Open Mic Night

The Forum this evening (March 16) was an open mic night as we simply sang to the Lord and people were encouraged to share whatever God put on their heart. We patterned the evening after Isaiah 6 where adoration, confession, and thanksgiving proceeded being in the presence of God. The Forum band, as always, led with sensitive hearts and God ministered to us Big Time! What a beautiful thing to behold the level of openness and authenticity.

Shh! They said "sex" in church!

Sunday, March 9 at the Forum had an open discussion on sex. I played the part of a person who enjoys his “freedoms” and the group was given the opportunity to refute the reasoning of my self-proclaimed Don Juan. Try doing research on sound reasoning to support pre-marital sex and you will find it to be a difficult task. Of course, many Christians would find such endeavors futile and would never engage in such a discussion. Such attitudes supply support for why the Church as a whole has failed to engage the culture and why young Christians would never talk openly about the topic in church. The discussion at the Forum was lively and enlightening. The reasoning in favor of pre-marital sex included:

The only way to become a good lover is through experience with multiple partners.

If you have sexual hang-ups or problems, these often will translate directly to the quality of your relationship.

Becoming good at sex gives you new tools to communicate with others. Sex gives you perspective and wisdom.

The sexual organs are like any other in the body. By using them you exercise them and keep them healthy.

Sexually active people are more emotionally mature. Sex is an avenue of personal growth.

Sexual experience gives you sexual confidence, which makes you an attractive mate for the dating pool.

Oral sex isn’t really sex and even Christian couples who date are free to explore.

The above “reasoning” was soundly refuted and the discussion was spirited with many participants giving words of wisdom.

Questions Allowed

We spent this past Sunday evening discussing the question "Why are people so turned off by church?" Many took the opportunity to express issues that negatively impact the mission of the church including legalism, narrow-mindedness, hypocrisy, having an entertainment mindset in worship, lack of genuine care, and a host of other reasons. Being serious about the mission of discipleship was given as one anecdote. I was struck by the level of honesty and again am very appreciative of the authenticity of the Forum crowd. Thank you to all who participated.