Well, I Was Asked!

 Asked about what you may be asking yourself. Well I'm glad that you asked. Not sure if you are aware of the men's conference controversy that took place last weekend at a church in Missouri. The controversy started with the opening "entertainment", and then being called out by a guest pastor who followed afterword. So I have been asked my opinion about it. So, I'll give my thoughts on what happened.

Stronger Men's Conference is a men's conference held every year at James River Church in Springfield, MO. It is advertised as a men's conference that exists to "inspire and equip men to live out God’s vision for manhood to be the husbands, fathers, and leaders God has called them to be,".

The opening entertainment to kick of the event was a shirtless, sword swallowing dude, who was swinging from a pole. Hmmm.

My first thought upon watching a little of the video is, wait, what? What am I watching? This is a church men's conference?? I don't know about you, but how does this kind of act help men to become stronger? Inspire them to become better husbands, fathers and leaders that God has called them too?

If I paid money go to this conference and I saw this, I would have walked out and demanded a refund. Not because I am a prude. It's just that this kind of act doesn't belong in a church. If you were on the strip in Vegas, then okay. But it wasn't!

Say I am a new Christian. God brought me out of sexual sin. Pornography & lust while attending female strip clubs. I go to this conference to get inspired to become a better man and I see this going on. Instead of women being topless and dancing on a pole, it's a dude, in church. I would think that the church is acting just like the world! Not much different. How hypocritical. Don't go stare and lust after topless woman, but we are going to present a topless dude using a pole for your entertainment. 

Romans 2:3 The Voice

3 Here’s what is happening: you attack and criticize others and then turn around to commit the same offenses yourselves! Do you think you will somehow dodge God’s judgment?

Romans 14:21 New Living Translation

21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.

The Pastor that spoke after this act was finished, called it out. He said there was a Jezebel spirit during that act. I don't disagree with him. If he didn't say anything, it would seem that he agreed with it happening. He obviously didn't!

So my two cents are this. In everything that we do, we must honor Christ. Did this shirtless, pole dancing, sword swallower man honor God? To me he didn't and neither did the church.

1 Corinthians 10:31 New Living Translation

31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

God Bless.

Rev. Kev.