to make sure I read one every day until Christmas, and see what that does for my prayer and worship life. If I grow a beard and acquire a bass voice, it’ll prove …. well, I don’t know what it’ll prove, but I think it’s fairly unlikely!
God bless you all. Keep on battling!
KT
I read the same book!? “Why Men Hate Going to Church” and it really challenged me. With feminine/masculine idea, first forget ’sex’ think more operating mode…
When myself, my wife and a female friend were buying a house years ago we were in a buyer’s race and we prayed for a breakthough. We talked about operating in the ‘masculine’ i.e. the pushing out, pioneering spirit, breaking forth attitude in prayer; and this seemed a very natural way of thinking. When I became a father a few weeks ago, I began to operate and think in a ‘feminine’ way also, protecting my daughter, providing for my wife, guarding and being supportive.
What I am trying to highlight is that we do this already and behave in various ways in order to suit the mode required. However, in terms of worhip, we seemed to have remained locked in a intimate, sensitive, reflective types of songs. I sing them and love them but we need to ensure that the hunger that men have for risk taking, challenging, death defying, go getting types of songs is also being met. Especially Non Xtian men, to whom all these lovely dovely songs don’t mean anything to them because they don’t know Jesus.
Our most influencial worship leader and copious writer was a Soldier, Farmer and King, David used images of war to express God’s salving arm and farming to express his persistan love. The last time we sang ‘Stand up, stand up for Jesus’ at church men where punching the air and shouting in worship, I want to see the manly naturally agressive energy redirected in evangelism and service!
Our worship time must not be a collection of ‘good time’ songs, it cannot be purposeless just hanging out with God. We must engage with him and with the congregation in order to move towards the reason he calls us together. Therefore we need to operate in the right (masculine/feminine) spirit as the Spirit wills for the Glory of God. AC
I think GB is wonderfully balanced in the Masculine and Feminine. When I first heard GOD HELP US I thought it was too boysey and like a football crowd, but I persevered and have become a huge fan.
At South Street the other week he was ‘Feminine’: his spirit was loving, tender, made room for the Holy Spirit and for worship; but some of what he had to say was uncompromising. He gave a rallying cry to the men, in a way that was not diminishing – Where Be The True Men – and used his own story in a touching way to illustrate that.
Also I love his Englishness – songs that appeal to the church in the UK, and don’t automatically come from a US culture base. Rousing and with an underlying folk-ish layer.
Jen x