Venturing out into a world that glorifies crazy male stunts, rampant pornography and beer-pounding during the big game, it can be difficult for congregations to reach the unchurched male. Paul Coughlin, author of “No More Christian Nice Guy,” says one of the main challenges is that the Church is, “neutering men, then telling them to be fruitful.”

Coughlin is certain that churches need to teach Christian men about Christ’s tougher side. “U.S. mainstream culture has it much better than men in church culture,” he reveals. “This is because mainstream culture doesn’t have to contend with emulating a sweet and weak Jesus, as Christian men are burdened with this liability.”

While not all churches lend themselves to teaching Christ’s character as syrupy sweet, Jamie Munson, lead pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, says that he’s seen enough of it to know why it keeps men out of church.

Instead, Munson’s teachings focus on “strength and masculinity that men can relate to. They understand Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords. His humble strength has more to offer than what many men may have been taught growing up – the idea that Jesus is all meekness but no strength. Jesus is not only our humble incarnate Savior, but also our strong and glorified King.”

Giving churchgoing men a boost of boldness is an important aspect in your congregation’s outreach to men. It allows Christian men to live out courage. Coughlin finds that most churches require men to be passive and go with the flow. “Thumos is animated spiritedness that leads to redemptive acts of righteousness and more specifically, fosters courage, the virtue that underpins all other virtues,” he says. “Yet, courage isn’t even on our spiritual radar screen right now. We tell men they must lead their homes, but we don’t even help them foster courage. In many ways we take it away from them.

“Christian men are told to leave their thumos, courage and manliness at the Cross as if they were sins,” Coughlin continues. “There is no telling how many Martin Luther Kings, Martin Luthers, Dietrich Bonhoffers, Dr. James Dobsons, Desmund Tutoses, Chuck Colsons, William Wilberforces and so many others have been driven away from church due to our aversion to their boldness, creativity, thumos and righteousness.”

Instead, Coughlin believes churches should put courage back on the spiritual radar and ask the following questions: ...