Reply #6: More analysis of the strange side

[BootinUp]

With such bizarre, dubious and contrabiblical visions accepted as authoritative in his megachurch, it's no wonder that Pastor Ted sees the need to caution his congregants against acting weird when reporters visit their church.

Non-Prophet has the full text of the e-mail sent to New Lifers in which Pastor Ted urges them to feign normalcy for the cameras. The e-mail contains this fascinating bit of advice:

If reporters want to interview you, talk with them, but use words that make sense to them. Speak their language. Don't talk about the devil, demons, voices speaking to you, God giving you supernatural revelations, etc. Instead, tell your personal story in common sense language (I was a drunk but God changed me and now I'm sober, I'm grateful, etc.).

Stick to common sense, Pastor Ted says, and not all that other stuff we embrace around here. That's a far cry from, say, 1 Peter 3:15-16:

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

It's a lot easier to "give the reason for the hope that you have" than it is to give the reason for the homophobia that you have -- particularly when that fear is based, not on common sense, but on "the devil, demons, voices speaking to you, God giving you supernatural revelations, etc."

http://slacktivist.typepad.com/slacktivist/2005/week21/index.html