(The material in this article has been adapted from a research project submission at All Nations Christian College in Hertfordshire. For the full and original transcript please email me at rossgrindlay@gmail.com)
This year the National Union of Students held a summit in which their President Toni Pearce called for students to “return to their campuses and get rid of lad culture”. This came about following new research carried out by the NUS which defined lad culture by it's 'pack mentality', whose activities include sports and heavy alcohol consumption along with 'banter' often deemed sexist, misogynistic and homophobic.
Is this an accurate representation or does this only reflect it's negative aspects? The Lausanne Covenant describes all culture as being “rich in beauty” but from a sub-culture that is seen as so damaging it needs to be rid of society, can anything “rich in beauty” be found?
If 'lad culture' is to be defined by it's pack mentality I wonder if this could be an expression of the alpha male in the animal kingdom and our hunter gatherer ancestors? I think these values and expectations are ingrained into the very nature of man and could demonstrate how deeply rooted 'lad culture' is. The issue for me is the distorted view of masculinity 'lad culture' represents and a society which struggles to find an outlet for masculinity. I wonder if we can therefore accurately define 'lad culture' as an exaggerated form of masculinity antagonised by a culture which welcomes a more feminine man?
Lad Culture operates in a society that has become the second highest in the world for single parent households and unemployed single mothers. It is also the fifth highest for divorce rates. The church also has a growing 'gender gap' with women making up 65% of our congregations. That means just 35% of churchgoers are men and only 20% of them are under the age of 34.
Today's church has failed to appeal, engage, interact or become relevant for most young men in the UK. I would argue we have acted the same way as the NUS but instead of a summit we have ignored 'lad culture' and in doing so have rejected young men.
For those who do find faith they are then required to give up sex, swearing, getting drunk, pornography and smoking all of which are accepted in the UK's vastly secular society and of which his friends will continue to do. Contrastingly the church replaces them with singing, expressing feelings, long sermons and coffee but what happened to the action we see in Acts where they testified with great power and had heated debates with the religious elite.
All of this maybe excusable if the church provided stronger friendships and discipleship but the fact is the majority of the time the friendships are stronger within 'lad culture'. With the lack of male role models in the church is it any wonder we are failing to appeal to young men? My experience has been a struggle at times seeking brotherhood within the church whilst feeling more connected with friends outside of the church.
Carl Beech of Christian vision for men believes now is the time for a “movement rather than individual”. I think he is onto something and we need to empower and equip our young men in the church to action. We need them to interact with 'lad culture', becoming men that 'lads' can understand and relate to. Until we do this we cannot break the pack mentality.
I believe the church is starting to wake up to it's lack of young men and is beginning to reflect on it's strategies by finding creative ways to make church relevant to men. This could result in less songs and shorter sermons with more interaction but by doing so we can engage our men in church which will captivate them to action. Now is the time for the church to take a stand and not reject 'lad culture' but to engage, serve and form relationships where deep conversations about Jesus can happen.We can then disciple and equip men so that instead of finding identity in the 'pack' men find identity following Jesus.
