“If you don’t repeat what you want to say over and over, they will pick out the dumbest thing you say and repeat that.” This was my lesson in dealing with the media. I failed.
One of the dumber things I said from the pulpit was played enough on TV and radio that I purposely quit listening to AM talk for a time. The setting was the Sunday after 9-11. We were living in Winnipeg Canada, and the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp) had asked to broadcast our service (Elim Chapel) across the nation that day. They set up in the balcony. I forgot.
It was, of course, an extremely emotional week for this American living in Canada (I’m making excuses now). As I was singing some song early in the service, I said to myself, “Self,” I said, “Somehow you need to be more honest at the beginning of this message. You are diving into the text too quickly. Let them know how you feel.” Evidently this was not the voice of God.
I began the service by saying, “I’ve been asked this week how I feel as an American about the twin tower tragedy. As an American, in the flesh, that answer is simple. I’d like to see us find out who did this, and nuke ‘em.” Weeks later I had to place a call to British Columbia (half way across the country). “Oh, I know where I’ve heard of you - are you the nuke ‘em pastor?” they asked. Sigh.
In our passage this week (John 6:25-56), Jesus is asked six questions. He gives the same basic answer six times. In spite of handling the media correctly, they still didn’t get it. Jesus didn’t talk about nukes, but He did make comments that had - and still have people accusing Him of starting a cult of cannibals and vampires.
This week we dive into this last Bizarre Bible Story of the series, given by Jesus Himself. I hope you can join us!
Dan
Next week we start a NEW SERIES: The Scandal of Grace, beginning with Galatians 2 – Getting out of the Doghouse.
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