Whatever happened to the gospel being precious? Is this why Christ died? So we can “bring sexy back?”
First we had “I Hate Christians,” only to later be outdone with “XXXMas, “Pimpin’ Jesus,” and finally, “Meet Us At Church Naked,” by the shock-jock “preacher” Tadd Grandstaff, of Pine Ridge “Church.”
Now he has managed to actually out-shock all the shock with his newest gimmick to lure people to his crowd gathering with the desires of the flesh:
Chris Rosebrough at “A Little Leaven” demonstrated this quite well on his blog and also on his podcast. I recommend reading, listening, and giving “buyer beware” to those who may be deceived by this cheapening of the gospel.
Goat Herders and “Christian Voodoo”
For more on the Christmas series XXXMas and “Pimpin’ Jesus,” Chris also covered these back in December:
2008’s Worst Christmas Sermon Award
One of the worst ‘Christmas’ Sermons We’ve Ever Heard
For more historical coverage:
Filed under: Apologetics, Church Life, Emergent Church, Evangelism, Family, Purpose Driven Madness, Seeker Sensitive
Tony
You are right, this “goat herder” is wowing us with his coolness and new kind of Christian open mindedness. This gimmick driven ministry is a modern version of Dr. Schuler over 40 years ago, just repackaged to reach the spiritual lite-weights of today. Making disciples and passionate followers of Jesus, I doubt it. His gimmicks are probably not a successful bait and switch once he gets them in the building, I am sure he feeds them the same old spiritual fast food or baloney that he advertizes.
Pretty much nailed it Craig. Anthony Robbins would be proud, the apostle Paul nor Jesus would not.
tr
Hey Tony,
You’re exactly right, this is NOT what Christ died for. I would go so far as to say that this is not a case of a goat herder, because that implies that Tadd can see where he is leading his “flock.” But rather, this is a case of the blind leading the blind. Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 that, “The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” I do not know what God will do with so-called churches like Pine-Ridge, but I believe that in time, their “ministry” will be plucked up. You cannot, at least for long, stand on false teaching…you must stand firmly on the truth of the Word of God.
Micah you are right about the blind leading the blind it seems, but the Mormons have a long record of deceiving millions into false teachings.
This “cult of church-in-a-box planters” might have a longer run than you can imagine; it seems to tickle the ears well.
tr
[...] A few weeks ago, while driving my normal route, I noticed the billboard advertising Pine Ridge’s new “sermon” series “Bringing Sexy Back.” I wrote about that on my blog at: “More ‘Shock & Awe’ Heresy.” [...]
[...] More ‘Shock & Awe’ Heresy (Bringing Sexy Back?) [...]
I saw this on a link – let me tell you it is because of people like YOU that I am quitting the ministry. The church in general does not give a rip about the lost. And evidently neither do you. Paul said that I might become all things to all people that I might reach some.
Well, you have a mission ahead of you and that is bashing every other church. So go ahead, and hopefully if you make it to heaven my mansion won’t be near yours.
“Quitting pastor,”
So let me see if I understand you:
You are in the ministry, but do not understand what Paul meant by that statement and think he meant becoming like the world to win converts is justified; and you do not understand the ministry of apologetics; and you are blaming people you don’t know on your quitting the ministry; and you think your last line comes from a clean heart?
As I said on the other post, if you wish to discuss the merits of this post and specifically what you disagree with that I’ve said, I’ll be glad to dialog with you on those merits. However, if you just want to snipe and bash me for posting well documented issues, I’ll decline.
tr
Those Jesus actually calls as pastors could never quit ministry. So it’s be best for this hireling because he obviously wouldn’t care for the flock if he’s a quitter.
As I have often told people, the underserved privilege I have to serve His sheep as pastor isn’t a job to me, it’s who I am in Christ.
“Quitting Pastor”. Glad you’re quitting, because you obviously were never really a pastor, and maybe you never were really born again. Hmmm? Think about it.
I submit the following to those who “criticize the criticizers” and to those who don’t understand the Biblical precedent for publicly confronting public error:
Christian Research Network posted a satire article that supposes that If Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians was published in Christianity Today today, what the highly possible comments might be. It is satire and humorous, but it makes an excellent point that I believe many miss today.
Satire: If Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians was published in Christianity Today today
“Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. ”
-1 Timothy 5:19-21
Some helpful commentaries on this verse:
Rebuking an Elder
[...] I think I have deja vu all over again! He asks the question: What do you think? Good strategy? Or bad [...]