Why men hate church

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Well I was kidding however it seems he was not saying "ask the Pastor questions" but rather give their own opinion on the passage.

The house church paradigm that I'm used to has an elder reading a passage. He shares his thoughts or insights that the Holy Spirit has given him. Then he opens the group up to share there thoughts and/or experiences concerning the subject matter, the passage, or even any of the comments he has made. It's amazing how much insight some men have but they never have a venue to share it. Some young people are wise beyond their years. Some older men who rarely speak unload about 45 minutes of wisdom and insight that builds on what the elder talked about... sometimes someone cracks and begins confessing sin they struggle with or shame or depression or feelings of being a failure. They break and weep and we pray for them, plead the blood over them, and administer the grace of God in the power of the Holy Ghost. It can be so beautiful, everyone has a voice. Everyone has something to contribute. Some men will write a song and bring it to sing. Others will be moved by a particular hymn or worship song and bring the CD and we sing along with it... tears streaming down. And the FOOD. Dude... nobody eats like house churches. The food is abundant and awesome homemade goods. Some even serve some rather nice wine. But that depends on the house church and the convictions they've arrived at as a group. The ladies gather and come down stairs and warmly sit buy the husbands... what they talked about we don't know. But the atmosphere is different. They look at us with... respect and tenderness. Yes... my favorite house church gathers with men and women gathering separately when we dig into the lesson. But something is just different... more personal. Beautiful.