It's not Christian porn, but a Baptist pastor in Tucson, AZ, is creating a stir by advertising his upcoming series of sex-related sermons with full-page newspaper ads, and suggestive mailers. Jeremiah McDuffie, 27, pastor of the unconventional Element Community Church, sent out postcards with the above image to 35,000 Tucson-area homes in an effort to spread his simple, holy message that God wants people to have great sex.
"Sex wasn't invented in a dark alley behind a porn shop. It's part of God's design," according to McDuffie, himself a former porn addict.
Regardless, the Catalina Baptist Association and Element Church have fielded calls from disgusted community members. "The negative calls we've had were basically from people saying this was a subject we shouldn't be dealing with in church, that it's inappropriate," McDuffie said.
While we don't find the mailer image too racy for a church group, we wonder if the pastor might have also received a few calls of support from local foot fetishists.
Speaking of worship, we think a gaggle of women dressed as Wonder Woman are is close to heaven as you can get (using a costume).
Running with the Bulls
Revelers are chased by Conde de la Corte ranch fighting bulls on the first day of the running of the bulls during the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, on Monday, July 7, 2008. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)
AP
Revelers chased by Conde de la Corte ranch fighting bulls, not seen, run on the first day of the running of the bulls during the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, Monday, July 7, 2008. The 'Los San Fermines' festival, held since 1591, attracts tens of thousands of foreign visitors each year for nine days of revelry, morning bull-runs and afternoon bullfights. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
AP
PAMPLONA, SPAIN - JULY 07: Micky Loomey of New Zealand is attended to by members of the Red Cross after being injured during the first San Fermin running of the bulls on July 7, 2008 in Pamplona, Spain. Fighting bulls are run through the old part of Pamplona for eight days in this fiesta made famous by the 1926 Ernest Hemmingway novel 'The Sun Also Rises'. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Getty Images
PAMPLONA, SPAIN - JULY 07: A runner leads the pack of fighting bulls around a curve during the first San Fermin running of the bulls on July 7, 2008 in Pamplona, Spain. Fighting bulls are run through the old part of Pamplona for eight days in this fiesta made famous by the 1926 Ernest Hemmingway novel 'The Sun Also Rises'. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Getty Images
PAMPLONA, SPAIN - JULY 07: A fighting bull takes the curve during the first San Fermin running of the bulls on July 7, 2008 in Pamplona, Spain. Fighting bulls are run through the old part of Pamplona for eight days in this fiesta made famous by the 1926 Ernest Hemmingway novel 'The Sun Also Rises'. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Getty Images
A runner is attended to after being injured during the first day of the running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 7, 2008. REUTERS/Joseba Etxaburu (SPAIN)
Reuters
A runner is attended to after being injured during the first day of the running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 7, 2008. REUTERS/Joseba Etxaburu (SPAIN)
Reuters
Runners sprint next to Conde de la Corte fighting bulls during the first day of the running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 7, 2008. REUTERS/Joseba Etxaburu (SPAIN)
Reuters
A reveller is tossed by a heifer on the first day of the running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 7, 2008. REUTERS/Joseba Etxaburu (SPAIN)
Reuters
Runners sprint in front of Conde de la Corte fighting bulls and steers during the first day of the running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 7, 2008. REUTERS/Joseba Etxaburu (SPAIN)
Reuters
Comments:
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Tuesday 02 September
By Pseudo-Diotrephes
I'm all in favor of sex, in its place, but it should not control our lives. I still believe that the best sex is available to couples who did not go all the way with each other OR anybody else before they entered the exalted state of matrimony. However, not all people are called to marriage and then (probably) parenthood. If God intends you & somebody for each other, He can get youall together. But youall need to be seeking His way, preferably in the same denomination.
Reply
Wednesday 03 September
By J
Sex is a topic that is entirely meant for church, beyond the words "DON'T DO IT!" Good sex in the proper context should be a topic on Sunday morning. Many people abuse porn, have been abused by others or are in a marriage that is sexually unsatisfying. The church must move away from condeming this natural expression of desire and love and embrace it as this pastor has done.
Reply
Wednesday 03 September
By GerriH
Oh, Please. Sex and the church have been at odds with each other since the beginning of recorded church history. The church has always tried to control it, with horrible results. Usually, the most fervent church goer has issues with sex from the start. Add to that the idea that sex is wrong and you have the makings of a future neurotic or, in some cases, a sociopath who can't enjoy normal sexual contact and must have outrageous encounters to feel that the subsequent guilt was worth the act itself. Grow up. Sex is a part of human nature.
Wednesday 03 September
By Pepper
AMEN
Wednesday 03 September
By BRYAN
MAKING LOVE TO YOUR WIFE IS SOMETHING A MAN NEED NOT TALK ABOUT IN CHURCH IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT IS EVIL BECAUSE IT IS GOD'S GIFT AFTER ALL, BUT SOME THINGS NEED NOT BE TALKED ABOUT OPENLY
Wednesday 10 September
By Carmen
Why SHOULDN'T sex be talked about? It's God's gift to humans! He wants us to enjoy it in the right context. Why is sex so dirty to people or something that shouldn't openly be talked about? God gave us the natural impulse to want it.
Kudos to this church for breaking barriers.
When are people going to stop making it such a taboo subject?
Tuesday 16 September
By jess
In the Bible it says not to deprive your husband/wife of sex; unless you both decide not to have sex to make time for prayer. So, why shouldn't sex be a topic in church. It's not like, "hey what do you and your wife do in bed?".
Wednesday 03 September
By ginni
I see nothing wrong with the picture on the postcard,
however, I can think of hundreds of other subjects
that should be being addressed in sermons. The
church that Obama goes to might want to reevaluate
it's hate messages- the Muslims might want to quit
murdering all those who don't agree with them.
Sex is way, way down on the list of things I would
'want to hear about in church. Sex is supposed to
be a private act between two people, not something
for public consumption. I know, those in LaLa
land think it's a public party and anyone who
believes otherwise is "too uptight!" but I still
believe most of us think it's a private thing and
that's how it should be.
Reply
Friday 05 September
By PAPA
HOW DID OBAMA GET INTO THIS STORY GROW UP AND REPLY TO THE SUBJECT UNLESS YOU ARE UPSET THAT HE IS NOT YOUR SEX PARTNE
Thursday 04 September
By MIRIAM
SEX THE UNHOLY WORD, people please get over it,so what did Adam and Eve have to do to have children. Talk, candle light dinner for 2, took a walk in the park, read a book together, OMG! Pastor u do what u gotta do.
Reply
Wednesday 03 September
By will k.
As a christian I welcome a pastor who is not afraid to address the subject of sex. I find sex to be one of the greatest gifts and one of the largest responsibilities given to us by the Almighty. Some may be uncomfortable with the treatment the subject is being given at this particular church but, rather than criticizing their pastor, perhaps they should critique their own feelings on the subject.
Reply
Sunday 07 September
By susan
your comment was wonderful and so truthful
Wednesday 03 September
By fekins
He would do well to get it on with Big Al Sharpton.
Reply
Wednesday 03 September
By johnnyg
We have got to get over the religious righteousness. Most of us say we don't and do and the rest of us lie about it. Using religion as a weapon has turned our planet into a war zone. Just be kind and understanding and you won't need a book written thousands of years ago dictating to us how to live in a much, much more difficult time. We are not dinosaurs anymore. We live in an electronic age that is making the world smaller and more understanding. Whatever gets the message across should be done. If it's too offensive for you go back to your cave and wait for the world change for you. Tell someone you love them. Now that will shock your world.
Reply
Wednesday 03 September
By Sean
The first command out of the mouth of God after creating Adam and Eve was not "don't eat of the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden" it was "BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY!!" (Genesis 1:28) So since GOD created this thing called marriage and then said have sex, basically, isn't it a wonderful thing? A blessed thing? A glorious thing?! How can we say it's inappropriate to talk about sex in church? You might as well say it's inappropriate to talk about tithing. Both are a command of God...period. Sex isn't about having our fun and doing what we want with it. Sex is about procreation, having children and therefore representing GOD on the earth! You can't do that outside of having sex. So all that to say this, I think it's inappropriate to NOT talk about sex in church. It's necessary.
Reply
Wednesday 03 September
By Greg
Sex, apparently, was created by God. The degradation of it was created by man (or the devil ... take yer pick.) However, it is difficult to understand why Christians struggle with the topic of sex. Sex between two people is natural. And, sometimes, if a person wishes to please his partner, that person needs to practice. Therefore, much sex is necessary in order to be good at it. The above comment, "but youall need to seeking His way, preferably in the same denomination" makes no sense. Does the same deonomination mean $5s or $10s? OHHHHHHHHHhh... you mean like ... religious affiliations! I see. So, a Catholic cannot marry a Jew ... or a Lutheran cannot marry a Baptist ... or a Church of God cannot marry a Mormon? It seems as though if God intend usall to be together, religious demonination wouldn't matter, now, would it?
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Wednesday 03 September
By Hello JTV. JMJ
God intends us to all be together. What the above comment was refering to is that if you have a strong belief in the doctrine of your particular denomination or religion, then your experience of married life and child rearing will be easier if you are married to someone who has the same strong beliefs and values as you do. ...Otherwise you may find yourselves disagreeing on important matters. Right?
Wednesday 03 September
By daddy-o
I like the part in the Bible that mentions blowing Gabriele's horn....
Reply
Wednesday 03 September
By Minnie Harreld
That appears to be YOUTH TALK. And likely where his heart is.
Reply
Wednesday 03 September
By dryas10
Youth talk? That may be the case but they will grow up and retain those ideals. As will the rest of todays youth and create a world free of extreme bible thumpers,that will be a little more to our liking. Thats what the new generation always does. Which is why the world has changed so much since the Bible was written. Just because people choose to live their lives without burdening themselves with organized religion, does not blackball them from Heaven. I dont know about your God, but mine is a kind, forgivable, understanding one. He knows of true sinners in your organized masses, and He knows of true believers, sittin at home watchin the Steelers on Sundays.