i hope i don't sound stupid in asking this question but, what exactly is it mr. silva is trying to say? that a christian minister should not perform marriage ceremony's for non-christians? that non-christians shouldn't get married?(he says something along the lines of 'this yoking together of unbelievers'). correct me if i'm wrong, but i don't really see the connection between the scripture he used and what he was trying to say. the scripture says "do not be yoked together with unbelievers". it doesn't seem to say anything about unbelievers being yoked to each other. or is he just upset at the fact that there's a fee? i'm not too concerned, but i am interested to know what exactly his issue is. maybe i misunderstood.

James,

Sure a point could be made. And it was perhaps in poor taste to focus so much on the money that could be made from officiating. The point of Tony's post about making money was, if you know him and where he is coming from, that this is a great way to connect with and minister to unbelieving people. And, it is also a way for a struggling, bivocational pastor (as most emerging pastors seem to be) to make a little extra money on the side.

One might have big problems with both of these things (the beer and the money-making). I can honestly respect that. But let me be clear: that is hardly a good reason for Mr. Silva to be an ass.

Just coming into this with absolutely no idea what the backstory is... Dosen't he kinda have a point.? The beer part, I dunno. It's certainly not the sort of thing you'd find on a normal outreach website.

The wedding thing does seem awfully, um. Yeah. The devorce rate is over 50% in the US. In light of this, talking about the money made by marrying unbelievers seems very callous. >_

Hey Mark.



Stop.




Reading.



problem solved :-P

btw, heard nothing but good about last week Tuesday. Thank you so much!

Wow.

Though there isn't a place for comments, there is a "contact" link if you click on "home." I suggest we fill his inbox, not with the kind of ill-conceived, poorly argued rhetoric that Silva uses, but with well reasoned questions about his exegesis and lack of dialogue.

If he really has a point worth arguing, opening up to comments will only enable him to strengthen his position, as Mark has shown us all.

Yes, you are correct. I would think that the Lord would likely see repentance to be in order here. :-)

I wonder how much energy Ken Silva spends "exposing" the emergent church? And how much time has he wasted of other people's who respond to his nonsense (including me). Ugh. Grow up Silva.