Book Review: Where are the Men of the House?

BIOGRAPHICAL ENTRY Johnson, Eric, Where are the Men of the House? Jeffersonville, IN: BK Royston Publishing, 2013, pp. 159. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF AUTHOR “Dr. Eric Johnson became the pastor of Greater Galilee Church, Louisville, Kentucky in 1995. Dr. Johnson received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of North Texas (1990), Master of Divinity (1995) Master of Theology (2002) and Doctorate of Philosophy degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2005. Dr. Johnson is a native of Texas and married to the former Jan L. Wyatt. They have three children.” SUMMARY OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION: In his book Where are the Men of the House?, Dr. Johnson begins by pointing out that there is an urgent need for men in the African American church today. The church is challenged to carry out the mandate of Jesus to make disciples of all men. The church must address this mandate in terms of a holistic ministry that meets the needs of men in economic, employment, education, and ethnic gaps with a stress on Christian Education. Johnson distinguishes between Transitional churches and Transformational churches. The Transitional church is focused inward, and its main ministry is maintenance and membership. These churches see little need for outward ministry in which making disciples for Christ is the focus. This really resonated with me. As a Registered Nurse I am accustomed to meeting the needs of the patients holistically. This means meeting the immediate needs based on the medical diagnosis primarily, but it also includes the patient’s economic, education, social, and spiritual needs. On the other hand there is the Transformational church. These churches pursue and develop methods of evangelism and discipleship that creates a desire to carry out the Great Commission. Johnson explores the role of the pastor as the authoritative leader in the African American church. He traces this role beginning in Africa, through slavery, and up to the present time. While Johnson and other authors that he cites believe there are advantages to this model, I see that there exist the possibilities of negative consequences if the pastor does not preach and teach truth that is relevant to today’s African American men. Pastors often exclude men from positions of power. Sermons often devalue the men’s worth and integrity. Johnson cites authors that have studied reasons that it is difficult to disciple African American men. One difficulty that must be addressed is whether or not the men who are being discipled have genuinely committed themselves to a saving relationship to Jesus as Lord and Savior. Churches are sometimes guilty of lowering of Jesus’ requirements of a disciple. Johnson cites studies that give reasons that African American men refuse to attend church. Some, such as, the church does not address their needs are valid. Others reasons stated by African American men needs to be addressed more thoroughly in Christian Education classes. The church must be intentional about discipleship training. Chapter 2: THE TWO GREAT INSTITUTIONS: In chapter two Johnson discusses the roles of the two institutions that are central to African Americans. There is the family and/or extended family, and there is the church (the family of God). The question for Johnson is what can be done to bring African American men into the church? Johnson believes that the first task of the church is to save the family. The family paradigm can be a strong model for intentional evangelism and discipleship for African American men despite the effects of slavery and the poverty that still plagues their communities. Poverty and the welfare system have promoted negative images of African American men. The welfare system is largely controlled by women leaving the male with a sense of inadequacy because he is not able to provide for his family. The church must guide African American men to develop fellowship and intimacy among the members in the church. Men must covenant with each other to be present in the lives of other men for better or worse. “Only the church has the power to bring forth the godliness that must accompany freedom and liberation. The African American community will never realize ultimate freedom and liberation if it does not stay connected to Jesus Christ and His church” (90). The church faces the challenge to improve and update its facilities so that the resources of the church can meet the needs of the twentieth-first century. Some churches may need to move from a preaching exclusive paradigm to a staff or ministry discipleship paradigm. Some churches suffer from a lack of stewardship and stewardship education. Stewardship education should make people aware that stewardship is not just a tool for raising money in the church. Stewardship must extend to all of Christian living. It has been proven that the higher one’s educational level is the more likely one is to be involved in church activities. Chapter 3: MODELS OF MINISTRY: In chapter three Johnson presents four models of ministry that promotes discipleship. Often the church is unable to effectively make disciples because the church may emphasize methods instead of accountability relationships in which there is a process of accountability that is nurtured over a period of time. It is developed in community for the purpose of bringing believers to spiritual maturity in Christ. Young believers need mentors not just to give information, but to also build relationships. The first ministry model is “The Model of Empowerment. New converts often fall through the cracks or find the back exit. To avoid this phenomenon the holy cannot be separated or partitioned out of one’s daily existence. Mature disciples do not separate the secular and the sacred. Their total life is a walk of faith empowered by the Holy Spirit. The second ministry model is “The Model of Resocialization.” Resocialization is defined as the process of helping new believers see their citizenship is not on the terrestrial but on the celestial level, thereby helping them to practice a Christian ethic which embraces the distinctive of being a child of God. This process is holistic in its nature encompassing the mind, body, and social. A third model is the “Ministry of Accountability.” The fundamental problem with men in this culture is isolation. Church ministry must emphasize community relationships for the purpose of establishing accountability. The fourth ministry model is “Ministry of Fellowship.” The spiritual importance of biblical fellowship has been compromises if not lost altogether. The church must reconsider the quality of their fellowship and whether or not the church majors in self centeredness. Chapter 4: CONCLUSION: A disciple is one who is developing a personal relationship with Christ in which He transforms their character, values, and involves them in His mission in the home, the church, and the world. The goal of discipleship is to mature and multiply believers who are empowered to bear fruit in their living and their witness to the world. CRITICAL EVALUATION In this book Johnson cites numerous authors and researchers that have given reasons for the lack of African American men participating in the local church. Johnson rightly points out that the methods of ministry in the church often ignore the basis for human behavior; such as the family and extended family or the lack thereof. I agree with Johnson that the church must develop ministries for developing mature and committed disciples for Jesus instead of good church members. I really identified with Johnson’s emphasis of mentoring and accountability because as a child growing up in the church the older members of the church involved us in the adult conversation in a manner in which children developed respect for their leadership and authority. The first two chapters point out the problems. In chapter three Johnson gives examples and illustrations of models of ministry that can effectively rise up a generation of disciples for Christ. Mature Christians must model Christ likeness in their character, values, and mission for kingdom building. The book can be useful for pastors, Christian educators, and church leaders. It will help them to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the church’s ministry to African American men. This will help them to develop a ministry that is effective in their own congregation that addresses the mind, body, and social conditions of the men that enter their doors. Above all else Johnson reminds of the human condition marked by sin.