Thanks for stopping by. The point I was trying to make is one I’ve been arguing for some time. No, I’m not suggesting that we just sit back and allow God to do the evangelizing. And no I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t ever try anything new. All I’m saying is the example in the New Testament is that “the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). Did the church participate? Of course they did and so should we. But it is foolish for us to think that God is somehow dependent on our participation, that somehow if we’re not relevant enough, or cutting edge enough, or sensational enough that the message will be lost. What I’m saying is that it’s God who does the saving. He doesn’t need our gimmicks. We’re really just along for the ride. All He really wants from us is our surrender. Just surrender whatever it is you have to offer to the Lord and let Him bless it and multiply it and use it as He sees fit to further His Kingdom.

As for the late Michael Spencer, I didn’t always agree with a lot of the things he wrote, but on this point, I guess I was kind of taken aback by the number of attacks he received in response to his original post. It sort of struck me at the time that there’s something very wrong when a person gets that kind of hostile response to honest criticism from people who supposedly call themselves Christians.

Now according to you, Kris, “If other pastors feel pressured that is their own business.” But here’s the thing; that pressure is very real. It’s guys like Warren and Young that are held in such high esteem as examples of how everyone else is supposed to do things. Pastors are “feeling” pressured to adopt certain mega church gimmicks, because they are “being” pressured by their peers and by their denominational leaders.

Everyone struggles with feelings of inadequacy and lack of self-confidence. I’ve been in the ministry for twenty years and I’ve yet to meet the pastor who doesn’t. But let’s face it; the reality is that most of us are not cut out to be a Warren or a Young. Most of us are just average Joes doin’ the best we can with what we’ve been given. Yet when we hold these guys up in comparison, it really does bring pressure to bear that somehow we must not be doing something right, and I think that’s just a wrong mindset. I know I’ve struggled with those feelings myself, and I think that’s what Spencer was try to say.

I could go on and on, but hopefully you get the point. The program driven business model has so permeated our church culture to create this contemporary environment that says, “What new and wacky thing can I do this week that’ll get people’s attention ‘to the glory of God.’” I’m sorry, but I just don’t see that kind of precedent anywhere in the New Testament. Yes, by all means let’s show the world how God has strengthened our marriages. But I’m pretty sure we can do that without sensationalizing it with pillow talk. I hope that makes sense and maybe clarifies where I was coming from.

As for Spencer’s comments (in order) we can’t fault a church for setting a trend simply by trying something new. If other pastors feel pressured that is their own business. If they don’t have enough self confidence to craft sermons instead of blindly repeat Warren or Young they probably shouldn’t be in leadership anyway. We can’t control what an anchor asks, and if they pry into a healthy Christian couple’s marriage let that couple demonstrate what a healthy marriage looks like instead of dodging questions. “Anything goes” is a far step from challenging married couples to intentionally improve their sex lives (anything goes would have included non-married couples, which Young was blunt in addressing). The final argument has no real credibility. How are people adversely affected? Do we have an example? Was it because they misunderstood the message?

Anyway, I’m not encouraging the anything goes mentality, and I won’t be preaching a series on my sex life anytime soon, but perhaps showing how God has strengthened our marriages is a good way to allow Him to reach unbelievers.

and thus Paul gets bumped to #3

-Joseph

Father! … Daddy! … Why? …

And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.

Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise),

SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

“ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?”… This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

Father! … Daddy! … Why? … So that that I can enter and not die!