Big Is The New Small

I’m gonna get straight to the point; I am not trying to sound holier than thou, but I’m gonna keep it real as it relates to Cussing Christians.  I’m not talking about words like sucks, screwed, freakin’… I’m talking about the four letter words and their cussing cousins.  There is no need for me to share them, because we’re all grown folks and all have probably heard or spewed them at some time or another ourselves.  I personally don’t use them, nor do I don’t judge people who do; however I do feel as Christ followers we have a responsibility to encourage people to do better.   Doing better can come in the form of encouraging our Christian brothers and sisters to use better language.   The expectations and standards aren’t the same for my Non-Christian friends.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:9-12

I have been around too many Cussing Christians and Cussing Pastors; all I have to say is we can and should do better.  Salty springs don’t produce fresh water and salty words don’t produce fresh fruit if you know what I mean. Do you want to be salty water or fresh water?

Share your thoughts on Cussing Christians and Cussing Pastors… Are words like sucks, screwed and freakin’ acceptable?

“Christians With A Tattoo Is Not Taboo” seems to be the place that society has landed; especially within pockets of the Christian Community.  As a Pastor a common question that I’m asked is “Should Christians Get Tattoos?”   The answer to this question is an argument that has been debated thoroughly with people outlining scripture for both points of view.  I personally don’t have a problem with tattoos; however I believe that we should always use good judgement, which applies to what we permanently tattoo on our bodies. 

I got a tattoo when I was in college and it was relative to my Fraternity.  Although, my tattoo is very appropriate and still relevant; at times I have considered getting something added to it, or over it.  I have come to the realization that my tattoo represents part of my story and my journey so I have left it alone. (I personally wouldn’t get anything below the short-sleeve line… however there are some great-looking sleeve tats, just not my deal)

There are a lot of church staff members, worship leaders, youth pastors, senior pastors… at my church and churches around the country that have tattoos;  some of which are evangelistic in nature and others are not.  If you have never seen the Director of Service Programming at Buckhead Church in Atlanta, Mr. Ragamuffin Soul Carlos Whittaker’s  LA Ink segment you should check it out here! 

Times are changing, church leaders and church congregants have spoken and they’re saying: “Christians With A Tattoo Is Not Taboo!”

To Tat or No To Tat… That Is The Question?  Share your thoughts/opinions!  Do you have a tattoo?

I am going to just rant a little bit this morning… so please excuse my run on-ranting sentence:  I will be honest, I had no idea that porn was as enormous of a problem as it is prior to being in full-time vocational ministry, I worked in the prison system or some facet of corrections for nearly 13 years prior to ministry and porn was not discussed as a matter of fact inmates would stay as far from sexual problems as they could because once you were labeled a sex offender or had sex problems, then life behind the prison walls was a little more difficult for you, if you know what I mean; since I have been in ministry and as recent as yesterday, I have had countless couples come into my office, and a wife sitting there with her heart ripped out because of her husbands porn addiction, secrets, lies, deception, double lives, infidelity, dishonesty, breaking of the covenant they have established before God… we all have our struggles, pornography just doesn’t happen to be one of mine, which may of played into my naivety years ago as to the degree of this problem, some statistics say that 50% of christian men struggle with pornography, more than half of the men attending the Christian men’s Promise Keeper rallies admitted to viewing pornography, and 37 percent of Christian pastors admitted to being addicted to porn, this is a problem, guys- if you are struggling go talk to someone today, expose it, tell your wife; pastors- talk about it, preach about it, let your congregation know its real and they are not alone, go check out XXX Church’s website, get some accountability, you are not keeping this from God… He already knows; below is a 60 second trailer for a porn documentary “Somebody’s Daughter” and this is an article about the documentary, you can watch the Porn Pastor Craig Gross from XXX Church’s message that he did on National Porn Sunday here; fellas confess your sins to another, seek prayer and begin to be healed… this porn crap is pissing me off! making me mad! I’m finished ranting for now… feel free to join in!

Last year I had blogged a post that asked a question very similar to the one I’m asking today; the post was entitled “Secular Music In The Church” which provided for some lively discussion.  Today’s question is simply:

Should Christians listen to secular music?  Do you listen to secular music?  Why/Why Not… Discuss!

On another note, I have been receiving e-mails, DM’s, recommendations… suggesting questions to ask during this weeks blog series.  Those recommendations have included a wide range of topics, such as: Women showing their clevage, low rise jeans, women showing their thongs, tithe 10% of gross or net, should pastors drive nice cars, how much money should pastors make…   I have decided to allow you guys/gals to pick tomorrows question.  In adition to answering todays question you can recommend what question you would like to see answered tomorrow.  Thanks in advance for your recommendations!

According to the blog rating system this blog is Rated “R” and this rating was determined based on the presence of the following words: sex (16x) dangerous (6x)  and abortion (1x).  I thought this was a family friendly blog… well not according to this unscientific rating system; which poses another question in itself, is there a scientific rating system.

This got me thinking about the whole “Rated-R” thing and whether or not it is appropriate for Christians and Pastors to watch “Rated-R” movies.  I know plenty of people who will not touch “Rated-R” movies with a ten foot pole and that is definitely their prerogative.   Personally,  I used to be a Warden and worked in the Corrections System for over 13 years.  According to the rating standards, my job would have definitely been considered ”Rated-R,” as I witnessed, experienced and heard things that would surpass any “R” rating.   I have friends who have been in the military and law enforcement who will attest to similar accounts in their jobs.  Since I have been in ministry I have to counsel couples and individuals on a regular basis that share some “Rated-R” stories and “Rated-R” experiences.

Although they’re not necessarily  my first choice, I personally will watch a “Rated-R” movie and I believe that as we grow in our relationship with Christ some things will be more convicting than others.  We are all affected in different ways by different things and I believe we have to use discernment and good personal judgement.  Ratings, Ratings, Ratings… I had someone ask me before, what I thought the Bible was Rated?  Hmm

Should Pastors, Christians… watch “Rated-R” Movies?  Do You… Share your thoughts!

Christians Make Me Sick when they are judgmental, hypocritical, self-centered, weird and just plain stupid.  You know the ones who think it’s all about them, their style of worship, their style of music, their style of dress…   They only want to hang out with people who look like them, people who act like them and people who have the same supercilious attitude they have.  Heaven forbid them being willing interact with prostitutes, bar-hoppers, addicts, homeless, poor, prison inmates, individuals whom are of “The World…” you know, the least of these.

Do you know some Christians who make you sick?  Are you sometimes that Christian that makes yourself sick?  Personally, I am sometimes that Christian who makes myself sick; however I try to be that Christian that honors what Christ teaches, which is the antithesis of everything I have just discussed.  Here are some thoughts and questions to ponder:

• When was the last time you had a conversation with someone who was poor, homeless, drug-addicted, incarcerrated and “Of the World?”
• When was the last time that you or your church contributed your time, resources or money towards doing something significant for a needy part of your community?
• When you go to church is it all about what you can get, or is it about what you can give?
• Does the term “Seeker Church” seem weird or refer to someonelse’s ministry and not yours?
• Have you shared your faith with someone today or this week?

It’s time to get sick and tired of sick and tired Christians; however at the end of the day we must pray that God will change their our heart.  Do Christians Make You Sick?  Share your thoughts!