Theoblogy
My long-time nemesis, John “Pastorboy” Chisham, made the news here in the north land for out-assholing free-Bible-guy Brian Johnson at Twin Cities Pride last weekend.
Chisham and I used to be able to chat personably and agree-to-disagree, as you can see in the video below. He had garnered a reputation as a tough-but-fair member of the “online discernmentalist mafia.” He is also a clergyperson in good standing in the Christian and Missionary Alliance, a denomination that I think would be embarrassed by his antics.
But as time has elapsed, Chisham has spun out of control. He’s written things online that are patently untrue and he’s crossed the line from civil public disagreement to offensive personal attacks. His weekend stunt at Pride was only his most recent attempt to garner attention. Last fall, he put out an online call for like-minded preachers to join him outside of the JoPa event, Christianity21 — at which 21 women preachers were highlighted — to proclaim 21 alternative sermons. Not one person joined him. Instead, he stood behind a shrub and recited Bible verses, and, as far as I could tell, not one participant at Christianity21 even knew he was there.
I realize that bringing attention to him here is a double-edged sword. Like kicking an hornets’ nest, I imagine that he will temporarily increase his attacks on me now. So be it.
Because the moral of the story comes at the end of this paragraph in the StarTribune story:
Another protester at Saturday’s event, John Chisham of Marshall, Minn., attracted far more attention than the Johnsons as he stood on a box with a sign that read “You are an abomination to God, You justify the wicked,” preaching to a jeering crowd. Chisham attracted shouts of disapproval and arguments from passersby. Eventually, Pride attendees stood in front of him with signs that read, “Standing on the Side of Love.”
Yes, that seems like the best possible response.
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