Come on, Mike.....
That was just one time, and you know as well as I do that you deserved it.
Seriously, I think the use of coarse, vulgar sexual and scatological language in the pulpit is nothing but a sign of immaturity in a preacher. I know the argument is that it is somehow provocative and attention-getting, but come on----watch a movie, or just listen to people talk every day. People aren't provoked or shocked by that kind of language; they hear it all the time. The only thing they're shocked by---or more likely, just find funny or amusing---is that it's Supernerd the Preacher trying to be cool by using that kind of language in church.
Yea, you'll get a rise out of people by doing it---at least a few times---but what a cheap thrill! Once they get used to hearing you talk like their non-Christian coworker, you'll have to figure out some other way to titillate them. And then what? What's provocative when provocative becomes boring?
Look, you want to really provoke people?---and I mean deeply, to their core? Tell them they're "SINNERS," instead of just broken, dis-integrated people in need of meaning in their lives. Tell them God's going to rightly DAMN them (there's a curse word alot of preachers shy away from) for their sins. Then tell them the Son of God died in their place, and that they have to repent and depend on him entirely if they're not going to go to HELL (there's another one).
Now that's provocative. Saying **** in the pulpit is child's play.
Great post!
Posted by: Mike Pohlman | Feb 10, 2009 1:16:14 PM
weak.
Posted by: adam lehman | Feb 10, 2009 3:53:47 PM
Strong.
Posted by: Nathan Lugbill | Feb 10, 2009 8:46:28 PM
Definitely.
Posted by: Jonathan Leeman | Feb 11, 2009 11:14:53 AM
Supernerds.
Posted by: GregG | Feb 11, 2009 12:06:46 PM
Provocative.
Posted by: Jeff Flora | Feb 11, 2009 6:35:17 PM
Are you really saying that people don't need teaching on some subjects? Or are you saying that some subjects addressed in the Bible are off limits for the pulpit?
Posted by: Dan | Feb 12, 2009 4:12:44 PM
@Dan...I think, in many cases, it's going beyond 'needing teaching' on some subjects. It's one thing to do an exposition of SOS along the way. It's another to see the sex-obsessed churches that are popping up everywhere. I've received several invitations in the past year to seeker churches in my area which would like to help me with my marriage, suggesting they could help in the bedroom. Our former church had 'porn Sunday' every year - which was a big group therapy session with a bit of Bible mixed in. I'm sure the 90-year-old woman sitting next to me was glad to hear she needed an accountability partner to keep her away from porn. They have a huge porn outreach and dedicate a lot of resources to that area.
The message we are sending to the world is that the church is obsessed with sex. Seriously, can anyone, in their wildest imagination, envision Peter, Paul, et al giving their flocks advice about sex techniques (as MD does}? They should be hearing that we are obsessed with Jesus Christ crucified. We're getting off message.
Posted by: Carol | Feb 12, 2009 8:04:19 PM
Carol,
The world is changing, regardless of whether or not the church wants to admit it. The availability of pornography on the internet is creating an entirely new generation of porn addicted young men who can, at moments notice, give in to their lustful desires without affecting anyone else and in the comfort and darkness of their own rooms. Not only that, but what they are hearing from popular culture and school mates is not simply that its normal, but that it's okay.
Admittedly, the place for these issues to be addressed is within the home by the father. Unfortunately, they are not. This is why there is a dire need for these things to be addressed, and people need to be engaged with on the issues that are truly doing damage.
Should a pastor shout pointless expletives from the pulpit? Probably not. Should he, as the faithful teacher of the greater body within the church, engage people where there is a dire need? Absolutely. Can we still be obsessed with Christ crucified? Yes, I believe as Paul contends in 1 Cor. 15, that the gospel should be passed on "as of first importance," but first importance doesn't mean only importance. Paul himself certainly engaged the church on issues of sexual immorality unapologetically, and masturbation/porn addiction are just the particular instance of our culture.
Posted by: Matthew | Feb 13, 2009 8:17:22 PM
Greg,
Great post. It reminds me of part of Piper's sermon from Romans 9:1-5 - _My Anguish: My Kinsmen Are Accursed_
"One of the results of this kind of "success" is that sooner or later the world wakes up to the fact that these so-called Christian churches look so much like them and the way they think that there is no reason to go there. If you adjust your doctrine to fit the world in order to attract the world, sooner or later the world realizes that they already have what the church offers."
Piper said it well.
Mark
Posted by: Mark Lamprecht | Feb 18, 2009 9:49:32 PM