Last week, three very different events reminded me of the problems. A recently disgraced former minister reappeared, ready for the conference circuit. An influential ministry brand published a new creed, seeing the liturgy of the church as a yet untapped area for product placement. And remember when I averred that parts of Protestant evangelicalism seemed to be run by the Mob? Well, soon it could be official as Mark Driscoll, fallen megachurch pastor, found himself the subject of a RICO indictment.
Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.
I share brother Trueman’s pessimism, but it ought to be noted that disagraceful pastors have inhabited fundamental pulpits for the better part of a century. We have a lot to do before we can claim our position as lovers of the Word and the Gospel, but any difference of today vs. 1930 is a matter of degrees, not principle.
There is one unpardonable sin that fundamentalist Pastors haven’t fallen victim to. We usually don’t post glamor shots of ourselves on our blogs or church websites. Go to Google Images and search for “Matt Chandler.” Search for “Tullian (aka ‘Billy Graham’s Adulterous Grandson’).”
“Hip” and “relevant” glamor shots abound. We haven’t quite gone down that road yet …
Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.
I don’t know what it’s like now, but I remember the church pages in Sword of the Lord that features pictures of pastors that were 20 years old at the time……..and then there were the toupees.
"Some things are of that nature as to make one's fancy chuckle, while his heart doth ache." John Bunyan
And it is true: fundamentalists tend not to advertise their good looks. Some, like me, don’t have much to advertise. Maybe if I got a toupee and girdle? But, then again, those big churches don’t have carry-in dinners.
Discussion
NewMore . . .
Trueman continued:
Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.
NewA caution
I share brother Trueman’s pessimism, but it ought to be noted that disagraceful pastors have inhabited fundamental pulpits for the better part of a century. We have a lot to do before we can claim our position as lovers of the Word and the Gospel, but any difference of today vs. 1930 is a matter of degrees, not principle.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
NewOne thing . . .
There is one unpardonable sin that fundamentalist Pastors haven’t fallen victim to. We usually don’t post glamor shots of ourselves on our blogs or church websites. Go to Google Images and search for “Matt Chandler.” Search for “Tullian (aka ‘Billy Graham’s Adulterous Grandson’).”
“Hip” and “relevant” glamor shots abound. We haven’t quite gone down that road yet …
Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.
NewFlattering Pictures
I don’t know what it’s like now, but I remember the church pages in Sword of the Lord that features pictures of pastors that were 20 years old at the time……..and then there were the toupees.
"Some things are of that nature as to make one's fancy chuckle, while his heart doth ache." John Bunyan
NewRephrase . . .
Maybe we just don’t do glamor shots as well.
Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.
NewSilk Purses
Fundamentalists also don’t have as much natural material to work with.
"Some things are of that nature as to make one's fancy chuckle, while his heart doth ache." John Bunyan
NewGood Article
Good article! I think he pretty much nailed it.
And it is true: fundamentalists tend not to advertise their good looks. Some, like me, don’t have much to advertise. Maybe if I got a toupee and girdle? But, then again, those big churches don’t have carry-in dinners.
"The Midrash Detective"