Sister Aimee
Sorry I've been away from this for so long--I was away last week working on my school work. Just finished an interesting paper on Aimee Semple McPherson (everyone called her "Sister Aimee"), a famous Pentecostal minister from Los Angeles; she certainly led a life of intrigue! She went to China as a missionary as a young bride, and when she was pregnant with their first child, her husband Robert died of malaria. She came back to the US and began driving a "gospel car" across the country, crisscrossing the nation at a rate of about 150 miles per day, stopping to preach and distribute Pentecostal literature. She eventually founded a church in California, then disappeared and was feared drowned, then reappeared with a fantastical story of being kidnapped and taken to Mexico; however, juicy rumors claimed she was having an affair with a church employee. She preached elaborate, staged sermons with costumes and props. She was a champion of the poor but at the same time was accused of having a lot of money squirreled away that no one (including the IRS) knew about.
And people think our church is exciting!
Sometimes, we think that we've got to distance ourselves from people like Sister Aimee. After all, she may have been a lying, thieving adulterer. And I suppose it's good to take a good honest look at her life before pledging allegiance to all of her teaching.
Yet we must realize that through it all, Sister Aimee did some powerful good work. She hobnobbed with Hollywood celebrities who flocked to hear her preach. She fed the poor, housed the homeless in her own home.
When our heroes turn out to be mere humans, we should remember that it is mere humans who God has entrusted the gospel to. It is we who are sinful who have been made children of God. The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 1,
"It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill...But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice..."
And people think our church is exciting!
Sometimes, we think that we've got to distance ourselves from people like Sister Aimee. After all, she may have been a lying, thieving adulterer. And I suppose it's good to take a good honest look at her life before pledging allegiance to all of her teaching.
Yet we must realize that through it all, Sister Aimee did some powerful good work. She hobnobbed with Hollywood celebrities who flocked to hear her preach. She fed the poor, housed the homeless in her own home.
When our heroes turn out to be mere humans, we should remember that it is mere humans who God has entrusted the gospel to. It is we who are sinful who have been made children of God. The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 1,
"It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill...But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice..."
posted by Rev. Michael Jordan at 2:23 PM
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