Pastor issues “hanky panky challenge”
- Posted on January 13, 2011
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- (11) comments
This isn't new... in fact Timmy Gibson at Mercy Church near Kansas City is issuing his "hanky panky challenge" for the sixth straight year.
Ed Young, Jr. did something similar last year, I believe... and then went on TV and told everyone he and his wife only missed one day of the challenge, if I remember right. (Ewwww, Ed... TMI for me).
The challenge: (now... this is for married couples only)... have sex (with your spouse... that's an important rule) EVERY DAY for a month during February.
OK... well... logistically speaking... I can see where this might not really be all that possible (or at least probable)... given cycles and all.
But to heck with the cycles... 28 days... in a row... consecutively. In honor of Valentine's Day.
According to an article at NBCActionNews.com, Pastor Timmy hopes that this will help create more intimacy in relationships.
If you're single, divorced, engaged, or just dating... there are no suggestions (at least listed in the article) of how you can make good use of your time during February. Just spend your time NOT having sex, I guess.
What do YOU think of these type of church campaigns? Original? Helpful? Old? Sensationalistic?
Will this achieve the goal of more intimacy? Or just create more fights? :)
If this was happening in your church, would you go along with it? Would you give it the old college try, so to speak?
I'd love to hear your thoughts...
Todd
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Timm Collins on Thu, January 13, 2011
I think Pastor Gibson is called to reach the people of KC, so that’s all that matters. What someone in Florida or California thinks about his church, campaigns or creativity doesn’t matter.
The only question is: does this help him feed his flock and reach new people? Since most of us aren’t there and don’t attend his church, we’re unqualified to comment.
I think we spend too much time judging and evaluating each others’ ministries.
“Who are you to judge someone else�s servant? To his own master he stands or falls.” Romans 14:4
“I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men�s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.” 1 Corinthians 4:3-5
Todd Rhoades on Thu, January 13, 2011
Timm,
I’m not sure about this individual pastor, but most that I’ve seen and heard around this subject are actually using this to gain media attention for their church. That’s probably evidenced by the local TV running a story on it. So… in that instance, it’s more about gaining attention… or at LEAST as much about gaining attention as increasing intimacy.
And I’ve seen quite a few TV interviews with pastors who are doing this kind of campaign. When it makes national headlines, then I think it’s fair to discuss in a forum like this. Not to judge or condemn, but to critically think through if this is a good thing overall, or not; and whether or not this would fly (or SHOULD fly) in your local church.
So… from that standpoint… I think it’s a totally legit subject.
What think everyone else?
Todd
Eric on Thu, January 13, 2011
A pastor encouraging husbands and wives to increase their intimacy…. I’ve no problem with that.
Is it sensational? I don’t understand how that can be considered sensational.
CS on Thu, January 13, 2011
Anyone remember the good ol’ days when the prospects of having sins forgiven and receiving everlasting life was enough to get people interested in churches?
—
CS
B. Baltimore Brown on Thu, January 13, 2011
If it’s not “sensational” then you’re not doing the challenge correctly.
Cliff on Thu, January 13, 2011
Two thoughts on this…
Do I understand the rationale here to be: sensationalism/getting the media’s attention may lead to exposure for the church…which may lead to more people coming to the church…which leads to an opportunity to preach the Gospel to them…which may lead to them accepting Christ? If we hold to this premise, wouldn’t that make any kind of sensationalism acceptable (because the ends—salvation—justify the means)? I guess I’m not comfortable with that at some point, but I haven’t fleshed out exact reasons why. It just doesn’t sound like Jesus to me, but I’ll have to think about it some more.
Also, am I understanding the other premise here correctly…more sex leads to more intimacy? What’s the basis for this? I think if you ask most wives, they would say that’s backwards. It should be that more intimacy leads to more sex. Interesting that these challenges from the pulpit never seem to come from female pastors.
Q. on Thu, January 13, 2011
Cliff, good points and I was thinking them too about making sure that people understand that intimacy and sex are completely different things. But to answer your question about why this is never coming from female pastors-the wives of those pastors doing this are typically leading the charge on this and reminding their husbands from what I’ve seen. I just wanted to avoid the misconception that somehow women are all alike sexually and different from all men (who are also all alike sexually) and somehow don’t like sex as much as men. While I think we know enough to know that couldn’t be farther from the truth-I just wanted to make sure it was stated…
Perhaps some of them do this but I would like to see a bit of a preparation for this done as a church body. For some couples, sex is a difficult area because the husband or wife (and sometimes both) have suffered sexual abuse and the idea of connecting sexually every day is actually quite an anxiety inducer. I have several friends who have been sexually abused but one in particular comes to mind who, like many others, was sexaully abused by his mother a lot growing up and this challenge from the pulpit would really bring up a lot of issues that should be targeted before a challenge like this is issued or taken on. And I know he’s not alone.
I think the idea that Satan tends to do everything he can to bring you together sexually before marriage and everything he can to keep you apart sexually after marriage is worth examining and can be addressed in a great way and in a way that is great for the world to see. I just think there should be a LOT of thought put into this.
This reminds me of a church that just springs a ‘fast’ on the congregation without any preparation-they just say, “hey guys, we’re all going to fast as a church body for the next 30 days…”. While that is good for some, others end up in trouble because they haven’t prepared…
Just my two cents…
Leonard on Thu, January 13, 2011
Sigh… another one. This opens the door to some really crazy things… having a lot of sex does not equate or translate to a healthy relationship. What if a pastor said, hey for the next 30 days, I want you to spend 15 minutes in prayer together. Or for the next 30 days I want you to spend 30 minutes reading the scriptures together. Or for the next 30 days I want you to have coffee every morning and in that time, find 3 ways to affirm your spouse. Or for the next 30 days find 30 ways to serve your family.
If this was about building better marriages, then this pastor has no clue about better marriages or relationships. If this is about publicity then please stop using one aspect about marriage to advance your brand.
I am all for creativity and marketing, but this IMO treats marriage with less value.
Peter Hamm on Thu, January 13, 2011
Leonard, as is often the case, you are our voice of reason.
Q. on Thu, January 13, 2011
Well said Leonard… Your words really sum it up…
Fred on Thu, January 13, 2011
Anyone with any maturity on them knows that sex is a lot more pleasurable after abstaining for several days.
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