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UPDATE: As the set day approaches, I’m seeing a lot of hits to this page. Please feel free to comment in agreement or disagreement. Your email address will never be released or used to spam you.
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Some thoughts on Susan’s post and on National Porn Sunday:
Lust really is the dirty secret within the church – it’s consuming many people in and outside the faith. The church has a responsibility to call those in bondage to it (just like homosexuality, adultery or anything else plaguing our society). In fact, it’s lust (quickly followed by porn) at the root of those other sins. We are commanded by scripture to rebuke/reprove those engaged in it.
Bringing awareness to the problem of porn and porn addiction is a good thing – but it’s clear these guys have gone over the line with Wally the Weiner (a 25-foot inflatable penis-like display), taking part in porn expos, giving porn stars shirts that says Jesus loves them, etc.. It’s a great example of what is wrong with the man-centered gospel and buddy-Jesus approach so many follow.
It is impossible for me to line their actions up with scriptures like this:
Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints; nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.
Be not ye therefore partakers with them; For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord; and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them; for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of.
(Ephesians 5:1-12 ASV)
For good ideas on reaching the lost biblically. Check out “Hell’s Best Kept Secret“.
Popularity: 2% [?]
September 25th, 2005 at 12:12 pm
This was a recovered post from the crash. There were some great comments posted, but I was not able to recover those.
Many were in agreement.
Those not in agreement said basically, Christ ate with sinners and came for the sick. To which I agree. However the glaring omission was that Christ confronted their sin and called them to repent. They did and became followers of him.
October 10th, 2005 at 9:36 pm
The thing is that the media doesn’t do follow up. So for those of you who really don’t know about this ministry first hand, I’ll fill you in. After forming relationships with people, whether it be a normal individual, or a porn actress/actor, they do share Christ. The point of the ministry really is to just get the word out, yes they do it in some really strange ways, but these are strange times. They are not comprimising the gospel, they create opportunities to share it that no other ministry has gotten. What other ministry, especially one talking about this subject, has been interviewed by ever major network, as well as other MTV styled shows. The thing is they are not judging people, shoving the gospel in their face. They are there for those who know they have an issue and want help. Sugar coating the gospel is the worst thing anyone or ministry can do and when they do share it they don’t sugar coat it. But they only get to that point by building relationships. Have you seen their documentary, Missionary Positions? This idea really comes out when they are at the porn show. They are contrasted by this guy outside with a blowhorn, just ripping at people, screaming at them, all while holding the Bible. Which do you prefer, better yet, which do you think God prefers. Which person do you think has a greater impact on the people at the trade show? The ministry with a booth inside having conversations with people, building relationships, or the guy outside with his bullhorn yelling “truth.” In the world, not of the world. To much of the church has built a wall around it’s self, to protect it’s self, but at the same time, the wall has kept others out and created two different worlds. To the unsaved, the real church looks a lot like a cult.
Check out Pure Online at http://www.pureonline.com
October 19th, 2005 at 10:25 am
Taylor,
Please take a minute (or 44) to listen to Hells Best Kept Secret. I think you’ll see that there is a way to maintain our own holiness and reach the lost at the same time. Also, public rebuking and preaching has a long history in scripture and the church. From Jonah in Nineveh to Paul nearly everywhere, to Whitfield, Wesley and Spurgeon to many folks today. Call it rebuke, protest, or street preaching. When done biblically (and many do not), it is quite effective.
It;s important to note that it is not a man’s method that brings an awareness of sin and the need for salvation, but the Holy Spirit who first must remove the scales of the lost in order that what they hear from us may make sense. But scripture makes it clear it is our responsibility to help them biblically as Philip did on the road to Damascus.
As far as becoming buddies with porn stars, I’d have preferred that the “goof balls” (their term not mine) had done something more like CCV did here.