Marrow Man
Drunk with Powder
A member of my congregation sent me this story about a megachurch in rural Alabama where the pastor is preaching a series on sex. I blog about it here.
Questionable Sermons in an Alabama Church
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apaleífo̱
Puritan Board Freshman
Ridiculous. I can add no further comment except to say that I hope that on the evening of Reformation Day (i.e. Halloween), he is visted at one o'clock by Cotton Mather, at two o'clock by Nathaniel Ward, and at three o'clock by the most fearsome spirit of all: Jonathan Edwards.
Marrow Man
Drunk with Powder
That's a great idea, c. A Reformed Carol! I love it!
Seriously, I think you need to take that and run with it. I'll make the offer right now to co-write!
Seriously, I think you need to take that and run with it. I'll make the offer right now to co-write!
Knoxienne
Puritan Board Graduate
I'm with Marrow - awesome post! I was just going to call folks who are into that kind of "preaching" a bunch of perverts along side a string of angry firey smilies. You're a better woman than I am.
apaleífo̱
Puritan Board Freshman
Many thanks, everyone! You all have inspired me to consider penning such an account...if any of you would be interested in reading what would probably prove to be an extremely ridiculous religious satire, I'd be glad to let anyone know once I'm done.
Michael Doyle
Puritan Board Junior
Many thanks, everyone! You all have inspired me to consider penning such an account...if any of you would be interested in reading what would probably prove to be an extremely ridiculous religious satire, I'd be glad to let anyone know once I'm done.
I concur. This is a brilliant idea. I pray the Lord blesses your labors toward its end and look forward to its finished product.
TheocraticMonarchist
Puritan Board Junior
Many thanks, everyone! You all have inspired me to consider penning such an account...if any of you would be interested in reading what would probably prove to be an extremely ridiculous religious satire, I'd be glad to let anyone know once I'm done.
Sounds great! I would love to see it on stage. You could make it into a play for a college level drama class. There might be some reformed schools that would be interested
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asc
Puritan Board Sophomore
I'm not sure what to think about it. The controversial Mark Driscoll did his series on Song of Solomon last fall, which was largely about sex and the marital relationship.
I'm not a fan of topical studies, but if that's what they do for sermons, is it wrong for the topic to be about sex? it's certainly a Biblical topic, and the news article reported that the pastor took an orthodox stance. or is the problem that they're being so loud with their advertising?
Athaleyah
Puritan Board Sophomore
The problem I see with it is that Jesus did not come and die on the cross for anyone to have a better sex life. Does telling people how to have better sex glorify God on Sunday morning? Worship is supposed to be about God, not about how to enjoy our bodies better.
-----Added 3/14/2009 at 12:36:41 EST-----
I won't say that a pastor should never talk about sex. I am saying that sermons are the wrong place. If there was a class or something for people who wanted a biblical perspective on sex, I think that would be fine.
-----Added 3/14/2009 at 12:36:41 EST-----
I won't say that a pastor should never talk about sex. I am saying that sermons are the wrong place. If there was a class or something for people who wanted a biblical perspective on sex, I think that would be fine.
asc
Puritan Board Sophomore
Is not all Scripture profitable? Sex and sexual sin are addressed all over the Bible. Given all the sexual confusion and sexual sin in our society (and in the church), shouldn't it be addressed directly?
Athaleyah
Puritan Board Sophomore
I added a clarification later. Sorry. I think that it is appropriate subject for Christian education, just not as part of a worship service where God is supposed to be the object.
-----Added 3/14/2009 at 12:49:42 EST-----
Actually, I think talking about what is appropriate and not appropriate sexually in God's eyes would be fine in a sermon. But not something that focuses on our pleasure.
Really, I will eventually completely put what I think together.
-----Added 3/14/2009 at 12:49:42 EST-----
Actually, I think talking about what is appropriate and not appropriate sexually in God's eyes would be fine in a sermon. But not something that focuses on our pleasure.
Really, I will eventually completely put what I think together.
How long was this series supposed to run?
I am going to go out on a limb here and say I don't really understand what is wrong with a sermon series on sex. As Alex said, it is a big topic in the bible and very much part of God's word. And from what little the article disclosed about the content, it seems that the series was about God's view and rules for sex.
In concept, what is wrong with a church having a series on sex?
I am going to go out on a limb here and say I don't really understand what is wrong with a sermon series on sex. As Alex said, it is a big topic in the bible and very much part of God's word. And from what little the article disclosed about the content, it seems that the series was about God's view and rules for sex.
In concept, what is wrong with a church having a series on sex?
Theoretical
Puritan Board Professor
I think it has less to do with seriously talking about sex than it does with the sort of fast-and-loose way it is being presented. The pulpit is necessarily a serious place, and sermons on sex and marriage, which I think are important, need to be handled seriously.
Now that does not mean they have to be euphemized into oblivion, but it does mean the same care and precision that goes into a sermon on predestination, the Trinity, or Christ's sufferings on the Cross needs to go into sermons on sex. Frank boldness about this important topic shouldn't be clinically cold, but neither should it be crass and provocative.
Now that does not mean they have to be euphemized into oblivion, but it does mean the same care and precision that goes into a sermon on predestination, the Trinity, or Christ's sufferings on the Cross needs to go into sermons on sex. Frank boldness about this important topic shouldn't be clinically cold, but neither should it be crass and provocative.
Timothy William
Puritan Board Junior
Are the sermons themselves crass and provocative, or just the advertising for them?
My current church occasionally does sermon series on sex. I tend to avoid them, not because I don't think it is a topic for the pulpit, but because they always say the same thing (I could probably stand up and give the sermon myself). Marriage counselling might go into more detail, but there is really only so much a preacher can say about sex and marriage which is appropriate for the entire congregation, so the sermon series become repetitive. And as a man who is not only single but intending to stay that way, while it is still in some sense relevant, it isn't something I need to be reminded of regularly.
My current church occasionally does sermon series on sex. I tend to avoid them, not because I don't think it is a topic for the pulpit, but because they always say the same thing (I could probably stand up and give the sermon myself). Marriage counselling might go into more detail, but there is really only so much a preacher can say about sex and marriage which is appropriate for the entire congregation, so the sermon series become repetitive. And as a man who is not only single but intending to stay that way, while it is still in some sense relevant, it isn't something I need to be reminded of regularly.
Marrow Man
Drunk with Powder
Yep. Noticed that too. Everything else seems straight out of the megachurch manual, but that was a new one for me.
I also thought it was interesting that more people show up at this church for worship than actually live in the town itself.
asc
Puritan Board Sophomore
Unless you have personal experience with this church, I think you're making a big assumption about it all being about money. I don't agree with they're doing, but I can understand the idea by some Arminian Christians that by being sensational, you might attract the attention of non-believers and get an audience that can be reached with the gospel. Similarly you say they don't care about preaching God's word, but based on what was reported, the pastor was giving Biblical instruction regarding sexuality. This is very counter cultural. If it was all about getting more people or money, I'd think he's have more success avoiding the law of God (ie Joel Osteen).
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