Re: [asa] Pastoral manipulation?

Hi Bernie,

Nice point about the pastor/evangelist and the rabbi! One of the things that is pretty apparent in John's gospel is that Jesus himself doesn't seem to obsess over making his point. He just gives a teaching and moves on - leaving the Holy Spirit to bring light to those who have eyes to see. That said, he was also critical of the Rabbi's making life hard for the laity (Matthew 23:4, 13).

As for the main question, I'd appeal to two scriptures here - Matthew 7:3 (cf Rom 14:4) and Matthew 7:15-20.

Frankly, I simply don't know enough about Giglio - his personality, theology, religious background, or social context - or that of his audience, to make a fair assessment. The most important consideration - the "fruit" of his preaching - certainly can't be determined from the video.

Perhaps the strongest criticism I personally would make is that I certainly don't intend to emulate Giglio's approach anytime soon - but this is honestly as much because of contextual factors and the fact that the preacher should NEVER try to copy anybody else as it is due to any sense on my part that Giglio's approach is wrong.

I could say a great deal more about "contextual factors" - by the way - but it's really the sort of thing upon which entire books have been written and opposing views are held, so it could be a very long and tortured discussion!

Blessings,
Murray

Dehler, Bernie wrote:
> Pastor Murray-
>
>
>
> As a fellow preacher (with Giglio)- what do you think of his theatrics
> (emotionalism and background music) – does it strike you as
> manipulative? Is that a good thing? Funny how the difference is night
> and day between an evangelical pastor and a Rabbi- the evangelical wants
> to win one at any cost, and a Rabbi supposedly tries to turn away any
> potential convert to gauge their seriousness- sort of like Joshua in
> Joshua 24:16-22
>
>
>
> 16 Then the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to
> serve other gods! 17 It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and
> our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed
> those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey
> and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the LORD
> drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived
> in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God."
>
>
>
> 19 Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD. He
> is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion
> and your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he
> will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has
> been good to you."
>
>
>
> 21 But the people said to Joshua, "No! We will serve the LORD."
>
>
>
> 22 Then Joshua said, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you
> have chosen to serve the LORD."
>
> "Yes, we are witnesses," they replied.

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Received on Thu Jan 15 17:49:35 2009