Baz Gascoyne asks some candid questions

Baz Gascoyne

A couple of months ago I was asked if I would be on a Christian Radio Station between 11pm - 1am to answer people's questions, thoughts and opinions. I was at home on my phone listening and commenting on the calls that came in. The theme for these two hours was "Why are there so few Men in the Church today?" as the Anglican Church had been discussing this at their annual general Synod in London.

At first the presenter and I discussed the fact that it could be down to the fact that most services are irrelevant and femine for men. However, what amazed me the most was two calls that came in. The show had been going for about 40 mins when one caller rang to say "I tell you why men are not going to Church" with a certainty ringing out from his voice" "why is that"? asked the presenter.

"It is because we are not telling men that they are going to hell. I go on the streets where I live weekly and tell men this is where they are heading - hell".

I could not believe what I was hearing. The presenter was shocked and surprised and said "sorry I do not agree with you. What do you think Baz?" "Well, Dave, I think he is talking a load of rubbish."

Where is the good news in that? We have a great message of hope, love, forgiveness and purpose of life and fun and all he wanted to do is tell men they are going to hell. A lot of people think that the life they have now is hellish. I bet everyone runs up to him and asks him to tell them more!! "Isn't that true caller"? Not surprisingly there was silence!!

Then we had a second guy phone in saying he agreed. By then I had enough and thought what the heck. "I am sorry but it is people like you that are not helping our cause of being good news to people and sharing the good news of Jesus to them too. We have people like you in Sheffield who stand in the city centre and shout at people telling them that they are going to hell unless they turn to Jesus. Approximately 100 metres further up from them there is usually a busker playing his guitar and singing and it's not hard to guess who has the most people listening to them. I give you a clue not the ones talking!!! Why because the singer is good news to listen to and interesting to be around."

"Most people would rather be certain they're miserable, than risk being happy" Dr Robert Anthony

Yes, Jesus died for each of us so we could have our sins forgiven and a way back to God and know Him personally and begin a brand new life and discover what it means to try and be a true follower of Jesus today and not to become some boring judgemental religious person who has not one ounce of good news in them. I long for men to discover God for themselves and the love He has for them.

I read this quote recently:

"An Evangelical is someone who is awfully worried that there is someone somewhere who is having fun and needs to repent" Funny but true. Feel uncomfortable? Ask yourself if it's ringing any home truths.

This got me thinking about how I come over to other people and especially if I am good news or bad to be around. Do people enjoy my company or are they pleased when I leave. Unfortunately, I am sure that sometimes it is the latter especially when I have been so far up myself to even notice others or to listen to them.

Ask yourself are you good news to be around or bad news? Even more scary: ask your friends to tell you.

I am sure we have all experienced a time when we have been in the company of some Christians and wish we weren't. Why is it that sometimes I enjoy myself more with people who are not yet Christians than those who are? Maybe it's because we can sometimes be too judgemental and boring. I don't know about you but I prefer being with people who are interesting.

Recently I was at a Comedy Club attempting to do a ten minute comedy set. My routine was about observations on men and our idiosyncrasies and insecurities. I really enjoyed myself especially when I told everyone I was a Church leader after the first comedian had made a lot of negative remarks about God, Jesus and Christians.

After I finished I sat down next to a young man aged about 25 yrs old. He lent over and asked the following question "what do your Church members think of you?"