Monday, October 8
This past Saturday The Pottstown Mercury put our church's Our Rotten Sex Life series on the front page.
Check the article out HERE.
In the article, I mentioned that I had no way to gauge what percentage of the responses we're getting from the promotion of the series is negative in nature. I'm in a better position to assess that now: 100% of the negative responses we've been getting have come from Christians. That's right. Christians. We've had an overwhelmingly positive response to the church's willingness to tackle a tough subject like this, but the only negative feedback we've gotten has come from "fellow believers" and "fellow pastors" who object to our lack of discernment. I find that very interesting.
Let me say that I agree with some of the negative responses that the signs we put out shouldn't have been placed at bus-stop corners. I totally agree with that and apologize for that happening. That only happened in a handful of instances. Almost all of the responses accuse me and our church of lacking judgment because we used the word "sex" in the series (ex. "you're using sex to lure people to your church"). One pastor of a Bible Church in Phoenixville even sent me a flame-letter and actually accused me of watering down the message of the Christian faith.
I can only respond to these comments by pointing them to what I told the Mercury reporter:
"Part of the inspiration for the series, which begins Oct. 21, comes from the fact that religious leaders tend to 'rail against the problem of divorce' but won’t talk about reasons why couples split up, Jones said."
Look up the number of times the New Testament talks about sex and the appropriate ways to channel it. My hunch is not that we're talking too much about sex, but too little. To water down the gospel would be to never talk about this issue at all, which would, it appears, make most Christians very happy.
8 comments:
Didn’t think I would be the first to comment, but since I’m here: ROCK ON… A real church, full of real people, dealing with real 21st Century issues. What a concept! That church shouldn’t be “just about Sunday morning”. A Christian environment that helps people do life – should make for an awesome journey with Jesus! Thanks for the apologize for the sign placements --- I do sure hope the attention does reach out to those far from God or in search of a home! My best, Christine Henson
A church is NOT a place where topics such as sex, drug, alcohol, divorce are to be prohibited from discussion and shunned away. In fact, it is the exact place where those topics should be addressed in light of bible and God. Where else should those topics be discussed to give the "right answer"? Access Hollywood? I don't think so.
Brian, I met someone recently and asked me about ccv and made the comment that our church waters down the message of the Christian faith. My response was turning them to this blog. I also, asked if they would like to come to CCV with me.
Thank God we have churches like CCV that address topics of substance!!
When I first saw the post that you guys were doing this, I worried a little about the kickback. I'm sure you knew it would happen as well. Thanks for having the courage to do it anyway! Learn from the mistakes and keep preaching the gospel. Even the sticky parts we don't want to talk about.
I had someone ask me what I thought about being part of a church that was preaching on sex. I said, "no problems here." I know way too many who have no clue what a Godly view of sex is as the result of the "shh" mentality. God created us as sexual beings. To ignore it is to ignore a portion of His creation and intent.
After being raised in a Fundamentalist church, finally at the age of 60 and a twice divorced, I've been able to learn and come to terms with my own sexuality as God intended it to be. I was able to do this through the web site of, http://www.LibChrist.com and their suggested reading. I've read about four of the books and have learned so much of why the Chursh is so sex negative. Such eye opening insight. Thank God.
Just my thoughts.
ES
I found the series to be VERY sexy! Carla Stowell
In the The Parable of the Great Feast, Luke 14: 15-24, Jesus tells us of a great feast of the redeemed which will occur in the future in heaven. Jesus wants everyone there. Jesus will not be happy if there are empty seats at that supper. Furthermore, the only way that those seats are going to get filled is if we, the servants of the Lord, fill the houses of God here on earth. Where else will they hear the gospel? Dr. Phil or Oprah? I think not.
So in this parable what did the master tell the servants to do? He told them to hurry out into the streets and alleys and to bring the people back to the feast. When the servants came back with many people, the master was still not pleased, he was angry, because there were still empty seats. The master told them to go out again and this time to go to the country roads and lanes. The master also told them not to listen to any of the excuses the people might give for not going to the feast, and not to offer any excuses about why the servants could not go out and find these people to fill the house. He told the servants to go out and to compel them (do whatever they had to do) to come in so that my house will be full. He did not say that his house should be at least half full, or two thirds full, or 98% full, but full, and he told the servants to compel them to come and fill his house.
As Christians we are the only servants of the master here on earth. I believe it is our job to compel the lost people in our area, by what ever means is necessary, into a house of God, so that they can have an opportunity to hear the gospel. If we do not do this, we fail as servants, and God will be angry with us because his churches on earth will not be full.
Jesus met people where they were spiritually. There are many spiritually dead people along the 422 corridor that need the message of the gospel. Many of these people think churches are nonsense. Many believe that the people who go to church are weak stupid people who are wasting their time and their money. Many of them would not be caught dead in a church. So how do you preach the gospel to these people? Maybe some of them may have rotten sex lives, or some might want to improve their sex lives, or some might have marriages that are on the rocks. Some of them know that something is missing in their lives and they are not happy. Some might be interested in knowing what a church or the bible has to say about sex, marriage and family and learn how they might solve some of their problems. Throw in a little faith, preach the gospel, and add a touch of repentance and you have filled more seats at the Great Feast.
To the Christians who read this blog and don’t like the signs, I refer to Luke 15: 4-7, the Parable of the Lost Sheep. This parable tells me that all of heaven will be rejoicing more over one sinner who repents than over the perfecting of ninety-nine sinners who need no repentance. The devil would like Christians to be fighting with each other all the time, wasting all of our time and energy, trying to perfect each other. I suggest we put down our swords and go about the master’s business. The more signs the better.
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