Pastor Defends Calling Wife 'Smokin' Hot' in Prayer Before NASCAR Race

Well, I’m glad HE thinks so (that his wife is “smokin’ hot”), but such expressions of that opinion are better offered to his wife in private. Offered publicly certainly creates an opportunity for dissent! It’s one thing to express public gratitude for one’s wife (certainly commendable—beats the puddin’ out of all the wife-bashing jokes!), but is it really appropriate in any venue to call attention to the “sexiness” factor?

As bothersome as the content of Pastor Nelms’ prayer is, what’s more troublesome is his driving motivation: “I want to get somebody’s attention, so that’s been our desire every time we’ve been up there, to try to make an impact on the fans….” So, he really wasn’t praying; he was publicizing.

About as man centered as it gets…

I’ve seen his wife—he’s delusional!!

(joke, people; just too “there” to walk away from) :)

Hey, I’ve got an idea! Maybe Aaron could start a sister site: “The Pastor’s Wife: Hot or Not?” Then all of us fundy pastors could post pics of our wives, & all the world could vote whether or not they’re hot! Bet the advertising revenue would be huge! Of course, the agreement with the posting pastors would have to be they can express thanks for their “hot” wife only if a majority agrees.

The statement in his prayer is a quote of Will Farrell’s character in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, which is a comedy about NASCAR. (I haven’t seen it myself.) So what he’s trying to do, during a prayer no less, is say, “Hey, NASCAR crowd, I may be a pastor, but I’m cool just like you! I’ve seen that Will Farrell movie, too! Please like me!”

I enjoyed the Prayer as a NASCAR fan and someone that has seen Talladega Nights more then I should admit on this forum. It does help bring awareness of Church and I think the conversation is postive. We are discussing a prayer that at worse praised a man’s wife for being sexy. We need only look to the “Song of Songs” in the Bible to see that God doesn’t nessarily frown on praising the opposite sex given the context. I’m more offended by the run of the mill boring prayer but I respect that others disagree.

[jlamarcrowder] I enjoyed the Prayer as a NASCAR fan and someone that has seen Talladega Nights more then I should admit on this forum. It does help bring awareness of Church and I think the conversation is postive. We are discussing a prayer that at worse praised a man’s wife for being sexy. We need only look to the “Song of Songs” in the Bible to see that God doesn’t nessarily frown on praising the opposite sex given the context. I’m more offended by the run of the mill boring prayer but I respect that others disagree.

Yeah, I can see where Song of Solomon 4:1 FF and “my wife is smokin’ hot!” are practical synonyms. One thing we know for sure….the NSV (that would be the Nascar Standard Version) is strong on dynamic equivalency.

I’ve had a stomach bug for a couple days, and after reading the online aricles about the prayer, I think my recovery will take longer. What … in … the … world!!!!

[Lee]

[jlamarcrowder] I enjoyed the Prayer as a NASCAR fan and someone that has seen Talladega Nights more then I should admit on this forum. It does help bring awareness of Church and I think the conversation is postive. We are discussing a prayer that at worse praised a man’s wife for being sexy. We need only look to the “Song of Songs” in the Bible to see that God doesn’t nessarily frown on praising the opposite sex given the context. I’m more offended by the run of the mill boring prayer but I respect that others disagree.

Yeah, I can see where Song of Solomon 4:1 FF and “my wife is smokin’ hot!” are practical synonyms. One thing we know for sure….the NSV (that would be the Nascar Standard Version) is strong on dynamic equivalency.

LOL…I’m surprised such a Bible translation isn’t already out “NASCAR Standard Version” I’d have to buy it just for the novelty.

I’m a bit surprised we’re calling what this guy said “prayer.”

One can only hope he’s as specific in his actual intercession for others as he was in enumerating the sponsors.

EDIT: Duh. That’s exactly what Bryan was saying.

One of the most irrelevant things anyone could ever say:

I enjoyed the Prayer

Just think about that for a minute.

It does help bring awareness of Church…

But what church is being identified. Certainly not the gathering of saints called to holiness and worship like we see depicted in Revelation. There is no place for such irreverence in the presence of God.

This is simply a prayer that was designed to please men instead of seek the face of God. There is a seismic shift away from God and His Word in our land. Here, a Pastor has an opportnuity to pray to God while millions watch, and he offers nothing to God that could be of help to his needy audience and this needy Nation.

Here is what we need:

[ Colossians 4:12-13] Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and for them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hieropolis.

May God help us to have a great zeal for the spiritual needs of others since in the end, that is all that matters.

http://www.bpsports.net/bpcolumn.asp?ID=712] An irreverent NASCAR prayer by Brett Maragni

According to Time magazine, Nelms said he wanted “to show non-Christians that church folks know how to have fun, too.” I have read the New Testament several times and have yet to come across the “show them God is fun” evangelistic strategy.

To stoop to this kind of approach in evangelism is to turn our backs upon the power of the message itself. Instead of trying to show the world we are like them, let’s show them that we’ve got what they need: forgiveness of sins. If they are not interested in that, then they are not ripe for the Gospel. The biblical approach to evangelism is to declare the powerful gospel of Jesus Christ, which exposes the wicked deeds of those who are lost and points them to the wondrous and amazing grace of God in the cross and resurrection of Jesus.

For the pastors who pray along these lines, the NASCAR crowds probably won’t hoot and holler, and the interviews on FOX News surely won’t follow. Among the hearers, many will find it foolish, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God.

Thank you Brett!