Pastor Hosts Kissing Contest
Posted by Todd Rhoades in Controversy on Dec 29th, 2011 | 9 commentsPastor Maurice Johnson of Winners Church in Queen is using public kissing contests during services to help teach married couples how to keep romance alive in their marriages. His Sunday sermons have been described as the sexiest in town…
At the peak of the pastor’s sermon, four married couples are called to the pulpit. While a keyboardist and drummer create a romantic air with RnB tunes, the couple practice what is preached- kissing uninterrupted for five minutes.
The couple who demonstrates the most passion while lip-locked in front of the judging congregants wins $50 to spend on date night.
The Winners Church pastor who advocates physical affection to strengthen romantic partnership encourages married couples to push the boundaries and experiment with each other in public.
“Any society that celebrates marriage, romance and love is going to be a free society,” the Post quoted Johnson as saying. “Public displays of affection aren’t wrong. Adam and Eve were naked, and they were not ashamed.”
The bachelor pastor who intends to marry next year says he’ll practice what he preaches.
via New York pastor organises kissing contests during service.
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Uh… ok.
I’m just wondering… four couples are called forward. Only one couple wins. I bet the other three couples have a cold night when they get home that night.
I can just hear the conversation now. Not only are they out the $50 prize; but now they have to look another church couple in the eyes forever knowing that they are much more romantic a kisser then their spouse is. That’s gotta be a kick in the… face.
Is this the most ludicrous thing you’ve ever heard, or is it just me?
9 Responses to “ “Pastor Hosts Kissing Contest”
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It’s definitely in the top 5 most ludicrous church things I’ve heard about.
We will be doing a marriage series in February, but I can assure you this will not be part of it!
Guess I am speechless….. Which doesn’t happen very often.
My wifey has given me another 25 years to perfect my smooching technique. So I won’t be winning any prizes for a couple more decades.
My final observation is…. What is with the whole “public displays of expression” aspect? This is not a spectator sport…. Nor is it the Olympics, where we hold up score cards. And since I grew up on a farm, watching cows lick — whatever they can reach with their tongue — I just don’t find watching people kiss, entertaining.
Ugh… is it any wonder that atheists and agnostics I know think we are stupid.
Does this Pastor teach these classes in the nude? Or is he ashamed? Or maybe he understands there are somethings married folks do which aren’t shameful, but should be practiced in private.
Hmmm…
Perhaps if he didn’t use the word passion.
I do think it’s worthwhile, what Pastor Maurice is doing or wanting to do. The best way to view this is to evaluate the pros, cultural context, the challenges he has to deal with, and the possible omissions, rather than jumping to judgments.
Pros.
Helping the church to see marriage and passion in an sanctified (by Scripture) light
Encouraging couples to seek passion and growth in their marriages
Bringing the subject of romance and passion into the light, as opposed to how culture presents it
Cultural context
African American cultural context – where passion and public displays of affection are tolerated and accepted more than middle class White America.
Challenges
Displays of affection are prevalent in the culture, but without biblical love to anchor it. Church is commonly seen as “frigid” or “cold” place that eschews any mention of sex and passion.
Omissions
The article failed to mention if the other couples were treated as bad examples or they received any kind of consolation. A reader could assume or give them the benefit of the doubt, as to how they were treated or what went on in the aftermath.
My personal input is that I hoped that language used was PG-13. I wonder how youth and kids viewed or responded (it could be as positive examples). In a different church context, how would we present love, passion and sex in a sanctified light?
2 Tim 4:3 “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”
This is horrible. I agree that strong marriages are important for Christians, but to make a spectacle with these couples is the wrong way to approach this. Where is the Gospel in this pastor’s message? How does this point to Jesus? 2 Tim. 4:3-4.