Daily Innovation, Ministry Insights, and Thoughts from Todd Rhoades for Pastors and Church Leaders
I’m Too Sexy for My Church, Too Sexy for My Church…
So, how far is too far? Last year, Granger did a series on sex that caused a lot of controversy. We discussed it pretty heavily here at MMI. I came down on the side of it being a pretty unique and attention getting way to get attention for your message, but definitely not for every church. But as controversial as many thought that was, someone always has to up the stakes a little. Enter IamTurnedOn.com. Take a look at the website and message series and let me know if you think this has gone too far...
Here’s the series…
I’m Bringing Sexy Back
The culture has lied to you. The church has lied to you. Who is going to tell you the truth about your sexual identity? Find some true-to-life honesty in the love story told by God about how he designed us as deeply sexual and spiritual beings.
I Want Your Sex
Old fashioned words: Chastity. Purity. Abstinence. Restraint. Are words like these relevant in today’s sexualized culture? We live in an anything-goes world. But is that the way it’s supposed to be? Your life can change when you learn how to discipline your desires.
My Angel Is a Centerfold
Is porn harmless fun? Is it really ok if you look but not touch? Are models in magazines the way women should look? What is Victoria’s secret anyway? Let your sexual image be formed by the grace and truth found in God’s story.
Let’s Talk about Sex, Baby
Do you have a question about sex that has nagged you? Can’t seem to get a straight answer anywhere else? Let’s see if we can field some tough questions with tough and practical answers.
The website actually uses Granger’s initial splash screen (available from WiredChurches.com)
Shocking, right? Too shocking? Have they crossed the line in your opinion? If so, why? If not, what would they need to do to cross the line?
TAGS: IamTurnedOn.com; Church sex series
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This post has been viewed 1491 times and was added on January 25, 2007 by Todd Rhoades. Filed under: Engaging Culture Trends in Today's Church Share this post with a friend right now! View reactions to this post at other blogs... You can really help us out by subscribing to our free RSS feed with your favorite feed reader, or here at Bloglines. Also, you can add us to your favorites at Technorati.
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My name is Todd Rhoades, the 'behind the scenes' guy here at MMI. I'm also on the team at Leadership Network (although that doesn't mean that they endorse everything I write here). In my past life, I was the developer of a of a website called ChurchStaffing.com. I hope you'll enjoy your time here and tell all your colleagues about MMI! 
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Posted by
Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 8:41 AM
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Posted by
Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 9:09 AM
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Posted by Daniel
Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 9:09 AM
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Posted by Brian La Croix
Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 9:28 AM
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Posted by
Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 10:07 AM
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Posted by
Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 10:49 AM
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Posted by
Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 11:20 AM
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Posted by Todd Rhoades
Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 11:28 AM
(Any takers?)
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Posted by
Monday, January 29, 2007 at 1:34 PM
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Posted by
Tuesday, January 30, 2007 at 4:32 PM
Post Your Comments:Video certainly isn’t offensive, nor is the language and terminology used. I think some of the images on the banner ad for the series are more provocative than they need to be to make the point....but that’s a judgement call based on the culture and audience involved. Coming from a church, it might make a splash in Mayberry, but would it even raise an eyebrow in LA or NY or Atlanta? And compared to even prime time TV, it seems fairly tame.....
Definitely agree with Steve. I’d rather a church be close to “crossing the line” instead of acting as if it’s a dirty little secret.
Not that we should be comparing it to primetime… of course…
to me. I’m also wondering about their advertisement method… if the only thing they’re getting out is the name of their site, it’ll look like a porn ad. Period. And I think that’s a terrible way to ‘advertise’ for the Church. Period.
Yeah, the name of the site and the banner ad are what’s most ‘shocking’ (perhaps a better word would be ‘unnecessary’
I can appreciate what they’re trying to do, but ends don’t justify means.
My two cents.
-Daniel-
I mentioned on the other thread that discussing sex is good for the church, but that a worship service isn’t the best place, in my opinion.
I can’t see the main ad real well, but I’m wondering if the people in it are wearing wedding rings? If not, it could give the impression that they’re simply dealing with how to have better casual sex.
Bottom-line, yeah - I think it goes a little too far. But I’m trying to be open-minded about it.
Brian
I, too, am trying to be open-minded. I think what Granger does 99 percent of the time is great. This crosses the line a little bit, and I’m wondering why, as Daniel said, it’s even necessary. Somehow, I don’t think Paul, when preaching to the churches about circumcision, drew up before and after pictures to get his point home. The church didn’t need that to get the idea, so to speak. And so, along those same lines, I don’t think we actually need to see highly suggestive pictures for us to go, “Oh, so that’s what they’re talking about!”
Qute from the site:
“(The Morning News said our ads are “a little seductive” and refused to run them with no further explanation.)”
Does that mean the world is now more prudent than the church?
Just to clarify, this new series is not being done at Granger Community Church.
It’s actually being done by Vintage Fellowship in Springdale, AR.
Yes… I thought this was clear… this one isn’t Granger’s. I’d love to hear their take on it though.
Todd
first, this is the single most stupidist ad I have seen. I laughed my head off. Its ridiculous! Its patronizing! Its naive! second, it uses the words “no condemnation”. Typical isn’t it? we ju dston’t want to offend anyone, how dare we possibly condemn someone! people want the church to start acting like the church and to stop pandering to the very thing the culture is offering people. I think this is more of the same, ironic that the ad says ‘no hype’ yet its nothing but more hype!
I agree with Daniel - the ends don’t justify the means. If you had no idea this was a “church” ad, it would look like an ad for a porn site. I think it’s misleading - it looks like it’s advertising a new and better way to have casual sex. Then, they direct you to a church website. It’s the old, “bait and switch” routine and in my opinion, that’s not right. We don’t see bait and switch examples of ministry in Scripture.
I like the idea of what they’re trying to do, we need more teaching on this subject. However, I don’t know if the Sunday Morning Worship service is the place for it, either, like Brian said. I think it would be better suited for a special study. I also have one other concern - is this series aimed at married couples, or single people? It was rather hard to tell.
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