Bringing Back the Bold: A Call for the Return of Masculine Church Services

Why Masculine Worship Matters: A Call for Men to Lead

Let’s cut through the fluff: modern evangelical worship services are drowning in a sea of sentimentality. It’s soft. It’s syrupy. And it’s chasing men away faster than a vegan menu at a Texas BBQ.

I recently watched a clip from CrossPolitic Studio, and the speaker nailed it:

“If you have a masculine worship service, it brings the women and children. If you have a feminine worship service, as evangelicals generally do, it alienates the men. They either leave or come muttering—or they climatize and become effeminate themselves.”

Boom. Truth bomb dropped. He went on to share a story about some visitors to their church. After the service, one woman remarked, “Well, that was masculine.” Let that sink in. A woman noticed that their worship had strength, purpose, and gravity. She wasn’t complaining either—it was an observation dripping with respect.

Alright, here comes the gut punch: biblical worship? Yeah, it’s meant to be masculine. Let me say it again for the slow learners in the back—true biblical worship is masculine.

Women? They flourish under masculinity—even in church. But men? Men wither in a world of effeminacy. Back in the first century, when the church was exploding like a spiritual firecracker, worship was as masculine as it gets. Men and women didn’t even sit together—no, they were on opposite sides of the building. And guess who was leading everything? Men. Leading every aspect of the service, running the show. Paul drops the mic in 1 Timothy 3:2, saying men are to be "apt to teach." Newsflash: you won’t find a single verse saying that about women. And that's not an accident.

That means men should be in front, leading with authority and conviction, not hiding in the back row waiting for their wives to drag them into action.

The Apostle Paul wasn’t vague about this. In 1 Timothy 2:11-12, he flat-out said that women are to “learn in silence with all subjection.” He didn’t say it as a suggestion or a friendly tip. It’s a command. Leadership in the church is a man’s role. Period. And before someone throws a hymn book at me, let’s clarify: this isn’t about diminishing women; it’s about honoring God’s design. When men lead, and women support in their God-given roles, the church thrives.

But what do we see instead? Worship services that look like a second-grade art project exploded. Twinkling lights, fog machines, and love songs that could double as boy band hits. Men sit there bored out of their skulls, checking their watches, while their wives sway to the “Jesus-is-my-boyfriend” ballads. No wonder guys are bailing. If the church feels like a pastel-colored Hallmark card, why would a man stick around? And just so you know, when the preacher tells everyone to hold hands, the testosterone in the room drops by 50%. Yuck!

Where It All Went Wrong

Somewhere along the line, the church traded reverence for relevance. The goal shifted from glorifying God to making people feel comfortable. Church was never meant to be comfortable; it’s supposed to be powerful and life changing. And let’s be real, “comfortable” almost always translates to “feminine” in today’s culture. Emotionalism and sentimentality took center stage, and masculinity was quietly escorted out the back door.

Look at the modern church: worship leaders with skinny jeans and perfectly coiffed hair, singing songs that wouldn’t sound out of place on a soft rock radio station. Preachers who avoid the hard truths of Scripture because they’re afraid of offending someone. Services that are all about feelings instead of faithfulness. Is it any wonder that men—real men—find this repellent?

What Masculine Worship Looks Like

So, what does a masculine worship service look like? Let’s paint the picture:

1. Men Leading from the Front First and foremost, men need to be leading. And I don’t just mean the pastor. The deacons, the elders, the worship leaders—all men, all stepping up and owning their God-given responsibility. This isn’t about ego; it’s about obedience. Men are called to lead, and when they do, the church thrives.

Women? Your role in this isn’t diminished by men leading. In fact, it’s elevated. When men take their place, women flourish in theirs. A wife’s submission to her husband in the church and home is a picture of the church’s submission to Christ. It’s beautiful, biblical, and powerful.

   2. The Word Preached with Authority No more sermonettes for Christianettes. Masculine worship means masculine preaching. Preach with authority. Call out sin. Speak of Christ as the victorious King, not some helpless, doe-eyed figure wringing His hands in heaven. The pulpit is not a place for equivocation or compromise. It’s a place to proclaim the unchanging truth of God’s Word with boldness.

   3. God-Centered Music Masculine worship means ditching the syrupy “I” and “me” songs that dominate modern worship playlists. Bring back the God centric worship songs. Sing hymns that exalt God’s majesty, power, and justice. These are songs that stir the soul, not lull it to sleep. Ask yourself, does this song appeal to my flesh or the Spirit of God.

   4. A Focus on Reverence Masculine worship isn’t about gimmicks. It’s not about fog machines, light shows, or catchy marketing slogans. It’s about reverence. It’s about recognizing that when we gather to worship, we are standing before the Creator of the universe. That demands awe, respect, and yes, a little fear.

Why This Matters

Here’s the thing: when men lead in worship, it doesn’t alienate women and children. It does the opposite. Masculine worship creates an environment where women feel protected and valued, and where children see a model of strength and godliness. It’s attractive in the truest sense of the word.

Contrast that with what we have now. Feminized worship alienates men. They either check out entirely or stick around begrudgingly, muttering under their breath. Or worse, they acclimate and become effeminate themselves, parroting the same soft, spineless version of Christianity they see modeled.

The Role of Women in Worship

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: the role of women in worship. This is where modern evangelicalism has gone completely off the rails. Scripture is crystal clear on this: women are to remain silent in the church and are not permitted to teach or have authority over men (1 Timothy 2:11-12). This isn’t about misogyny or oppression; it’s about God’s design.

When women step into roles they were never meant to occupy, it creates chaos. It’s like putting a fish on a bicycle. It doesn’t work. And when men abdicate their responsibilities, it’s even worse. Leadership in the church isn’t just a privilege for men; it’s a mandate.

Practical Steps to Reclaim Masculine Worship

So how do we fix this mess? Here are some practical steps:

1. Men, Step Up Stop hiding in the back row. Stop waiting for your wife to take charge. Take ownership of your faith and your family’s spiritual health. Get involved. Lead.
2. Pastors, Preach the Word If you’re a pastor, stop tiptoeing around the hard truths. Preach the Word in season and out of season. Call out sin. Exalt Christ. Challenge your congregation to live lives worthy of the Gospel. Kick men in the tail, embolden them to take charge and teach them to lead well.
3. Worship Leaders, Choose Better Songs Throw out the “This is all about me, me, me, me” playlist. Choose songs that glorify God, not ones that sound like they belong in a middle school diary. Bring back the powerful songs of worship of days gone by. Or here’s a thought: write some new ones but make them about the greatness of our God. Sing hymns with depth and doctrine.
4. Churches, Embrace Biblical Roles Stop apologizing for what the Bible says about gender roles. Embrace them. Teach them. Live them out. When men lead and women support, the church becomes a powerful witness to the world.

A Final Challenge

Men, this is your wake-up call. The state of worship in your church is on you. If it’s weak, sentimental, and effeminate, don’t just grumble about it. Do something. Step up. Lead. Demand better.

And pastors, don’t be afraid to make your worship masculine. Yes, some people might leave. Let them. You’re not called to please people; you’re called to please God.

When worship is masculine, it’s not just better for men. It’s better for everyone. Women respect it. Children thrive in it. And most importantly, God is glorified in it. Let’s reclaim worship for what it was meant to be: bold, reverent, and unapologetically masculine.