Is the Church Failing to Build Spiritual Men 

FOR decades, the cry from the pulpit has been the same: “Where are the men?” We have seen the rise of "men’s ministries," the explosion of stadium-sized conferences, and an endless stream of books on biblical masculinity. Yet, as we navigate the landscape of 2026, a sobering reality remains: the "pews" may be filling up again, but the "pits"—the trenches of real-world ministry—remain largely vacant of men.

We are witnessing a crisis of spiritual passivity. While attendance is a metric of presence, it is not a metric of power. The church has, in many ways, become a spectator sport where men are the audience rather than the athletes.

If we are to change the trajectory of the home, the church, and the nation, we must address the gap between hearing the Word and doing the work of ministry.

As James 1:22–25 warns, a man who hears but does not act is essentially living in a state of self-delusion.

The Mirror of Delusion

The Apostle James provides a psychological and spiritual diagnostic for the modern man. He describes a man who looks into a mirror—the Word of God—sees his true reflection, and then immediately forgets what he looks like.

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

 The Anatomy of Self-Deception

In a digital age, we are saturated with information. A Christian man in 2026 has access to thousands of sermons, podcasts, and digital commentaries at his fingertips. However, information is not transformation. The "Self-Deceived Man" feels a sense of spiritual accomplishment simply by consuming content. He mistakes agreement with the Word for obedience to the Word. He nods at the sermon on family leadership but goes home and remains silent. He "likes" a post about evangelism but hasn't shared his faith in a decade.

The Blessing of the "Doer"

James offers an alternative: the man who looks intently into the "perfect law that gives freedom" and continues in it. This man is not a "forgetful hearer" but a "doer of the work." The promise is clear: “He will be blessed in what he does.” The blessing of God isn't found in the hearing; it is found in the doing.

The Statistics of Silence: Where Are the Men Leading?

If we evaluate the success of our discipleship by the fruit produced in the lives of men, the data is staggering. Despite the technological tools available, the core habits of spiritual leadership remain at an all-time low.

The Failure of Scripture Memorization

How many men can truly say they have "hidden the Word in their heart" to keep them from sin? In an era where we rely on Google for every answer, the discipline of memorizing Scripture has become a lost art. A man without a memorized Word is a soldier who enters the battlefield and realizes he left his ammunition at the barracks. Without the internal architecture of Scripture, a man’s worldview is built on the shifting sands of culture rather than the bedrock of Truth.

The Deserted Family Altar

The home is the primary unit of the Church. Yet, the majority of Christian homes still lack a consistent rhythm of family devotion. Men have outsourced the spiritual formation of their children to youth pastors and Sunday School teachers.

When a man fails to lead his family in prayer and the Word, he communicates to his children that God is a "Sunday hobby" rather than the Lord of Life. The church cannot "build men" if men refuse to build their own homes.

The Professionalization of Ministry vs. The Priesthood of All Believers

One of the greatest failures of the modern church is the subtle lie that "ministry" is for the professionals—the ones with the theological degrees and the microphones. This "clergy-laity" divide has neutered the average man.

Reclaiming the Great Commission

Leading people to Christ is not a "special gift" reserved for the evangelist; it is the fundamental command for every follower of Jesus. In 2026, the world is increasingly skeptical and fractured. People aren't looking for a polished presentation; they are looking for a man whose life has been radically reoriented by the Gospel.

If the men in our churches are not actively seeking the lost, the church is not a lighthouse; it is a museum.

Equipping the Saints for the Work

The role of the church (Ephesians 4:11-12) is to equip the saints for the work of ministry. If the men are not doing the work, the church has failed its primary mission. We must move away from "entertainment-based" ministry and toward "equipment-based" discipleship.

How Men Can Lead the Resurgence

It is easy to point fingers at the "institution" of the church, but the solution starts with the individual man. We do not need more programs; we need more men of action.

1. Develop a "War Map" for the Mind

Stop treating the Bible like a textbook and start treating it like a survival manual.

• Action Step: Choose one verse a week. Write it down. Speak it aloud. Meditate on it until it becomes a part of your vocabulary.

2. Restore the Priest of the Home

You do not need to be a theologian to lead a family devotion. You simply need to be present and intentional.

• Action Step: Ten minutes a day. Read one chapter. Ask one question. Pray one prayer. Consistency over intensity is what builds a legacy.

 3. Practice "Everyday Evangelism"

Ministry isn't a scheduled event; it is a lifestyle. It’s the way you conduct business, the way you speak to your neighbors, and the way you handle crisis.

• Action Step: Identify three people in your immediate circle who do not know Christ. Pray for them daily and look for "open-door" moments to share the hope that is in you.

The Call to a Living Faith

The situation has remained unchanged for too long because we have been content with a "comfortable" Christianity. But the "perfect law of liberty" described in James is not meant to make us comfortable; it is meant to make us free.

Freedom is found in the discipline of the "Doer." It is found in the man who wakes up and decides that today, the Word will not just be heard, but it will be lived.

At BBI Men', we believe that the strength of the church is found in the spiritual backbone of its men. It is time to stop looking in the mirror and walking away. It is time to stay, to look, and to build.