Skip to main content

Chuck Norris and the Gospel

I grew up watching "Walker: Texas Ranger" probably because I have a father who, I believe secretly, wants to be a cowboy. I watched Chuck Norris solve the world's problems in an hour every week. Granted there were worse things to watch but I'm sure hoping there were better things too. But I'm disturbed that this picture was used as a sermon illustration. I believe that the point that the pastor was trying to make was that people and communities of faith need to have vision and a plan on how to make that vision a reality. Somehow this picture of Chuck Norris exemplifies this? I'm all for people of faith and congregations having vision and goals. But I have issues with this picture. First machine guns???? Who are we going to go kill in order to bring about this vision or goals? We're to be militant and use violence? Then the theme of patriotic loyalty. Vision is only for the United States? We're the only group of people that God blesses? It's okay to promote violence as long as it's in the name of a nation? There are just so many issues I see with this picture. I'm not against Chuck Norris, I'm not against being patriotic. What I do take issue with is using this picture of a person to highlight the idea of going out and working towards your vision and goals when there are plenty of others available of him that are not with guns pointing and in front of flags. This image carries so many more thoughts and meanings then I think the pastor intended that I believe that it diminished the point of the sermon. This is a clear example that just because you can Google an image and that it might be seen as funny (lets face it who hasn't laughed at a Chuck Norris joke lately???) that as leaders we need to think through things a little more clearly then others. God have mercy.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2024 Wrap Up

 Happy New Year's Eve! 2024 is almost gone as I type this. And it's been ... a year. To whomever may be reading this know this: I'm glad you made it through 2024. You're you and you're here. That's enough. Whether you met your goal/goals or not, you survived. You're still breathing - even if it's hard to do sometimes. I'm proud of you. Keep going. Even if all you can manage is the next minute. Keep going.  Here is my updates and reflection on 2024. The biggest thing for me has been my move and new ministry in Wisconsin. I said goodbye to two lovely rural Nebraska churches in February and started my new ministry in Wisconsin March 1. It was funny that I was actually attending a UCCB meeting in Ohio when I officially met my new conference minister in person on March 1. God has a sense of humor. This past 9 months has been learning about the systems of the church and the community and trying to find my place. I haven't been perfect in this, but I...
Post a Comment
Read more

Political vs. Partisan in Preaching

For years now, I have heard in preaching and clergy circles about being political in sermons; the good, the bad and those who state that church shouldn’t be political. There are workshops, books, and podcasts talking about politics in the church with a variety of opinions. What do people mean when they make the statement that the church shouldn’t be political? The IRS has the most say about the rules for the separation of church and state/politics. If your church wants to be tax exempt, there are rules: don’t endorse any candidate or party, if you allow one party to use your space, other political parties also must be allowed to use the space, etc. The UCC’s general counsel, Heather Kimmell, has a webinar on this topic if you’d like to hear a more detailed explanation which can be found on the UCC’s YouTube channel. Churches have gotten “creative” in how to get around this, often partnering with another non-profit group to give support to a particular group. The UCC is proud to claim...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sermon based on Revelation 21: 1-6

Revelation 21: 1-6 "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home* of God is among mortals. He will dwell* with them; they will be his peoples,* and God himself will be with them;* 4he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’ 5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ 6Then he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life." The book of Revelation is a book that has generate...
Post a Comment
Read more