This article is by Brandon Showalter, an opinion writer and social commentator with The Christian Post.
Young men are going to church in increasing numbers, according to recent data, and women in the same age bracket are increasingly irreligious, which is a markedly unusual demographic shift.
But among some young men, the Holy Spirit indeed appears to be moving powerfully.
WHAT’S ATTRACTING YOUNG MEN TO CHURCH?
Various narratives are swirling about disaffected and demoralised young men, but what seems clear is that many of them are yearning for something more, and they’ve found the broader culture to be empty.
In May, The Wall Street Journal published a moving story about how churches are ministering to struggling boys and young men who are seeking a godly sense of manhood to inhabit.
For these young men, I rejoice and pray that they encounter God, that they continue to deepen their faith, and be transformed.
“YOUNG WOMEN ARE HURTING, IGNORED AND DEMEANED”
Concurrently, I’m burdened for many young women, many of whom have thrown their hands up, exasperated and wounded, and they can’t be a part of churches anymore.
They are leaving because they are hurting, ignored and demeaned, and they often face blatant sexism.
They are voting with their feet, and they’re trying to tell us something.
Instead of being listened to, they have the script flipped on them and find themselves unfairly blamed for the very issues they dare to raise.
HOW AMERICAN WOMEN HAVE BEEN TREATED BY ‘CHRISTIAN’ MEN
I’ve crowd-sourced these sisters in the Lord who are godly, theologically orthodox believers in Jesus Christ.
Consider these anecdotes from a cross-section of denominations and states:
“You really don’t want to get married,” an Idaho woman was told by a male student at Moody Bible Institute.
“You’re smart for a girl,” according to a Baptist man, said to a young woman in Florida.
“God doesn’t call women to a ministry. He calls them to a man,” a seminary president said to an Illinois Baptist woman.
WOMAN TOLD “GOD WIRED MEN TO LEER AT WOMEN”
The Illinois woman was also told, by another man, that “it was OK for me to share my thoughts in a group of mixed company.”
“But I couldn’t share the scriptures that had informed those thoughts.”
“Because once I did that, I became a teacher, and that was not acceptable when men [were] in the group.”
Oh, and she also could not “expect men not to leer at my body” since “God wired them that way.”
MORE SHOCKING ANECDOTES
“Your husband needs to control you,” (for expressing theologically-informed thoughts).
“I will not continue to talk with you, because it’s wrong for a woman to teach a man. I don’t have to respond to your point.”
A line being circulated online with increasing regularity and fervour is: “The 19th Amendment (granting women the vote) was America’s downfall.”
These are but a sample of the dozens I received.
They are real, and more common than you might think.
Decent, godly men neither think nor act this way. But they also may not always notice.
“WOMEN IN CHRIST ARE NOT SHOCKED BY THESE VIEWS”
Many of your sisters in Christ are not shocked by these anecdotes whatsoever.
You might ask them about the chauvinistic nonsense they’ve experienced, even in churches you might never expect to hear or see it.
You might be surprised to learn about the demeaning subtleties they’ve observed church leaders, elders, and other professing Christian men whisper under their breath.
If your sisters in Christ check out the jungle that is Christian Twitter/X:
Foreign bots, chaos agents, manipulative and highly coordinated influence campaigns, and algorithmic throttling are all factors on that dizzying social media platform, and a cursory scroll through the average feed presents a skewed picture of reality.
“COMMENTS OF CHRISTIAN MALE INFLUENCERS IS DISGRACEFUL”
A growing number of professing Christian men on social media, some of whom have tens of thousands of followers, display horrendous attitudes.
They grieve the heart of the Lord with the ugliness they direct at women, His daughters.
Some of the content they post is disgraceful and unbecoming of any Christian man, and, unfortunately, they generate millions of views, creating warped impressions that this is how supposed “men of God” truly think.
Lest you doubt me, consider the bilge Allie Beth Stuckey, host of the Relatable podcast, received, after urging men to reject pornography, among other noble things, at an October Turning Point USA event at Louisiana State University.
“CHRISTIAN WOMEN NOTICE WHEN CHRISTIAN MEN ARE SILENT”
Brandon Showalter continues: “Let me tell you, brothers, your sisters in Christ notice your silence when you don’t push back against these cretinous bullies and, unless they know you well, some of them wonder if you secretly agree with them.”
Many men are being partially discipled by bad actors posing as pastors online, and those worlds have collided more than you might realise, and there is a dreadful spillover effect.
Many women instinctively respond when leaders mishandle cases of sexual misconduct and abuse within churches.
If those incidents involve children? They don’t just walk out the church doors. They bolt.
And when they find out that a sizable percentage of their brothers in Christ are hooked on porn? They ask themselves: Why should I even bother being here?
“CHRISTIAN MEN, REMEMBER YOUR SISTERS IN CHRIST”
To the young men seeking the Lord and now attending church in greater numbers, hungry for community and longing to know God and his righteous ways, I challenge you:
As you are being built up in faith, remember your sisters.
If you see them being mistreated? Call it out. Don’t passively accept it or dismiss those who mistreat them as though they are a clownish fringe and, therefore, unworthy of your attention.
Sticking up for your sisters does not make you a “simp” for third-wave feminism.
It’s displaying the virtue of manliness that many of you wish to embody.
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