While walking through the parking lot at a recent Youth Ministry Conference I noticed that a couple of youth ministers had gathered at the back of a VERY dirty SUV. I figured they were putting the obligatory WASH ME!!! message on the window.
Nope.
Instead, the window read: “I wish my wife was this dirty!”
I know what you think: “That is just WRONG!”
It is, and on so MANY levels! Let’s examine why…
FAIL #1
I know what these guys were doing (hopefully). The were decorating a friend’s car with this message as a joke. What they did not consider was both THEIR witnesses (to the crowd of youth ministers and their wives watching) as they pulled their prank.
And, what about the witness of the driver/owner of the SUV? Having this message on the youth minister’s car while it sits in a parking lot at a youth ministry conference means people will attribute the message to the YOUTH MINISTER, not to the joking graffiti artist/friend. What effect will this have on how people perceive him? If he doesn’t see it and erase it before leaving, what does this say about the message others will garner from his car (especially if he has pro-Jesus bumper stickers, etc.)?
It was a joke, but “it was a joke” is not an excuse. It’s not a cover for inappropriate behavior.
This was FAIL #1 because it adversely impacted the message of the Kingdom.
But, that was not the ONLY wrong. Next: What does this communicate about God’s design for marriage and intimacy? Read FAIL – #2.
NOTE: Yes, this was a “youth minister” I’m talking about but it could easily have been ANY Christian… any Church Staffer. This is not intended to beat up on youth ministers as their lives are hard enough! <grin>
Share your thoughts!
What do you think of this “joke”?
Part 1 of 3. Don’t forget to read PART 2 and PART 3.
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A brief comment regarding the story “I wish my wife were this dirty.”
In 1 Corinthians 9:14 it says “…the Lord has commanded that those who preach the Gospel should live from the Gospel.” Even allowing for the sinful nature of all of us as human beings, I would certainly NOT want someone of this caliber leading a youth ministry where any of my kids were in attendance. PERIOD. The fact that it was “a couple of youth ministers” involved makes the situation even more alarming. Christians have a bad enough time being chastized, ridiculed, and called hypocrites. We certainly don’t need any help in this regard, especially from within our own ranks. All I can say is “SHAME ON YOU” and I’ll pray that these mis-guided souls find a more orderly direction in their spiritual life. Peace.
Like a madman shooting
firebrands or deadly arrows
is a man who deceives his neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”
Proverbs 26:18,19
Saying “It’s a joke” does not give anyone a right to do ANYTHING. And this is why most student pastors walk around wondering why they get no respect.