ADAM, WHERE ART THOU?

Randy Bazile
Oct 25, 2024
3 min read

On the day of an upcoming men’s meeting, a heart-stirring question sprouted from the grieving heart of a man: ADAM, WHERE ART THOU!? The man went on to explain why that question was on his heart in the following:

ADAM WHERE ART THOU? This is a question that the Lord put on my heart today. Yesterday after Bible study we were putting chairs away and one of our sisters asked “Where are all the men?”…I’m not saying we need to be at every event. I’m just asking us to reflect and to ask ourselves “Where are we?”(spiritually, emotionally, mentally..) is it close to the FATHER?

Everybody in the chat — including myself — shared concerns of a lack of men present in the church. It’s not the shortage of men that is the issue, its the visibility of the men and their usefulness in helping and leading.

According to Faith-based author of “Why Men Hate Going To Church” by David Murrow, Jesus focused on the men heavy because they were the foundation of Christ and the church on earth. Murrow states: [1]

The presence of involved men is strongly associated with church growth. Their absence is almost always a sign of congregational decline. [1]

Here are some concerning statistics about the gender gap: [2]

The typical U.S. Congregation draws an adult crowd that’s 61% female, 39% male. This gender gap shows up in all age categories.
On any given Sunday there are 13 million more adult women than men in America’s churches.
This Sunday almost 25 percent of married, churchgoing women will worship without their husbands.
Midweek activities often draw 70 to 80 percent female participants.
The majority of church employees are women (except for ordained clergy, who are overwhelmingly male).
Over 70 percent of the boys who are being raised in church will abandon it during their teens and twenties. Many of these boys will never return.
As of June 2022, 36 percent of women say they went to church last week (either in person or online) whereas only 24 percent of men did.
Churches overseas report gender gaps of up to 9 women for every adult man in attendance.
Christian universities are becoming convents. The typical Christian college in the U.S. enrolls almost 2 women for every 1 man.
Fewer than 10% of U.S. churches are able to establish or maintain a vibrant men’s ministry.

According to these statistics, churches in the world make up of mostly women. They say that Christianity is a female religion. This believe comes from the overwhelming population of women that make up the church. It’s not because Christianity is feminized, it’s because men are not stepping up. Women take the role of sonship because the church needs a head.

A body cannot operate without a head.

A married brother-in-Christ told me about his married life. He told me the highs and lows of his marriage. One thing he told me that stood out to me was that his wife was on the phone with her friend. He heard her say along the lines of: “when do I get to be the wife and not the husband?”

This article is not about lack of married men stepping up in marriage. However, leadership starts in the home and transfer to a man’s everyday life, including (especially) the church.

I salute the ladies for stepping up to the plate that was designed for men. They didn’t have to do that. They SHOULDN’T have to.

Church is good for men: [2]

Churchgoers are more likely to be married and express a higher level of satisfaction with life. Church involvement is the most important predictor of marital stability and happiness.
Church involvement moves people out of poverty. It's also correlated with less depression, more self-esteem and greater family and marital happiness.
Religious participation leads men to become more engaged husbands and fathers.
Teens with religious fathers are more likely to say they enjoy spending time with dad and that they admire him.

And men are good for the church [2]:

A study from Hartford Seminary found that the presence of involved men was statistically correlated with church growth, health, and harmony. Meanwhile, a lack of male participation is strongly associated with congregational decline.

Men. MEN. MEN!!! The church needs you. The world needs you. Women need you. We were created to lead under the authority of God (2 Chronicles 15:7, Psalm 5:8, Psalm 31:3, 1 Corinthians 11:3). The problem is not just the absence of men in the church physically, it’s the absence of leadership from men. If there is church decline, YOU can make a change with the power of the Holy Spirit.