Reformed. Christianity. Evangelism. Modern Culture.
Well you probably think I am kidding. Where in scripture and church history do we find stripper poles being erected in the sanctuary in church during worship and preaching of the word? Well…
A local pastor said he put a stripper pole on his pulpit to help preach his message.It may raise some eyebrows, but Pastor Mike Scruggs said he’s hoping it will save some marriages.Scruggs admits he’s anything but a traditional pulpit preacher.”We try to make it relevant, straightforward.
We don’t sugarcoat anything,” he said.On Friday, Scruggs’ sermon series drew a packed house at the Light of Word Ministries on Colerain Avenue.”We talk about sex. We talk about drugs. We talk about faith. We talk about relationships…, things that people are dealing with on a day-to-day basis,” Scruggs said.The series of sermons is called the “Battle of the Sexes,” with some rather interesting visual props.”On one side, (we’ll have) what men want or desire: your stripper pole, your video games, your sports,” Scruggs said. “The woman’s side (is) orderly, neat. It’s all about love, candy, teddy bears, roses and being wined and dined and cherished.”Scruggs said his church focuses on real situations and brings godly solutions.”We push the envelope, that’s true,” he said.
“Don’t take it out of context. Some people say, ‘He’s going to hell. He’s wrong.’ We want to talk about it. We don’t want them to guess at it, assume it’s wrong. It’s right. We want to talk about it.”The church has also been involved in interesting outreach programs, like a free gas giveaway and a gun buyback project.Scruggs said his mother is a member of his church and she approves of his message.
When you have to look for approval from man for relevance in your messages be cautious and watch your step lest you get tripped by your own folly and gimmicks on your way down the pulpit. Look how we scrape the bottom of the barrel for dregs of sensuous sermon series and temporaral fads as though the gospel is not powerful enough. Yes, it is offensive but we are to proclaim it as it is.
If we remain faithful to the gospel and trust God to open hearts and change lives by the power of His Holy Spirit then like Paul you will say:
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. 1 Cor 2:-5
Hey pastor, what you use to win them will be what you use to keep them.
A Twisted Crown of Thorns ® 
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Reblogged this on Captivated by Christ and commented:
Just another sad example of being so “relevant” that the true message of the Gospel is buried under gimmicks and gadgets. Friends, the Gospel and God’s undiluted Word is always relevant…He doesn’t need the assistance of these kind of props.
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