And Again...

I appreciate the positive response to the previous blog about retreat speakers. The consensus is as follows: 1) Women do not want to be manipulated; 2) Women want to know Jesus better; 3) Women want to be taught deep things from the Word about how to live today.

Yes, women want to laugh and have fun. So have a funny skit. Or invite Anita Renfroe to do a comedy routine. Just don’t invite a speaker who talks more about herself than she does about Jesus. Or one who crams the Bible into her funny/tragic story-grid rather than running her stories through the grid of the Word.

Some have asked which speakers I think get it right. Three come immediately to mind: Anne Graham Lotz (who is Christocentric), and Kay Arthur and Jill Briscoe (who are Bibliocentric). I’m sure there are more that belong on the list, but none come to mind right now.

Some argue there is a place for entertainment in a retreat setting. I don’t have a problem with entertainment; I just have a problem when entertainment and Bible teaching get mixed up. I love to laugh (and do so every chance I get). And I certainly don’t think those who teach the Bible need to be boring (the Bible certainly isn’t boring). But there is a problem when, after the conference, all the attendees can remember are a couple of the funny stories and nothing about how the Bible applies to their lives.

I don't mean to sound like I get it right all the time. I certainly mess-up (and often). Much of the laughter in my life arises from the stupid things I do (and the women I teach every week could tell you plenty about that). But my goal in life is to glorify God and to handle the Word in a way that honors him. That goal often requires me to sacrifice stories and other information that doesn't meet the proper exegetical guidelines.

Okay, I think I'm done now. Again, I charge those of you who wish to be out on the speaking circuit: be as funny/tragic as you wish, just make sure that 1) you handle the Bible well; 2) that God is the hero of all your stories; and 3) that you talk more about God (the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit) than you do about yourself. Amen and Amen.