GOING THERE
Why Southern Baptists rock:
“We’re beginning a new sermon series that is scaring me to death,” pastor Jay Dennis said on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008, from the pulpit of First Baptist Church at the Mall.
The series was titled “Sex and the Saint.” For six Sundays, Dennis addressed what God says in His Word about sex. His goal: to combat a “stronghold” in the congregation that destroys Christian families and harms teenagers, singles and even children — the stronghold of sexual sin.
Dennis candidly conceded to the congregation that he would be criticized and misunderstood, that he would receive angry letters and emails, and that he fully expected to find himself in a spiritual battle.
He indeed experienced a heavy spiritual attack on his physical health and, though he said he still has his critics, Dennis told Baptist Press, “The response was overwhelmingly positive and opened a door for our members to communicate their concerns about pornography use among Christian men.
“I am convinced that God’s people, for the most part, want clear, biblical teachings on sexual issues.”
That sermon series at the Lakeland, Fla., church, and other sermons Dennis has preached since, have laid the foundation for a nationwide movement: Join One Million Men (join1millionmen.org), to be introduced in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention’s June 11-12 annual meeting in Houston. The movement calls Christian men to commit to sexual purity and, specifically, to protect themselves and their families from the devastation caused by pornography.
When’s the last time you heard a sermon against pornography or adultery? Or a sermon upholding a traditional, Biblical view of sex? I don’t recall ever hearing either one at my old Episcopal joint and with good reason.
Considering all the people there who were sleeping with other people there, the financial hit the parish would have taken from all the cancelled pledges would have been devastating.
And the fact of the matter was that many of the clergy there thought that it was perfectly natural if you wanted to bump uglies with your girlfriend/significant other/hook-up from the evening before and that traditional, Christian attitudes toward sex were bizarre at best and harmful at worst.
Holding the view that maybe you shouldn’t boink anyone you’re not married to would have gotten you labeled as weird and would have basically meant your ostracism although the parish would have been more than happy to continue to cash your pledge checks.
Is enjoyment of pornography sinful? Damn right. Will mainline Protestantism join or support the Southern Baptists in their effort? Are you high or something?
“We’re beginning a new sermon series that is scaring me to death,” pastor Jay Dennis said on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008, from the pulpit of First Baptist Church at the Mall.
The series was titled “Sex and the Saint.” For six Sundays, Dennis addressed what God says in His Word about sex. His goal: to combat a “stronghold” in the congregation that destroys Christian families and harms teenagers, singles and even children — the stronghold of sexual sin.
Dennis candidly conceded to the congregation that he would be criticized and misunderstood, that he would receive angry letters and emails, and that he fully expected to find himself in a spiritual battle.
He indeed experienced a heavy spiritual attack on his physical health and, though he said he still has his critics, Dennis told Baptist Press, “The response was overwhelmingly positive and opened a door for our members to communicate their concerns about pornography use among Christian men.
“I am convinced that God’s people, for the most part, want clear, biblical teachings on sexual issues.”
That sermon series at the Lakeland, Fla., church, and other sermons Dennis has preached since, have laid the foundation for a nationwide movement: Join One Million Men (join1millionmen.org), to be introduced in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention’s June 11-12 annual meeting in Houston. The movement calls Christian men to commit to sexual purity and, specifically, to protect themselves and their families from the devastation caused by pornography.
When’s the last time you heard a sermon against pornography or adultery? Or a sermon upholding a traditional, Biblical view of sex? I don’t recall ever hearing either one at my old Episcopal joint and with good reason.
Considering all the people there who were sleeping with other people there, the financial hit the parish would have taken from all the cancelled pledges would have been devastating.
And the fact of the matter was that many of the clergy there thought that it was perfectly natural if you wanted to bump uglies with your girlfriend/significant other/hook-up from the evening before and that traditional, Christian attitudes toward sex were bizarre at best and harmful at worst.
Holding the view that maybe you shouldn’t boink anyone you’re not married to would have gotten you labeled as weird and would have basically meant your ostracism although the parish would have been more than happy to continue to cash your pledge checks.
Is enjoyment of pornography sinful? Damn right. Will mainline Protestantism join or support the Southern Baptists in their effort? Are you high or something?
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