Last sunday morning a local pastor said the F thing in church.
This was on his blog on monday morning:
Hey I have to apologize. Last week I quoted a totally unchurched, godless, careless sinner who said the Courageous movie we are about to play again is an “eff’n good movie.” ‘Cept he didn’t say “eff’n” – he used the full extent of the word.
I thought hmm, that was a rave review from someone who didn’t know God or even call himself a churchgoer, but as soon as I said it (not the full version, of course, just “Ff’” part) in church last Sunday am service, I thought — “ah…whoops, shouldn’t have said that.”
There were many people not paying attention to what I was saying at the time, as we were just getting going on the announcements and they were looking down and shuffling papers, and talking – and then I said it. Boy, their heads popped up immediately, and I had their attention alright!
Anyway, I do apologize. Didn’t need to say it; didn’t even plan on saying it; just came out as a quote. And, it was stupid, and could’ve easily caused some offense to take place. Absolutely no one has mentioned it in any way as being offensive. But hey, they could all be “gracing” out on me. So…
Please accept my apologies.
I would be asking to speak with him in his office, and inquiring if this were going to be a new trend in church because I have felt it unsafe to continue if he is going to fail to edit such quotes before he used them. Further, I would be wondering why he was quoting a sinner to endorse the movie.
That is what I would do if I were a member of his church, which will never happen making this an exercise in futility.
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I am an Apostolic Pentecostal. Apostolic in teaching, and Pentecostal in experience.
Last sunday morning a local pastor said the F thing in church.
This was on his blog on monday morning:
Hey I have to apologize. Last week I quoted a totally unchurched, godless, careless sinner who said the Courageous movie we are about to play again is an “eff’n good movie.” ‘Cept he didn’t say “eff’n” – he used the full extent of the word.
I thought hmm, that was a rave review from someone who didn’t know God or even call himself a churchgoer, but as soon as I said it (not the full version, of course, just “Ff’” part) in church last Sunday am service, I thought — “ah…whoops, shouldn’t have said that.”
There were many people not paying attention to what I was saying at the time, as we were just getting going on the announcements and they were looking down and shuffling papers, and talking – and then I said it. Boy, their heads popped up immediately, and I had their attention alright!
Anyway, I do apologize. Didn’t need to say it; didn’t even plan on saying it; just came out as a quote. And, it was stupid, and could’ve easily caused some offense to take place. Absolutely no one has mentioned it in any way as being offensive. But hey, they could all be “gracing” out on me. So…
Please accept my apologies.
Any thoughts?
All the sudden, we're getting the F word in churches; multiple. Hmm
I would be asking to speak with him in his office, and inquiring if this were going to be a new trend in church because I have felt it unsafe to continue if he is going to fail to edit such quotes before he used them. Further, I would be wondering why he was quoting a sinner to endorse the movie.
That is what I would do if I were a member of his church, which will never happen making this an exercise in futility.
I think I have to agree with you, Jay.
Why quote a sinner....like a sinner would be the expert on judging a "christian" movie?
I would not much like that myself, but I would really be upset if he said that in front of my kids.
There has been more than one occasion that we have left a service with our children because someone found it necessary to go into detail about shooting up drugs - how wonderful it felt, and they were immediately hooked etc.... even a young girl will gladly give sex after a fix etc. etc...
__________________ "It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity." Dave Barry 2005
I am a firm believer in the Old Paths
Articles on such subjects as "The New Birth," will be accepted, whether they teach that the new birth takes place before baptism in water and Spirit, or that the new birth consists of baptism of water and Spirit. - THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD Dec. 1945
"It is doubtful if any Trinitarian Pentecostals have ever professed to believe in three gods, and Oneness Pentecostals should not claim that they do." - Daniel Segraves
Lord knows any of us that speak publicly for any long period of time will eventually mess up and say something we shouldn't have. Typically, there is much more grace to something being said spontaneously, than something that had some forethought, and in this case, it would seem he knew he was going to at least quote a "sinner's" view of the movie.
That all being said, the "mishap" was done publicly, then the apology should be in the same forum and setting as the mistake. Unless it is a trend, I'd afford him the same mercy and grace I would want myself... but I was taught a long time ago, if the foot was placed in the mouth in the pulpit in front of a crowd, then remove it in the pulpit in front of that same crowd as well.