Snakes in the Pew

November 2, 2006 by

Too often the work of communicating the message of the church is ruined because of the people in the church. Dr. Ergun Caner shared the message “Snakes in the Pew” (that’s the direct link to the file, you can also see find it listed here, link via Tally Wilgis) at Liberty University’s campus church expanding on the point. It’s good stuff.

Caner’s basic point is that while Christians need to get over ourselves, this junk still happens and we can’t let it get in the way of following God. We can’t let stupid Christians make us cynical or jaded. It’s encouraging to hear for a cynical person like myself who went away to college only to have my church fall apart.

It’s also ironic because just before I came across this link, I found this link (via Tadd Grandstaff). Apparently Kirk Cameron’s Way of the Master is trying to take on Rob Bell’s Nooma in some kind of spoof video smackdown.

What’s so troubling about Christians and the church is that we’re always trying to take each other down. Can’t we all just get along? Or at least ignore each other and put our energy into actually doing something productive?

Post By:

Kevin D. Hendricks


When Kevin isn't busy as the editor of Church Marketing Sucks, he runs his own writing and editing company, Monkey Outta Nowhere. Kevin has been blogging since 1998, runs the hyperlocal site West St. Paul Reader, and has published several books, including 137 Books in One Year: How to Fall in Love With Reading, The Stephanies and all of our church communication books.
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11 Responses to “Snakes in the Pew”

  • Kevin Norman
    November 2, 2006

    Couldn’t agree more. We need to shift our energy from picking on folks with questionable theology to spreading the Good News. I’ll be the first to raise my hand that I’m guilty of this.


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  • Jody
    November 2, 2006

    I agree wholeheartedly. There is a video series exploding right now, a parody on the Mac commercials. Normally I would laugh hysterically, but the video is basically one Christian, I mean, “Christ Follower,” making fun of a Christian. Would a Christ follower try to humiliate or degrade another person? I think not. We are all brothers and sisters, and sometimes we act like it: biting, scratching, clawing- when our Dad told us to behave and get along all this time.


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  • Paul Carlson
    November 2, 2006

    I’ve actually seen the “way of the master” guys (Ray Comfort, and another dude) doing street evangelism on the 3rd St Promendade in Santa Monica, CA. (This was about 5 years ago… I think it was before Kirk Cameron got involved with it.) What they’re trying to do is ok, at least how they explain what they’re trying to do…but I couldn’t help but get pissed off at them because the love side of what they say they are doing wasn’t coming across at all. Everyone who they singled out pretty much just got pissed off, and walked off mad at a Christian.
    I do agree that trying something is better than nothing, but when that something produces nothing but making people angry, you’ve got to question effectiveness… I’m not saying that it’s a completely ineffective method. I just think that relationship precedes truth, and that most people are only willing to accept the truth when it comes from someone they trust, not just some stranger on the street telling them they’re going to hell, or some guy on a video telling them that he’s there for them – though the second method might actually have the shot at a relationship with the person they’re trying to reach. Most people don’t want a relationship with somebody who starts off that relationship by telling them everything that’s wrong with them.


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  • jasond
    November 2, 2006

    I’ve always had this knee-jerk suspicious reaction to other churches. It’s stupid and I have to force myself to get over it. I was talking to my wife about it and I think it’s a guy thing. Weather it’s Mac or PC, non-denom. or baptist, we always think that our way is the best and there must be something wrong with the other.


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  • Tadd Grandstaff
    November 2, 2006

    hey bro thanks for the link…I appreciate it!


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  • Joel Johns
    November 3, 2006

    The funny thing about this post is that I have actually used both Rob Bell and Way of the Master in our church. IF I am not mistaken, Way of the Master has been making videos like that longer than Bell. to me it is more refreshing than revolting. God uses unique people in unique ways to reach unique people. Rob Bell’s initial attack on street preaching is his opinion. I don’t think he would have like many if any of the Old Testament prophets or John the Baptist’s methods. We are all a bunch of egotisticle panseys if we cannot accept evangelism methods of others who are not like us. The mere fact that we are having this conversation means that we too have become snakes in the pew instead of one crying out in the wilderness.


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  • Jake Davis
    November 3, 2006

    I really like Tadd’s comments. It’s so easy to be against each other yet we look ridiculous to non-belivers by fighting all the time about the non-absolutes of Christianity. We are called to spread the Gospel yet we would rather argue how we should instead of actually doing it. I’ve been like that for quite a while until I saw the ignorance of it.


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  • The Aesthetic Elevator
    November 3, 2006

    Hm. Yeah.
    I hung some of my wall pieces in our church this weekend and somehow me and the gallery curator, per se, got talking in a negative way about some of the staff. The funny thing is the staff member in question is a really close friend of the curator.
    Now, the tone was one of frustration more than slander. But it seems to me slander (or gossip) and coveting are two of the most damaging sins (in the church and out) that are spoken of the least. Sure, we all know it when Ted Haggard is accused of a sexual sin. But would it ever be brought up or frowned upon if he was accused of slander?
    I doubt it, not in the present day.


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  • The Aesthetic Elevator
    November 3, 2006

    I have to add that I may have started the conversation (I don’t remember how we came to it exactly) about our church staff member. I’m as prone as the next person to such.


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  • Kevin Norman
    November 3, 2006

    Satan is winning when Christians fight each other versus fighting him. And remember: if it has flesh and blood it’s not your enemy. Every life is precious whether it’s a fellow believer, or it’s someone that does not have the blessing of knowing Jesus. Before you pick on someone else, look to make sure that you are perfect first… and good luck with that.


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  • Phillip Santillan
    November 3, 2006

    While I do believe that discussion on philosophical differences in regards to ministry style and application is healthy, I do see that there is a fine line between discussion and just plain bashing. Why is is so hard for us to see beyond our church/denomination and see the whole body of Christ? I ask not really knowing the answer, but ask wanting to find the solution. As pastor it’s tough to see your own people acting in opposition towards other believers…but who did they learn that from? Me? I pray not


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