Pastor Defends Calling Wife 'Smokin' Hot' in Prayer Before NASCAR Race

[mandym]

By Colby Hochmuth

Published July 25, 2011

| FoxNews.com

"A Nashville pastor is defending a NASCAR pre-race prayer in which he thanked God for his “smokin’ hot wife,” saying he wanted a blessing that would be remembered.

Joe Nelms of Family Baptist Church gave the invocation at Saturday night’s Nationwide race at Nashville Speedway. Late in the prayer, Nelms channeled his inner Ricky Bobby when he borrowed a line from the film “Talladega Nights”.

“Lord, I want to thank you for my smokin’ hot wife tonight, Lisa, and my two children, Eli and Emma, or as we like to call, ‘The Little E's,'" he said, while also thanking automotive companies, like Goodyear and Sunoco, Reuters reported......"

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2011/...t-in-prayer-before-nascar-race/#ixzz1TB54V1jK

 

[righteousdude2]

A Good Defense will Hide a Hideous Offense!

:tear:

As I said in another post, this would have been hilarious had it been used as a comedic routine at the local Improv.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid this preacher has opened a can of worms, that will witness many others who will try to mimic and imitate him in the coming weeks and months.

If this had not been introduced as a prayerful invocation, it would have been worthy of a gut felt laugh. However, mocking God is something that we are told will be a sign of the times. :tear: I'm afraid those times are being seen all around us in many different ways, and through many different folks! :tear:

 

[Mexdeaf]

More of the story-

http://hamptonroads.com/2011/07/pas...n-says-he-didnt-want-give-cookiecutter-prayer

 

[Bro. Curtis]

The prayer of thanks to God for his wife should have been done in private. This is not a man humbling himself before God, this is a man making a show of prayer.

 

[Baptist Believer]

...this is a man making a show of prayer.

I agree.

However, I suspect that a majority of public prayers before sports events, political rallies, government bodies, school classrooms/graduations, television audiences, etc., are motivated by the desire to make "a show" of prayer/piety, or to do something "religious" to somehow sanctify the event.

Even in worship services in a local body of believers, there is a huge temptation to sound "holy" and "deep" instead of honestly speaking aloud, from the heart, the true needs of the congregation before each other and the Lord Who is the true Audience.

One of my pet peeves is when a preacher preaches a sermon to the congregation during the "prayer to God."

I believe that's why Jesus recommended making one's prayer life primarily a private thing, not a public event.

One of the best pieces of advice I was ever given as a new Christian was to make my private prayers long and my public prayers short.

 

[Palatka51]

I agree.

However, I suspect that a majority of public prayers before sports events, political rallies, government bodies, school classrooms/graduations, television audiences, etc., are motivated by the desire to make "a show" of prayer/piety, or to do something "religious" to somehow sanctify the event.

Even in worship services in a local body of believers, there is a huge temptation to sound "holy" and "deep" instead of honestly speaking aloud, from the heart, the true needs of the congregation before each other and the Lord Who is the true Audience.

Amen

One of my pet peeves is when a preacher preaches a sermon to the congregation during the "prayer to God."

Amen

I believe that's why Jesus recommended making one's prayer life primarily a private thing, not a public event.

Amen

One of the best pieces of advice I was ever given as a new Christian was to make my private prayers long and my public prayers short.

Amen

Hey, if you are going to agree with another's post there is just nothing more to say. :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Mexdeaf]

Amen.:smilewinkgrin:

 

[freeatlast]

If the media can see just how wrong this was one would wonder why this man cannot except that he is blinded by his own desire to be seen, the very thing the Lord rebuked the Pharisees for.

 

[righteousdude2]

Good Point

If the media can see just how wrong this was one would wonder why this man cannot except that he is blinded by his own desire to be seen, the very thing the Lord rebuked the Pharisees for.

The media doesn't always get it right, so kudos to them, too!

 

[rbell]

The fuss made over the "smokin' hot wife" obscures the other problems with the "prayer"--it was essentially an advertisement of the sponsor list. It sounded like he was paid by Sonoco fuel and others to mention them in his "prayer."

At least there could be an argument made (weak though it may be) that he's proud of his wife and finds her attractive. The other parts of his "prayer" were shills for ad time. I think that's patently offensive to God--and if I were to do that, I'd have an extremely upset church when I got back home (and rightfully so).

But frankly...the church's anger would pale in comparison to how God felt about the "prayer."

 

[Mexdeaf]

I've been mulling this over for a few days and have come to the conclusion that the most important thing here is not that he prayed nor the fact that he uttered those particular words, but instead his motivation for uttering them- he was not there to pray, he was there to entertain and to "help God along".

It's despicable, but all of us have been guilty of those things at times- well maybe YOU havent...

 

[sag38]

He prayed from the gut and not from the heart of God. Big mistake!!

 

[Andy T.]

I agree with Rbell. The prayer was flippant and shameful. He essentially broke the 3rd commandment and took God's name in vain. One should not address God in such a flippant manner.

 

[Arbo]

He essentially broke the 3rd commandment and took God's name in vain. One should not address God in such a flippant manner.

That's how I see it.

 

[Gershom]

The preacher made a mistake in taking prayer to such a level, and in marking his wife to be looked upon as something to be lusted after.

But we've all made mistakes and hopefully a lesson learned here.

 

[rbell]

The preacher made a mistake in taking prayer to such a level, and in marking his wife to be looked upon as something to be lusted after.

But we've all made mistakes and hopefully a lesson learned here.

Of course, much of the country has been under an intense heat wave...

Maybe he meant she was literally hot, to the point of combustion...



...OK, that was weak, but I was trying to give guy a break. No dice, though.

 

[Aaron]

My question is, where is the grace? Haven't you read, "In every thing give thanks:"? Haven't you read the Song of Solomon? Did God suddenly set you up as the arbiter of what is and isn't acceptable to Him? Of all the judgmental, condemning, self-righteous, holier than thou attitudes. You make me want to scream! Can't believe the moderators let you all get away with this . . .

Just some of the things I've heard over the years when I pointed out the carnal nature in some forms of worship. I can't help but think if he were dressed like a thug and rapped the prayer you all would be praising him. :wavey:

 

[Chessic]

In my view "smokin' hot" not only refers to the physical attractiveness of the pastor's wife, but has a connotative meaning that implies "sexy," basically saying, "my wife is sexually appealing." There's no place for showing off, or even reminding others, of the sexual appeal of one's spouse.

Reminds of another thing I hear some Christians say: "That sucks." Sucks? To what do you think this refers?

Let's be less "in the world" in our speech.