Jesus Loves Porn Stars, Jesus Loves the Crook, Jesus Loves the Skeptic…

Craig Gross and Jason Harper have written a book with some intriguing chapter headings. The name of the book is "Jesus Loves You, this I know” and I was offered the opportunity to read it prior to its recent publication, with the request that I would consider blogging about it.

I have worked for years in the same type of ministry as Craig Gross, helping people addicted to pornography (I produced a video for and mentored with SettingCaptivesFree). I was curious what he would have to say. Never one to shy away from being controversial and challenging the status quo or “religious Christians,” I was not at all surprised by the chapter headings. I doubt too many people will get upset over these chapters: "Jesus loves the Bitter and Betrayed," "Jesus Loves the Outcast," "Jesus Loves the Broken" and "Jesus Loves the Disconnected." However, more than a few eyebrows are likely to be raised with "Jesus Loves the Crook," "Jesus Loves the Skeptic," and of course "Jesus Loves Porn Stars."

Now Craig has run ministries for years helping people with addiction to pornography, including well-known xxxchurch.com. But, he also has been helping those within the pornography industry to find their way out of it and into new lives. Most recently he founded a new church in Las Vegas called Strip Church, which expands on that ministry.

Recently, Craig toured the country debating famous porn star Ron Jeremy about the dangers of porn and, unlikely as it may seem, became good friends with Ron. On the stage they were vehemently disagreeing, but off stage they shared dinner and honest friendship. Now before you think that is way too weird, I recall a book I have in my library about Clarence True Wilson, a Methodist minister and one of the leading advocates for the passage of Prohibition in the 1920’s in the US. He also toured the country debating the dangers of alcohol and his debate partner was none other than Clarence Darrow, famous attorney from the Scopes Monkey trial. Again vehemently disagreeing onstage, then having a quiet dinner and traveling together afterwards.

I am sure if I picked apart every word Craig and Jason have to say in the book I could find something with which I would disagree. However, the fact is throughout the book I was saying to myself, "Right on guys, that is something Jesus would have said himself."

So what is the fundamental message of the book? It’s pretty simple. It’s in the title: Jesus Loves you, this I know. That simple message that many of us learned as a child cuts through all the complex religious views we often bring to our faith. While it is clear God is dead set against sin in our lives (after all he did kick Satan out of heaven), we must never forget that the sacrifice of His Son on the cross was an act of love not judgment.

In my years of lay counseling, I have learned the difficulties of speaking truth into a persons life if you have no relationship with them. Jesus spoke harshly at times to his disciples because he knew them and was teaching them for a time when he would be gone.

However, when faced with people with whom he did not have relationship, such as the woman caught in adultery, or the woman at the well or the various other tax collectors and prostitutes, he spoke to them of truth coupled with God’s grace. A verse from the Bible that I like to remember for myself is James 2:13 which says: …judgment without mercy, will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

There are inspiring stories in this book of mercy, triumphant over judgment. I hope you will pick up a copy and read this book and even if there are things with which you might disagree, I believe it will challenge you to examine your own heart. Condemnation, I feel, inevitably creeps into our hearts over time and this is something for which we must be repentant. I believe this book can help guide us in that process. God bless.

Eaar