You may be wondering about the title of this post. Well this entry is going to be about sex (sort of) and I felt I had to continue with the one-word titles beginning with the letter "f." I could only think of three words relating to sex that begin with an "f" and since this is a family blog...
So here's the deal. The Big Church Across the Street is advertising a series called...wait for it..."Great Sex-pectations." Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Aren't they clever?
Last Sunday was the first in the series and the pastor was (presumably) going to answer the question "who invented sex?". Of course, any woman could have told him men invented sex, but that is a whole other topic. I think he was probably actually going for the answer that God invented sex. I'm just guessing here, seeing as how I didn't actually attend the service or listen to his sermon.
This Sunday's sermon is titled "Sex: Why Wait?" and is sure to be the most unpopular in the series.
This morning The Big Church Across the Street aired a commercial about the Great Sex-pectations series, asking the question "Sex: What Does it Take?". Ummm, health class anyone? Anybody remember the answer to this question? At the end of the commercial, Pastor Smooth leans in toward the camera and says "join us this week as we talk about....(voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper)...Sexxxx." Ewww.
I know what you're thinking...okay Laurie, what's the point. My point is this: why do Christians feel they have to sell Christianity to get people in the door of the church? What happened to the good news that Christ Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again to overcome death? When will we figure out that 12-step Christianity just doesn't work? When will we figure out that feel-good Christianity is misleading? What does sex have to do with the crucified Christ?
Let me be clear. I don't think there is anything wrong with pastors teaching Biblical truths about sex. I just get riled when Christians try to use these tactics to allure people into the church. It reminds me of 1st Thes. 1:3-4 "For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts" (emphasis added).
I know someone is probably going to misunderstand what I am trying to say or get upset with me. I know all the normal responses -- "God can use anything" "this could get someone into church" "sex is in the Bible" -- I know, I know. I just wonder why humans think they can come up with something better, more clever or more appealing than the Word of God which does not return void, but always accomplishes His purposes. Why use sex to sell the gospel when we've got the greatest story ever told of Jesus Christ. That should be enough.
10 comments:
Preach it, Laurie. Oh wait.. you are a woman, so you can't do that. But regardless... great post. I couldn't agree with you more.
Expect your hits from Google to increase because of this post.
hhmmmmm, if I'm interpreting what you're saying correctly (and please feel free to correct me if I'm not) I'm going to have to disagree.
IF this "big church of mystery" is scripturally giving a sermon series on sex, I have absolutely no problem with it whatsoever. In fact, I applaud the fact that they are doing it, and doing it in this way.
Maybe I need to see the commercial, but it doesn't sound like he's selling anything, but rather advertising what his sermon is going to be. It's not different than the HFBC site having the "Blueprint" ad up for the Colossians series.
Sex being discussed from the pulpit is extremely important. There are so many people that get married and have a problem with their sex life. Why? Because while growing up in the church sex was taught as something that is “bad” until you are married. Well, what happens when you get married? How do you change your mindset just like that? If you never hear the beauty of what sex is and how every part of it relates to Christ’s love for the church, then you will have a harder time seeing it when you get married. What better place to hear what scripture says about sex than from the pulpit?
So, my take is this. Advertise it however you want. I would put the commercial under being “culturally relevant”.
BTW, thanks for the post. I think it’s a great topic!!!
I think it's important for churches to address this topic. It's better to hear it in church than from society. And I'm not necessarily sure the pastor was trying to "sell" it to the public (I saw it on t.v.). This church has a lot of commercials introducing things going on. This commercial may bring a couple that's struggling in that area to church and may bring healing to their relationship. It's not like this church (like another church that advertises)is "fluffy". I believe they have sound doctrine and will approach this series in a way that will glorify God.
BTW: I think you're great Laurie ;).
Selling sex? It worked for George Michael. It works for Britney Spears. It works for Josh Hartnett. Why shouldn't the preacher across the street try to sell it? Maybe enought people will buy into it that he can get a new dome out of it. Excellent.
I don't see how he's "selling" sex?
I don't think the issue is a sermon on sex or a church advertising that the pastor is doing a sermon on sex.
A bigger issue would be if any chruch is trying to draw people to Christ based on meeting "felt needs" alone....like a doctor trying to pull out a splinter when the jugular vein is severed..."come to Christ, you'll improve your marriage, job, sex-life, etc. etc."
Maybe that's where you were going, Laurie??
James, excellent point. Now in Christ, all of those things you mentioned are better (more complete, if you will)... but they are subordinate to the true need that is present in our lives - namely a mender from our broken, dark hearts.
James, that is exactly my point. I thought I had made that clear in my post by pointing out that I didn't have a problem with the topic. I have a problem with the philosophy, not the theology (to quote a friend). Thank you for bringing some clarity to my comments.
Also, for anyone who may be wondering...I don't have a problem with the theology of The Big Church Across the Street in general. I believe they teach truth as stated in the scriptures.
Laurie, that I couldn’t agree with you more. The sad thing about the church these days is that it is about the business of “selling” Christ—promoting, advertising and pitching the Faith as if it were something that could be purchased. They try to make it appealing to come to church, because apparently their need for redemption isn’t enough. When I was at First back in the day, we used to call that church across the street the “Baptidome,” always parading bigger and better things than what we (First) offered. There are churches now, pretty prominent ones in our city at that, that do nothing but teach about 30% Gospel and 70% fluff. Actually I can think of one HUGE church that teaches about 10% Gospel and 90% pep rally. Some people will say, “well at least they’re getting something.” No, that is NOT something. If Satan can’t feed you a lie, he’ll feed you a half truth. It is nothing but the Word diluted and watered-down. The Word speaks specifically against that.
There is a commercial about a church which I’m sure you’ve seen. I can’t think of the denomination that is putting it out there, but I remember the first time I saw it, I was completely mesmerized at how it promotes “acceptance” of everyone. It starts out with people sitting in pews—I think the first one is a single lady, and she is catapulted out of her seat, I don’t remember the next one, but he too is catapulted out of his seat. The third example is of two men sitting side by side with their arms around each other, clearly depicting homosexuality. I remember thinking, “wow, you have NO idea what the Word says about homosexuality. Read your BIBLE!!” The Lord hated the sin within Sodom so much that he destroyed the city by raining sulfur on it! He sent two angels into Sodom to retrieve Lot and his family. At Lot’s insisting (even he knew how outrageous the sin had become), the two men (angels) stayed at his house. The entire city, “all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. They called to Lot, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.’” Is that not incredible!? They were practically knocking down the door. It blows my mind!! When someone CHOOSES to sin with homosexuality, they “suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them…so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1). So the Lord gives them over to their sin and then they BEAR THE MARK of being given over, “Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie…” (Romans 1). People who are homosexual bear an obvious mark of being “given over.” Okay, so I went into that long speech to say that this commercial essentially connotates that it is okay to be gay and be in this denomination, because they won’t “catapult” you out of your pew.
Why does the Christ have to be marketed like a product?! Why isn’t the death of our sin enough to move people to repentance? Why are we not teaching more sin, and the separation it creates from the Holy Spirit? Why are some of these huge churches nothing but big cheer rallies where you leave feeling great about yourself and your life? We already know that that “the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn away their ears from the truth and turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4). Looks like that time has already come.
Preach it Laurie. The masses need to hear it.
Post a Comment