The hush that spread across the auditorium was palpable. It was heavy and it was holy, but it was not comfortable. I’ ve lost count of how many conferences, seminars, and breakout sessions I’ ve attended or led worship for throughout the years. It’ s a setting I’ m commonly in, and I know the typical order of events like the back of my hand. This one, though, took a turn I wasn’ t expecting. The conference itself was, all in all, average, but the first session was about to hit me square between the eyes.
I’ d finished leading a few songs, set down my guitar, and followed my band to some seats in the back section of the room, mostly full of pastors and worship leaders. I was excited to listen to the first speaker because someone I really respected had talked highly of him. Conferences usually start with a message about getting our individual hearts right so we don’ t live from a dry well. Amen and amen to that sentiment. But this one took a left turn from the jump.
I’ d just met the speaker backstage, and he seemed like a cool and quirky guy. The MC finished welcoming the attendees and introduced him.“ Please put your hands together for Leonard Sweet,” he announced. Leonard had a terrific salt-and-pepper, mullet-shaped mane of hair that bounced with each step up the stairs to the stage. Being a follically-challenged man myself, or, in other words, bald, blessed, and beautiful, I can appreciate a good head of hair when I see one.
Leonard wasn’ t even to the podium when his voice piped into the space, projected through the headset mic strapped to his ear.“ All right, everyone, get out your phones or computers.” My perpetual seventh-grade self was ready for him to tell us to open our calculator apps, type in 55378008, and then turn our phones upside down. If you missed this reference, thank God for His blessing of protection on your heart and move forward. If you know, you know.
“ Log into your internet browser and put this phrase in there.” After he gave the room a moment to ready themselves, he continued.“ Type in‘ Why are Christians so...’ Next, add whatever letter comes to your mind. So, it should read‘ Why are Christians so s or j or f. Let’ s get crazy, put an a in there. Now, press enter and see which words it populates.”
" Let’ s rewrite the narrative and be known for the radical love of Jesus."
Standing on the edge of the stage, he invited the audience to yell out the first words that popped up. Words flew toward the stage. The voices speaking them were hesitant, reticent, and downright alarmed. Here are just a few:“ Mean, judgmental, persistent, fake, forceful, homophobic, arrogant, aggressive, condemning, self-righteous, against everyone, shallow, quick to speak and slow to listen, republican, anti-everyone, exclusive, crazy, cruel, heartless, sure that they are right, bad tippers, uncurious, evil, hypocritical, non- Christlike”... and on and on and on.
Sweet let it go on for an uncomfortable amount of time. Not one positive word was
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