6 things you can rely on me not doing....

I read an article on The Huffington Post tonight about the "six most ridiculous stunts" pulled by Christian ministers.

1. Pastor Lawrence Bishop of the Solid Rock Church in Monroe, Ohio, built a bull riding ring in the sacturary and rode a bull for three seconds before being bucked off and then preached a sermon. 300 people answered the altar call and were baptized that day.

2. The Kentucky Baptist Convention, led by Chuck McAllister, had a series of "Second Amendment Celebrations" serving a steak dinner with guns as door prizes. McAllister called it 'affinity evangelism'--identifying with what he called 'Red Necks'. In 2013 1300 men made 'affirmations of faith' after the events.

3. There have been lots of MMA fights in churches (whatever the hell MMA means!). Some with professionals and others with members of the church. David and Samson are used in sermons about the fights. "Turn the other cheek" doesn't show up. One pastor explained it by saying, "It's a couple of God-fearing men punching each other in the face."

4. Back in 1972, Pastor Herb Shreve bought his son a motorcycle to try to bridge the gap between them. Then he went to a motorcycle rally and decided there were lots of folks there who need to hear the gospel. There are now 1200 Christian Motorcyclists Associations in the US.

5. Ed Young, pastor of the North Texas Fellowship Church, gave an Easter sermon with  a real lion and a real lamb to proclaim that Jesus was both the Lamb of God and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Hey, I've used bunny ears and Easter eggs and once ate an Easter Lilly--but a real lion and a real lamb!!! The local humane society brought suit against him.

6. Pastor Troy Grambling of Florida's Potential Church (who names these things?) made an "Action Movie Move". With the help of stunt man, Mike Buse (stage name "Mr. Dizzy") Pastor Grambling sat in a car which was blown up and emerged unscathed. There was a video. Impressive. I don't know whose car it was but it said 'Potential Church' on the side before it was engulfed in flames.

On the same page were some humorous church signs. My favorite was from The Madison Avenue Baptist Church (obviously American Baptist) that said, GOD WANTS SPIRITUAL FRUITS/ NOT RELIGIOUS NUTS.

Amen.