Go to Church, and improve you life

[deep]

hooray!

I am all for

spreading the "good news"

"Christians Should Be Able To Be On Fire & Sexy"



(Portland) - Wednesday night worshippers flocked to the Easthill Church in Gresham to hear the word of God. But unlike its traditional Sunday service, the word on this night takes on a slightly different tone.

Instead of talking New Testament, Pastors Ted and Dianne Roberts talk sex. The title of tonight’s sermon-“Light My Fire”. It’s the first in a month series of sermons led by the husband and wife team. They call the series “Sexy Christians”.

“Everybody’s talking about sex…its part of our culture. So we need to address it within the context of a faith…says Pastor Ted Roberts. Pastor Robert’s wife says, “I think it helps us to talk about it because I think sex is something you usually do than talk about.”

The non-traditional sermons are part of the growing trend among churches across the country to address human sexuality. The Roberts do so by mixing Christianity with a little comedy.

Sondra Montcrieff who’s a church member says she’s excited and “Christians should be able to be on fire and be sexy and beautiful…”

Members of this congregation say they look forward to this series of sermons on sex and taking lessons learned in church home.

Paul and Wendy Schindler, who are also church members say, “…You learn something new. Learn it, try it, and practice at home, not in church though, right?

 

[Angela Harlem]

I doubt God is a voyeur. I also cringe at the thought of Him watching, or being 'there', and same goes for a bunch of church folk. There's no context in faith. It's a closed doors business.

Sheesh.

 

[U2democrat]

I would be scared to death if my pastor started talking about sex because he's my dad!

 

[coemgen]

what's so wrong about talking about sex in church?

 

[80sU2isBest]

what's so wrong about talking about sex in church?

If they want to have this kind of study, you know - "Celebrating God's gift of sexuality in the marriage", they really should do it as a specific Bible study instead of as a series of sermons. The reason? It leaves a lot of people out of the loop: singles, kids, teenagers, etc. As a single person, I know I wouldn't want to hear even one series on this, much less a series of sermons.

 

[Liesje]

If they want to have this kind of study, you know - "Celebrating God's gift of sexuality in the marriage", they really should do it as a specific Bible study instead of as a series of sermons. The reason? It leaves a lot of people out of the loop: singles, kids, teenagers, etc. As a single person, I know I wouldn't want to hear even one series on this, much less a series of sermons.

But, I'm assuming they want singles, kids teenagers - all fellow Christians who have the potential to become sexually active in ways that the church condones - to listen to their message because it will at some point in their lives become relevant. That's what being pro-active is all about, right? You teach kids about sex and reproduction when they are in fifth grade, not when they get married. Why would you not want people to feel comfortable approaching it from a Christian point of view?

I'm not saying I'm interested in these types of sermons either, but you're reasoning doesn't really make sense. It sounds more like it simply doesn't interest you, but that doesn't mean it can't be relevant.

 

[80sU2isBest]

But, I'm assuming they want singles, kids teenagers - all fellow Christians who have the potential to become sexually active in ways that the church condones - to listen to their message because it will at some point in their lives become relevant. That's what being pro-active is all about, right? You teach kids about sex and reproduction when they are in fifth grade, not when they get married. Why would you not want people to feel comfortable approaching it from a Christian point of view?

If these sermons were simply along the lines of "God's plans for Sexuality", a discussion of the way God intended for sexuality to be, and the proper Christian response to it, that would be different. But that is not how the article paints these sermons.

Look at the words used to describe this series of sermons:

Light My Fire
Sexy Christians
Christians should be able to be on fire and be sexy
"You learn something new. Learn it, try it, and practice at home, not in church though, right?"

These sermons are most definitely intended for the married couples in the church.

Now, how is any of that relevant to kids, unmarried teenagers and singles, none of whom the church actually wants to engage in sex?

I'm not saying I'm interested in these types of sermons either, but you're reasoning doesn't really make sense. It sounds more like it simply doesn't interest you, but that doesn't mean it can't be relevant.

It is not relevant to me. Not on any level. I am not married, nor do I want to be. If I were to change my mind, and I wanted to take a "Christian sex ed class", then I could go out and find such a class. I am not against churches having such classes for those who are interested.

But the worship service is not the time and place for these topics, because

(1) It does leave a large portion of the congregation "out of the loop".

(2) I am of the belief that every sermon needs to have a strong element of evangelism in it, because there are many unsaved visitors that come to the church. How do you inject evangelism into a sermon that is all about celebrating sexuality in the Christian marriage? I believe that most unsaved people would see no use for that sermon, and would not visit again.

 

[BVS]

Sex is a gift from God, the fact that anyone would see it in any other way baffles me.

Like any other gift it can be abused and misused.

 

[coemgen]

Sex is a gift from God, the fact that anyone would see it in any other way baffles me.

Like any other gift it can be abused and misused.

Exactly. It's because we don't talk about it that we have all these problems. (Well, that's one of the reasons. I'd argue the biggest.)

I agree with LivLuv, too. Chances are youth/singles/whoever are going to have sex at one point in their lives, or at the very least have sexual feelings. To not talk about this is dangerous. Christians need to realize sex is important and, as BVS said, a gift from God. If that's the case, what do we do with it? He created us as sexual beings, what does that mean? These are big questions that demand answers.

 

[A_Wanderer]

Sex is a gift from God, the fact that anyone would see it in any other way baffles me.

Like any other gift it can be abused and misused.

How tolerent

 

[redhotswami]

Sex is a gift from God

Anyone here read Theology of the Body by John Paul II?

It is brilliant stuff!

 

[Se7en]

Sex is a gift from God, the fact that anyone would see it in any other way baffles me.

no chance that the pleasurable aspects were simply an evolutionary addition to a basic reproductive act?

 

[AussieU2fanman]

no chance that the pleasurable aspects were simply an evolutionary addition to a basic reproductive act?

Stop reasoning and thinking for urself. It's a gift from God now shutup.

 

[80sU2isBest]

Sex is a gift from God, the fact that anyone would see it in any other way baffles me.

Like any other gift it can be abused and misused.

I'm sure you weren't referring to my post when you wrote this, because my post doesn't indicate anything different from your post.

 

[80sU2isBest]

This topic doesn't really concern those of you who openly admit that you want nothing to do with Christianity at all (you know who you are), so it'd be quite okay with me if you'd take your snide remarks elsewhere - they don't really add to this discussion.

 

[80sU2isBest]

Exactly. It's because we don't talk about it that we have all these problems. (Well, that's one of the reasons. I'd argue the biggest.)

I agree with LivLuv, too. Chances are youth/singles/whoever are going to have sex at one point in their lives, or at the very least have sexual feelings. To not talk about this is dangerous. Christians need to realize sex is important and, as BVS said, a gift from God. If that's the case, what do we do with it? He created us as sexual beings, what does that mean? These are big questions that demand answers.

Read my post again, and tell me if you think I'm advocating "not talking about sexuality".

 

[coemgen]

Did I mention your name?

 

[anitram]

I actually sort of agree with 80s here in that I'm not sure this has anything to do with the sermon. I don't think politics belong in sermons either, and I would think what people do in their bedrooms doesn't. I don't see why it's unreasonable that this would be offered in classes for couples - Churches run tons of these as it is, and it just seems like the proper place to do it.

Not because I think it offends or because sex is icky (I am after all, a leftist ) but because I don't see how it really relates to spreading the gospel.

Maybe I'm missing something.

 

[80sU2isBest]

Did I mention your name?

No you didn't, but I thought you were because there were only two of us who had voiced opposition to these sermons, and I was the one who had done the most recent posts. I apologize if it wasn't addressed to me.

 

[BVS]

I'm sure you weren't referring to my post when you wrote this, because my post doesn't indicate anything different from your post.

I wasn't.

 

[80sU2isBest]

I wasn't.

Great!

 

[verte76]

I think this is a good idea. Sex is part of marriage and family. It should be celebrated. In the Catholic Church marriage is a sacrament. It's not easy to keep marriage vows but it's doable.

 

[Luna]

well, sex is deffinitly something that should be discussed among christians, we are, after all, sexual beings just like the next person. and if we are to keep ourselves pure we have to understand our bodies and acknowledge its needs by understanding them not denying. but i strongly disaprove discussing it during worship time! it's something that should be discussed in smaler group, women to women and men to men.
duscussing it openly would perhaps disturb people like some of my friends from church who don't want to get married, and certanly it would make the weaker (and i do concider myself to be one of those ) to struggle....

 

[coemgen]

I actually sort of agree with 80s here in that I'm not sure this has anything to do with the sermon. I don't think politics belong in sermons either, and I would think what people do in their bedrooms doesn't. I don't see why it's unreasonable that this would be offered in classes for couples - Churches run tons of these as it is, and it just seems like the proper place to do it.

Not because I think it offends or because sex is icky (I am after all, a leftist ) but because I don't see how it really relates to spreading the gospel.

Maybe I'm missing something.

I see where you're coming from here. However, I don't think sermons are always about spreading the Gospel. That's certainly a huge part of being a Christian, but not the only part. The goal of any good church should be to help its people grow in their relationship with God, become well-rounded people and to help others enter into a relationship with God, through Christ. Since sex is a part of people's lives and part of how we relate to each other, I think it's important to talk about. Plus, many people have been sexually abused or are addicted to porn. These people may not attend a class for whatever reason. During the sermon they can hear about how sex is actually something sacred and beautiful God created to strengthen the relationship of a husband and wife, not what the world's making it out to be.

I believe when those of us who have made bad decisions regarding sex or those who have been hurt sexually learn that there's more to sex if it's done as God intended, it can strengthen a person's relationship with God, too.

Check out www.myspace.com/xxxchurch and you can read blogs from people in the porn industry who have left it because of this realization.

 

[redhotswami]

nicely put

 

[80sU2isBest]

Since sex is a part of people's lives and part of how we relate to each other, I think it's important to talk about. Plus, many people have been sexually abused or are addicted to porn. These people may not attend a class for whatever reason. During the sermon they can hear about how sex is actually something sacred and beautiful God created to strengthen the relationship of a husband and wife, not what the world's making it out to be.

Do you agree with the chucrch in the article presenting the sermonds that are described in the article?

 

[coemgen]

Well, you can't tell a whole lot from the article. I doubt they're getting up there and showing different positions and saying "Go home and try this."

They said they're talking about sex in the context of faith. Of course they could be doing something wrong with this, but I don't know all that they're doing.

 

[anitram]

But 80s point still stands - what proportion of the congregation will find that relevant at that point in their lives? My grandmother, a very devout woman, wouldn't care, to be honest and I can't imagine any of my elderly, widowed relatives would either.

To me, anything in a Church that's specific to groups of people should be outside of the sermon. That's why we have youth groups, couples counselling, mothers groups and so on.

 

[deep]

But 80s point still stands - what proportion of the congregation will find that relevant at that point in their lives? My grandmother, a very devout woman, wouldn't care, to be honest and I can't imagine any of my elderly, widowed relatives would either.

To me, anything in a Church that's specific to groups of people should be outside of the sermon. That's why we have youth groups, couples counselling, mothers groups and so on.

the article did say it was a Wednesday night service

not at the Sunday services

so I imagine elderly single people would not bother to attend

 

[Luna]

i can't see why, at my church everybody bothers to come