Wow, what a cheap shot! I expected better of the bloggers here!

Wow, Mike, in less than 200 words you just disenfranchised all of us "I'm too cool for CCM, so U2 is my favorite band" Evangelicals in the 9 Marks audience. Just as long as you leave Johnny Cash alone and avoid any potshots at the Shawshank Redemption, I think we can make amends.

Having never met the man, I can't comment on Bono 's level of self importance. I need to work on removing the log from my eye. It is the "on every level" comment that gets me wondering if Michael was even considering their musical talent and impact. Going back to listening to "October" now. :)

Unbelievable. Got a link to this blog from somewhere else, which is the only reason I saw it. Are you telling me some people come here for Christian growth? I think I would prefer to look for places where the arrogance and self-importance of those criticizing arrogance and self-importance doesn't leap out at you. I don't know you, Mike, so I'm going to hope that I'm misreading your tone, but wow. Not liking someone's music or disagreeing with some of what they do are fine, but to completely discredit everything someone like Bono has done is insane. I don't know his heart, but the man has done quite a bit for people around the world. We cannot simply turn our noses up at this.

Not to mention liking music is subjective, so you cannot simply state that U2 stinks, "on every level." I would have to humbly disagree with that.

Umm... I'd come up with a clever comment, but my tongue is too firmly planted in my cheek right now.

Michael,

As the publicist at Crossway, I was NOT informed about the acronymn in "The Deliberate Church." Talk about a media hook! :)

Funny post! Although I disagree with your analysis of Bono and the boys. I can't help but wonder, though, is Matthew's humor detector malfunctioning or does he have one?

Is pastor Mark Dever aware of the content of these blog posts? It's very sophomoric and I thought that I was reading a post written by a junior high school kid. I'm actually quite surprised by the content of these posts. I'm actually going to forward this post to pastor Dever and bring this to his attention.

Travis,

It looks like a lot of people on here have a broken humor detector or not one at all.

Mark,

What if a pastor was having a very hard day and he came to this blog and it made him laugh. Because he got some humor it took some weight off of his shoulders, he got to loosen up, and it helped him to get the right perspective on the bad things that were going on. The point is RELAX!

Mike,

When I put all the first letters of the chapters of the deliberate church together I got wbbsdnnnojniicihblnts.

Your post is a joke.

Mike

Hey Mike G-S,

You called my bluff. Full disclosure: I was kind of joking. Don't tell anyone, though...

When I say "your post is a joke" I mean, "your post IS a joke".

I was laughing, anyway.

This is harsh, reckless and unkind--not appropriate on 9Marks website.

I apologize if my comments came off harsh...I'm just not sure comments like this, even if made in jest, are the best way to stimulate conversation among Christians. And I'm still not convinced they were completely in jest, based on the word choice (a lot of criticism is leveled under guise of humor). Those opinions are fine, I just thought this was an unusual place to express them.

Hi Matthew,

Thanks for clarifying you comments. I genuinely don't want to offend anyone. I guess it gets a little to the point of a blog, which to my mind is a good place to be a little informal and random. This post has nothing to do with anything 9Marks is worried about. It's just me taking a shot at my very good friend Jonathan. I don't like U2 particularly, but I've managed not to air my feelings on the matter for the past 20 years. Anyway, I didn't think anyone would be upset by it (except maybe Bono's mom). I figured it would make Jonathan laugh and people who didn't find it funny would ignore it. Cheers...

Don't worry ya'll, for those who took offense at Mikey's post, I'll blare my Bono and Stipe tunes, since I work with him.
:-)

Or maybe because I do listen to U2 and REM Mikey posted this, which is making some stumble into anger. So, I apologize if this was the case.

Overall, I get a laugh out of this post and how some are pee'd off about how Christians can't have a laugh or two.

It's a good thing I'd just set my cup of tea down and swallowed prior to reading this. My keyboard would have been a wreck! I actually grabbed my copy of "Deliberate Church" (off the shelf immediately in front of me) and took a cursory glance at the T.O.C. While it doesn't spell what you say it does, I'll be working on some kind of acronym to coincide with this post.

P.S. - I clearly understood all of this to be tongue in cheek and, while not the main purpose of this blog, a helpful sidelight to keep us from taking ourselves too seriously. Thanks and keep it up!

Mike,

Rumor has it that your post originally said this:

For the record: U2 completely stinks, unlike Huey Lewis. On every level. The only way I could imagine paying money to see Bono would be if he and Michael Stipe from REM were the opening act for Huey Lewis.

Mike and Jonathan I just got done laughing myself to tears.

haha... I totally fell for your joke about the table of contents! Yeah, i'll admit it!

Mr. McKinley,
Just want to say how much I enjoy your posts and the witty humor they often contain. Many times you have me laughing out loud as I read them. If any of you havnen't had a chance to read his take on the Gospel Coalition, which I just reread, it is histerical and even insightful at the same time. Is that possible? Or do you have to be deathly serious to make a good point in the blogosphere? Anyway, check it out. Here is the link http://www.9marks.org/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID314526%7CCHID775984%7CCIID2340214,00.html

It's OK to laugh people. Really, try it sometime.

For the record, I like Mike McKinley as a brother/pastor/blog writer. (I've even met him a couple of times!) He's funny and culturally insightful (despite his prediliction for punk rock music. Yes, I said punk rock.)
At the same time, I like U2 b/c they are REALLY good and thought-provoking. I've even been tempted to throw in a Bono quote to a sermon or two.

Conclusion? Gotta love Christian diversity! (And thank the Lord for humor, too!)

I say there needs to be a McKinley inquisition. What do you think?

I can get you some free counseling for your sonophobia.