Porn Sunday - I Still Can't Believe It

I Googled for other blogger's thoughts on Porn Sunday and was surprised that the majority of what I found agreed with the guys behind xxxchurch.com and supported their ministry. I did come across some though that do question the methods, as I do.

I just don't understand the reasoning. Yes, I know that pornography is a baaaaaaaaaaaaaad problem. Yes, I would agree that the subject is "taboo" in the majority of churches, and I would say that any church not dealing with the "taboo" is not a relevant church. Pornography is sin. It destroys marriages, and it can destroy lives. I would even say that pornography is epidemic and when one considers the images we see today on television, album and magazine covers, or in fashion, it is obvious that sexual titillation is the main goal because, unfortunately, sex sells.

It has been argued that "Jesus ate with 'sinners'" and that is supposed to validate the methods of xxxchurch.com and their documentary "Missionary Positions" which is shown in the evening portion of Porn Sunday. Jesus did hangout with the "gluttons and the sinners", however, he did not encourage them in their behavior through shock value, or by handing the woman at the well another man! He was the sinless example, and remained that way in every environment he was in. People were drawn to him where He was at because of Who He was and what He taught, NOT because he "tricked" them into visiting his website XXXjesuschrist.com, showed the woman at the well what "Missionary Positions" is all about, or advertised his hangout with a 25ft inflatable Wally the Weiner! Come on, do these antics really please God?

I do believe Christians need to be courageous and meet non-believers where they are at in life. We can't avoid leaving our comfort zone if we do the work of Christ. Katie and I recently went to a bar, and we did get to see someone come to know the Lord a little more than he did when he showed up to the bar that night. We were in a bar, amongst the "sinners", yet, we did not resort to using the "tactics" of the people there to get a message across. We did not start passing out beer cans labeled "Jesus loves alcoholics" too...yes, he does love alcoholics, but to the non-believer what kind of message would those antics send? What kind of message is this Porn Sunday sending to non-believers? As I read and explore the XXXchurch.com website, while one can certainly read "testimonies" of people caught in pornography, or are now free from it, I don't read a lot about their growing relationship with Jesus Christ, or how they came to know Him at all! If they have, why isn't that presented in a more celebratory way on their site then?

I do not believe putting the images that one sees at the xxxchurch.com site in front of a porn addict does anything but encourage more impure thoughts. What are they replacing those impure thoughts with? The "doctrine" of the xxxchurch which says "uhhhhhhhhhhhhh, we believe what Billy Graham believes." ??? Uhhhhhhhhhhh, thanks guys, I see you stand on a firm foundation. Oh, you'll probably play with the term "firm" in that last statement. Yes, the xxxchurch loves the "shock and awe" campaign!

Talk about the evils of porn, and how God intends the sexual act to be. Download and install Internet filters to protect your family. Monitor what kids are listening to and watching on tv. I don't think we should learn to be Godly by incorporating ungodly images or ungodly language.

I can admire the mission of the pastors of XXXchurch.com, but it is difficult, if not impossible, for me to support their methods.

A list of thoughts on this subject from other bloggers, both pro and con:

Porn Sunday at Hit the Back Button to Move Forward and the comments section has points of view pro and con.

Brian is all for it!

I found this quote from a Nashville resident, s-townMike, the blogger at Enclave, interesting:

"...give these evangelicals--who are just a little too preoccupied with sex--much more room and they may just spin "Palm Sunday" to mean something uncouth."

Matthew Paul Turner seems to appreciate the effort of the guys at XXXchurch.com.

my Blue trike Life also supports Porn Sunday and many of his commenters do as well.

A quote from Damian Alexander in the comments of a post at Ethos:

"went to see the movie. it sucked. where was the story? where was the ministry? where was the point of this movie? I'm not sure how on earth this movie is going to aid in stopping porn. i think the People's Church would do itself good to keep preach Jesus and him crucified ... "

I have already pointed people to Ron's thoughts at Shanktified!