Tennessee Church's 'Naked Jesus' Banners Stolen in Front of Pastor
A Tennessee church's banners highlighting a sermon series titled "Naked Jesus" was vandalized by a man who tore it down in front of the lead pastor.
Heartsong Church, a congregation based in Cordova with an average weekly attendance of approximately 350, is currently having a sermon series called "Naked Jesus: The Bare Necessities for Life by God."
Heartsong Church Lead Pastor Steve Stone told The Christian Post that the incident took place on Monday after he had lunch with his wife.
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"I noticed a flatbed semi parked in front of our land, and then noticed a man up by our banners. He ripped them down and put them in the cab of his truck and pulled away," explained Stone.
"I followed him and got enough information from the cab and where he went to make a police report. I only wanted the banners back, and hoped the police would catch him before he was able to destroy them. The police told me to stop following him, and I did, meeting them at the church property to make a report."
Stone went on to explain to CP that eventually he got the banners and he also got to contact the man responsible for the vandalism, explaining to him that he would not press charges under the condition that he not repeat the action.
"I called him yesterday and told him I only wanted his word that he would not tear the banners down again, and we would not press charges for vandalism and theft," continued Stone.
"After some conversation we came to an agreement as Jesus followers that will continue to disagree theologically, but did follow our Lord's direction to make an agreement with each other before we got to court."
The banners were promoting a sermon series taking place at Heartsong from Sunday, August 28 until Sunday, October 9. Stone acknowledged that the title for the series was "provocative."
"Our church is aimed at those who have no experience of church, only bad information about Jesus and his teachings and those who have had bad church experiences. The title, and the banner, is provocative, but is meant to provoke imagination about what it could mean," said Stone.
"Naked once meant 'unclothed,' and while it still means that, in our culture it also means bare, unadorned, basic, pure, etc."
