Apparently, a "sissy Jesus," who preaches love, compassion, and tolerance for others who are different doesn't "sell" anymore--at least not to a white, male establishment which finds the traits the culture tells them are inextricably bound with masculinity to be absolutely at odds with Christianity.

Which leads me to believe that there is something wrong with those in the "market," rather than with the Jesus we encounter in the Gospels.

Of course, as a feminist, I *would* say that....

Yes, but is it Jesus?

Hmmm... I thought our God-given goal is to conform to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29), not conform the image of His Son to the same old sexualized gender stereotypes that make the world less Christlike in the first place -- and make him far less compelling in the process.

Sawyer ought to check out ancient, Byzantine and medieval images of Christ Jesus. Not a hint of wimpy "femininity" there, but no schlocky reduction of him to a knuckle-dragging Ramboesque roadhouse brawler either. Sawyer might also consider the "burly carpenter" he envisions was the man who able to spend 40 days and nights fasting in the desert (Luke 4:1-2) -- let's see a kick-boxing Chuck Norris pull that off.

There's no getting around the fact that Jesus said he was "gentle and humble at heart" (Matthew 11:29), extolled the meek, the merciful and the peacemakers as blessed (Matthew 5:3-12), taught us to turn the other cheek rather than smack back (Luke 6:29), and told his followers to put their weapons away, since "all who live by the sword will die by the sword" (Matthew 26:52). He willingly was spat on and went to his death on the cross -- he didn't start a rumble to "stand his ground" and "defend his turf" in some fit of chest-thumping "Alpha Male" pique.

Dressing up Christianity in poster-boy, pulp-fiction pop culture doesn't popularize it -- it just trivializes it. Ever think the whole point is that we're supposed to grow up and move beyond warped notions that being meek, merciful, peaceful and kind is "girly," when they're really just human and humane -- even divine -- in the first place? This sort of "art" brings to mind Hank Hill's quip about "Christian rock" in "King of the Hill": "You people aren't making Christianity better. You're just making rock n' roll worse!"

This "macho Jesus" movement appears to be a means of circumventing Jesus and, as such, merely cheats its adherents. As Mr. Orloff, citing the Gospels, points out, Jesus was so much greater than anything intended by the term "macho." Unless we can agree to redefine "macho" to convey the qualities Paul describes in Philippians 2:3-8.

Now *that* is a strong man.

While I find this picture endlessly silly, it does speak to a larger issue. The Church does not appeal to men, and nobody asks why. I look around the pews on Sunday morning and the women outnumber men 3 to 1, and I know my parish isn't alone. If that's not troubling to you, then start thinking about the implications of this. How can children be influenced by only one parent showing up? How can the church survive long-term without both female and male leadership? Maybe something like this (but less absurdly corny) is what we need more of.

Of course they aren't the only ones remaking Jesus in their own image. If you can have female or gay "Christ" on the cross, why not "Biker Christ"? They're all used for the same purpose, just for different groups of people. Matthew's point is certainly valid around here. How do you get men to go to church?

Chris Harwood

Have we forgotten the Muscular Christianity movement and Teddy Roosevelt?

People need to find something in Christ that resonates with them. Fortunately, Christ is capable of absorbing all of our aspirations, all of our projections, and remaining Jesus, truly God and truly Human. Our categories and attributes cannot limit him, but his wealth can enrich us all...

How do you get men to go to church?

Good question. But distorting Jesus into a "lad," a "dude" or a "bruiser" ain't the answer.

Why not? Because it's not true to the Jesus of the Gospels. And when your "target market" finds that out, they're not likely to stick around. Promise children cake and then try to serve them vegetables -- you can expect them to run away or pitch a fit, no matter how healthy it is for them. Your advertising didn't match the product.

There are plenty of men at the Episcopal church I attend -- I'd say the crowd is pretty much even-steven. The church offers plenty of ways to engage and involve men: things like choir, Brotherhood of Saint Andrew, Stiefel Men's Group, Habitat for Humanity (not that the first or the last is gender-specific), etc. They come, they stay, they get active, even though Jesus isn't presented as a tattooed rebel astride a heavenly Harley.

And in the Orthodox churches I grew up in, there was no thinning out of the crowd on the right side of the aisle, back in those "old school" days when men stood on the right, women and children on the left. They came, they stuck around, they got involved -- single, married and widowed. What made them do so? Faith? Family? Tradition? Culture? Roots? Conscience? Realization of their mortality? Probably some or all of the above. But they were there.

It seems we're missing the mark in contemporary America (and elsewhere?), where a whole bunch of shoddy and shallow "Jesuses" (Jesi?) hold sway in the popular imagination. And so we have:

Jesus the Hip-Hop Producer: "Thank you, Lord, for the platinum CDs and all this bling!"

Jesus the Cosmic ATM: "Thank you, Lord, for the Mercedes Benz and that thriving 401K!"

Jesus the Jock Coach: "Thank you, Lord, for this buff body, the great throwing arm and the NFL contract!"

Why, today Philippians 4:13 has been twisted into a mantra of self-affirmation for anything we do -- no matter how banal, how self-centered or how unrelated (or even inimical!) to Jesus' gospel vision of life, its purpose and its goal. No recognition of Jesus as the one who overcame the alienation of sin and mortality, so we can too, or the Jesus who said "If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself..." (Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23). But plenty of hype about the "Jesus" who doles out power, affluence and personal success at the drop of a hat, in accord with our egos, our desires and appetites, despite what his Gospel actually says about such things! "Jesus," confirmation and enabler of our suburban, consumerist American dream! How very convenient! No need to change our values or priorities! Just keep on doing what we want, as we want, now with the security of religious sanction, to boot!

But what men, women and the world really need to hear from the Church is what Jesus called for: "metanoia." It's the New Testament Greek word usually rendered "repentance" (another unpopular notion today), but literally means "change of mind." Change of mind, change of heart, change of outlook, change of attitude. A different way of seeing, and thus approaching and acting toward, things. "Metanoeite!" Jesus cries in Matthew 4:17 as he starts his public preaching. "Change your minds!" Might that change of mind and heart involve changing the way we see being meek, patient and kind as "sissy" and being rude, crude and lewd as "manly"? To deem "virtue" as "womanly" is self-defeating anti-male sexism, when you think about it. (How many even realize today that "virtue" and "virile" share the same root: Latin "vir," "man, male"!) If humility, charity and nonviolence were good enough for Jesus, Nicholas of Myra, Martin of Tours (an ex-soldier!), Ambrose of Milan (an ex-cop!), Boris and Gleb of Kiev (princes who laid down their swords!), Francis of Assisi and Martin Luther King Jr., they're good enough for me. No shame in those things for a real man at all...

But what do I know? Perhaps pandering to male stereotypes to boost churchgoing is the way to go. How about a cigar social on Ash Wednesday? A kegger and cage fighting at Christmas? Belching the Creed during the Eucharist? Abolition of all services on Superbowl Sunday? "DUDE, WAY TO GO!" (HIGH FIVE!)

I like the idea of belching the Creed, Gregory. It would go right along with arm-pit farting the Kyrie or something like that!

I found the article dismally sad --and the image to be rather hysterical... the guys I know who would agree to that kind of tattoo are certainly not the type of buff dude they are thinking it might attract.... just sayin'!

--meg matters --but it's margaret is fine now.