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Naked Church - A New Low
1/14/2009
This is a “church” that was started by a local couple who wanted to “start a church for those who didn’t attend church.” They wanted it to be “a place that was willing to take some risks, break traditions, and do whatever was necessary to reach those that the church has done a bad job of reaching.” Their message? They wanted people to realize that “God was the answer to a life of purpose.” The Pastor stated that he “never understood how preachers can take something as exciting as the Bible and make it so freaking boring.”
The writer of the article stated that the church had “pulled out all the stops to make sure you feel comfortable and enjoy your experience.” “We want you feeling like you are walking into a rock concert, not church,” added the Pastor. The writer went on to say that their “Sunday morning worship services seem more like a rock concert meets comedy hour.” That’s meant to be a compliment, by the way.
And the whole “NAKED” thing? It’s a new teaching series they’re hyping that takes Christianity and “strips all the traditions, rules, and crap the church has clothed it in,” explained the Pastor.
...sigh...
I’m sure this church will be a roaring success. Give the people what they want and they’ll beat a path to your door.
But it makes one wonder...how much lower are we willing to go in trying to appeal to this evil and adulterous generation? How it must grieve and embarrass and anger God to see this done in His name! These sorts of caricatures of the church will continue and grow even more bizarre as we go further down the path of focusing on effective marketing instead of the integrity of God’s message. If the Lord tarries, I’m sure that at some point we’ll see Madonna at the pulpit of the Crystal Cathedral giving her testimony of how God changed her life (tickets available through Ticketmaster).
Isaiah 30:9,10 For this is a rebellious people, false sons, sons who refuse to listen to the instruction of the LORD; Who say to the seers, “You must not see visions”; and to the prophets, “You must not prophesy to us what is right, speak to us pleasant words, Prophesy illusions.”
This week I was drawn to the cover of one of our local magazines. The cover showed a naked man and woman with their backs to the camera and all of the sensitive parts covered with the blaring title “XXX Church – GETS NAKED” (I’m substituting XXX for the name of the church...I don’t want to give them any more publicity than I have to).
1 Peter 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?