I’ve noticed the invention of a new term: Churchianity.

It’s used to describe a “soft” form of Christianity in line with Pietism that supplants dogma, doctrine, theology, and creeds with appeals to emotionalism and social or communal justice. The religious practice of Churchianity is not based on objective norms but rather what it means to “be church” or “become a community” (whatever that means).

quote-lord-save-us-from-off-handed-flabby-cheeked-brittle-boned-weak-kneed-thin-skinned-pliable-billy-sunday-73-24-25Most men are generally alienated by this form of spirituality.

Men and the Call to Feminine Devotion

I was at a daily Mass (not my normal parish) where the pastor told the daily communicants that men in the parish “need to adopt a more feminine spirituality.”

Mind you, the readers for Mass were women. The person serving the priest was female. The Eucharistic minister, she was female. The decor and banners were feminine. The homily was set on making sure that we are all nice people. And then I’m told that I need to become even more feminine. Most men would feel like a spiritual Caitlyn Jenner by even being present in this place. Do I need to feminize my spirituality in order to draw close to Christ?

Christianity for Men?

The common response is: “Well it’s women that show up and women that do everything at the parish, so that’s how it is. If men would show up and contribute then maybe more men would feel welcome.”

Yes I agree with this. Men need to be more active. But there is a chicken or egg element to this. Do men leave because they are chased out by hens (or homilies calling for more femininity) or does it become this way because men are slugs and lack initiative.

I guarantee you that most normal men are going to feel uncomfortable in the context that I described above. Hearing a priest (who has a very soft voice and demeanor) tell him that he needs to be “more feminine” is not going to inspire men.

Men Need Inspiration

Don’t tell a Christian man: “Look, you need to be more spiritual…more like your wife.” Men cannot easily relate to that. Men like a challenge. I know a couple pastors who are always challenging men, but not for the sake of challenge. They are calling men to a high ideal. Virtue. Sacrifice. Even mortification. Christianity has this in spades, but we don’t often hear it in sermons.

It would be wonderful if every church had a pastor like this, but it’s not the case. Where it’s not the case, we need to create blocks of fraternity that focus on virtue and sacrifice. Hopefully the Maccabee Society because a place where that happens nationally and locally.

PS: What are we telling our young men when they see transexuals hailed as “brave and courageous” and when some priests are also saying “seek a more feminine spirituality”? Messed up.