“Then there are those who do have sex, like Jill, a Wheaton College grad who lost her virginity in the Billy Graham Center.” (from “Sex and the Single Evangelical”)
“Then there are those who do have sex, like Jill, a Wheaton College grad who lost her virginity in the Billy Graham Center.” (from “Sex and the Single Evangelical”)
This guy’s complaining bothers me a bit. I understand that sexuality is something that needs to be talked about…but I don’t think that Christians are “turning a blind eye” as he says. I think we’re just not out policing everyone and banging down doors everytime we hear what may be the sound of sexual pleasure. I mean, it’s something that Christians know isn’t okay outside of marriage (I think that point is pretty clear)…but they need to step forward and get help. Or get an accountablity group or something. I’m not sure exactly what this guy wants…more discussion?
Or perhaps I come from a Christian community that was a bit more open to talking about sex. I mean, Bethel did have “Sex in the D.C.” among many other places to get into the topic. So, I never felt like there wasn’t any support or discussion of the topic.
One more thing….
I think I get really frustrated when people complain about “The Church” and how the Church needs to do this and the Church needs to do that.
So often we forget that WE are part of the Church. When we see an opportunity for ministry or a place that needs more discussion…we have the responsibility to make it happen and put it into place.
My pastor said that people often come to him with great ideas of what the church could do. Then, when he says, “That’s a great idea! Go ahead and get some peole together and go for it!” People look at him like he’s crazy. They get this “I had the idea…you’re the one who should do it” attitude. The role of pastors is not to do every kind of ministry possible, but to educate and equip and encourage (the three E’s) the people in their body to carry out ministries and grow in their Faith.
I’m tired about hearing people whine about all of the things that are wrong with the Church, but who do little or nothing to put their ideas into action.
That’s funny — you’re describing half the stuff I write about in this blog — complaining about the church. And you’re absolutely right. If I don’t like how the church is doing something, I should fix it.
The thing I don’t like about the article is that the author does seem to refer to the church as an insitution rather than a body of believers. Although ‘preaching’ about sex and morality is not a bad thing, I wonder how effective it really is.
I think for real honest transformative conversations about sex to happen, they must happen between friends or in small communities within the larger body.
Strangely enough, because of that taking place, I found the above article, ICQed it to Kevin and the rest is history.
Here’s the link:
http://javiersampedro.blogspot.com/2004_02_01_javiersampedro_archive.html#107599999143735020
I don’t think it’s so much about “fixing” the Church. When you get an idea, it’s probably best to run it by some other believers and pray about it for awhile too to make sure that it is really something that the Church needs. I also think it’s better to not act on your own…that would just turn the Church into a bunch of people working on their own agendas. But, when a ministry opportunity arises, or an opportunity to make the Church more biblical, those should be attended to in a servant-like manner.