Check out this recent post from xxxchurch.com's blog. Pretty interesting stuff.
My thoughts:
1. Is simply giving someone a Bible a good means to discipleship? I would say generally speaking, probably not. We all know of amazing testimonies of people just picking up a Bible and reading it and getting saved, but usually it seems that God works through the context of His Word plus relationships in saving people.
2. Is the slogan "Jesus love porn stars" on the cover of a Bible a help or a hindrance to the gospel? I can see it either way. It is true that God "loves" all people, and for that we need to rejoice. But there are many statements that we use in our culture that if not qualified very carefully can be dangerously misleading. I think that might be the case here. I know that the guys at xxxchurch.com are trying very innovative ways to do evangelistic and discipleship ministry in a very dark and untouchable world, and I commend them for it, but I get the sense that this specific slogan (though true) may be missing the careful clarification that it needs if they are using it in the way that I think they are. I may be wrong here and would welcome any correction.
3. I greatly value these guys vision and willingness to take great risks for the sake of those who desperately need the gospel. It's sad to say this, but I fear that most Christians would be far to judgmental to go anywhere near what they are doing.
1 comment:
dude - just found your blogger site from the XXXchurch blog i was reading earlier today (said, hmm zach nielsen, i know someone by that name). good thoughts, couple of comments:
1. i know from hearing from mike, craig and others that have been with them that the mere fact of putting a bible in the hands of some of these porn stars and people at the conventions is so out of place with everything else going on, the power of God's Word is that much brighter of a light in that incredibly dark world. i know they also get the ladies in their ministry to follow up with the porn stars, give them their cell phone numbers, etc (you probably have heard this since you read their blog), but i think they're really pushing to form relationships as well.
2. from seeing this 'jesus loves porn stars' campaign now for a couple of years, obviously they havve their straight-laced critics from within the church, however with the prevalence off this ad campaign in conjunction with their 'porn sunday' ads, i would hope that people are putting 2 and 2 together to get the message. i would also ask if the slogan itself needs further clarification, as you mention? isn't that the crazy, unbelieveable power of Christ's unconditional love - loving peope where they are, even if it's currenty far from Him? i think it puts it on a more personal level (obiously, 'jesus loves porn', would not be a good alternative).
3. agreed - too many christians will take one look and think the worst. (check out their 'wall of hate' on the xxxchurch site). the good thing is that these guys are called to go into the most brash, in-your-face places in society, where you have to be brash and in-your-face to get noticed.
we should push for a 'porn sunday' at rolling hills. would be awesome. and probably freak lots of people out. sweet.
anyway, not wanting to be argumentative, i agree with what you're saying - just love to banter!
nato
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