Michael Carbone August 4th, 2012

I am the General Manager of WEGO in Winston Salem. We will be dropping your show as soon as our contract permits. This reprehensible comparison you have made between the pervert of this novel and our Lord and Savior was only the beginning of your purile, juvenile and dispicable attitude today, punctuated with crude jokes and infantile sex humor. Shame on you. You owe the church an apology for your shameful behavior. You should have condemned this book, not "teased" it. Disgusting.

Cookie Groover August 5th, 2012

I sure am glad Jesus doesn't drop me off his list whenever he thinks I've done something wrong

davidjames August 5th, 2012

(for Michael Carbone)
I have to say that even though the "Old White Guy" wasn't part of it, this was one of t he best shows I have heard (although there are so many that make that list!).

And I have to say to Mr. Carbone, and I say this with all the kindness I can muster….what show were you listening too?? I found this to be insightful, clearly Biblical and much needed, in spite of Erik's edgy jokes. It is the self righteous narrow minded nature of the "Church" that has caused so much of our sexual discomfort. This woman's ability and perception to take a work done by, for, and about pagan attitudes toward sex and so adeptly point out that even in it's pagan twisted-ness, sex was created by God and the clear analogy of our connection with Christ is integral in it. There was NO comparison made about the character himself in the book but rather the qualities of the "perfect" relationship, which Sharon and the gang clearly pointed out can only be obtained through Jesus, not through unholy unions. I am amazed that any Bible believing person could listen to this and NOT see the comparison? The world so effortlessly reacts to the message of believers, why not allow the reverse to happen. That an obviously biblical woman can draw a Godly message from pagan works. Unfortunately, as Zach said, the Church has invested all of its energy countering the pagans display of sex in culture and very little if any exploiting the fact that God created this gift for marriage, for our pleasure.

As Steve says, " I do not speak from Sinai", my experiences have covered the whole spectrum, good and bad. And sadly I was raised in a church denomination that, like so many today shun the mere mention of the word sex with the ubiquitous staring down the nose in response. Between this church and my parents who were so brainwashed by it, I entered adulthood, marriage, and fatherhood totally unprepared for I was to face in this issue. As a teenager struggling with sexuality the church had nothing to offer except the implied message the that all topics related to sex were BAD, not to be uttered out loud. The end result was 23 years of difficult marriage, divorce and now 11 years of solidarity and celibacy. Add to that 3 grown children to whom I find it hard to discuss this as Sharon did with her daughter

I don't think you will find anything Sharon said is un-biblical, in fact it is the clearest interpretation of the recurring message that the Bible gives us…that We are the Bride and HE is the bridegroom. Sharon's use of Biblical masculine icons was very enlightening.

I am afraid Mr. Carbone it is you and whatever group you represent who owes the Church an apology. It is this Pharisaical attitude and lack of a grasp of the message of Grace that has made life hard for so many believers. I can't imagine Jesus responding with such scorn to anyone….except the Pharisees in regard to the impossible burdens that they put on converts. It is not juvenile to honestly face a problem that we a ll deal with daily.

God created EVERYTHING. Making this great taboo out of something he created would be like making the discussion of plant pollination totally off limits to believers. And I am fairly confident from the beginning if the Church had done so the Pagan Hollywood culture would have made twisted and evil movies about horticulture!

As Sharon said sexual purity has long been held forth as either the result of and/or the path to ultra-spirituality. The other side of that coin is that idea that sexual sin has some category of its own in the spectrum of all sin!! Sin is Sin. As the statistic of 78% of sexual dissatisfaction obviously states we are a much broken group (believers) when it comes to sex. We have all invariably had bad role models, no role models, and messages from out spiritual guides that simply ignore such a large issue that h as resulted in our brokenness. The beach ball analogy couldn't be a better picture.

I know this has been long and windy but…. once again I tip my hat to the SBE gang for their honesty and fearlessness to reach out to a Church that has been intentionally confused on so many fronts. I listened to it TWICE!! I absolutely love Sharon's message and as she said thank God there is grace for the pharisees of the church too!

davidjames August 5th, 2012

oops……not "solidarity and celibacy"…but rather "solitude and celibacy"

Cookie Groover August 5th, 2012

Great write David! I agree totally with you and it's a good thing grace is for the Pharisees too cause theres a lot out there…

Jordan August 6th, 2012

Camels and gnats much? I haven't listened to the podcast itself (or that really long comment), but frankly I don't have to. I know Erik. He's more Jesus freak than most anyone else I know!

"This reprehensible comparison you have made between the pervert of this novel and our Lord and Savior was only the beginning of your purile…"

I should probably listen to the podcast, I guess. But God knows about sex. He ordained it. Sex isn't dirty, its just dangerous. It needs marriage like a drowning man needs a life vest.

Jordan August 6th, 2012

One hour to download 38.4 MB. This show just got popular.

Larry Waite August 6th, 2012

To Michael Carbone…I hope you get over yourself, because that's no way for to live. Did you read "Three Free Sins"? I recommend it to you. God is not mad at you!

Larry Waite August 6th, 2012

No way for you to live,

Rebecca Hunnicutt August 6th, 2012

I definetly was taken aback by the coarse jokes and foolishness that took place on this show, and there are scriptures that speak against such behaviour…and I can surely understand Mr. Carbone's opinion. I will not stop listening to Steve Brown, but I won't be listening to this particular show again. I'm a little leary of anyone who focuses on sex daily. I know that sex is a gift to married people, and if you live long enough and stay married to the same person long enough, (and I have), then you also know that sex is many things at different periods in your life. Sometimes good, sometimes great, and sometimes not so good…you accept this in an imperfect sinful fallen world…as just the way it is! To do otherwise is only going to bring dissapointment. I want to sat that I feel the show said some very interesting things and some were even biblical…but they were presented in an irrevernt manner. I would be embarressed if I were a part of this. I believe if anyone should be given an apology it should be Bob Jones University and the people associated with it….I am not, but know somewhat about them and the curriculum they provide to home-school parents like myself. The jokes made about them were rude and uncalled for. It wasn't funny, it was arogant and had a superior tone to them. Even if you believe the things you said about them remembe…they are our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus…your comments were very un-loving and un-kind.
and Jordon…if you are gonna have such a 'i know it all' opinion…you really should READ and LISTEN, otherwise anything u say is of no relivance.

Jordan August 6th, 2012

I've read and I'm trying to listen, but the download is taking forever. And I am relevant in my knowledge of the hosts character. I'm a character witness. :p

Jordan August 6th, 2012

I agree wholly with a great many of your points, Mrs Hunnicutt. Reverence toward and respect of an issue is important. But the modern Church has to go quite a ways before it become sinfully irreverent. There is a traditionalism in the American church that bothers me. I love the Word of God, with all my heart, and there are parts of the Church that I love too. But there is an undercurrent of religiosity in today's Church that makes me sick. We are too married to the Republican party, for instance, and we've made too much of a home here on this planet. This isn't our home, this isn't our country, and the Republican party does not serve us politically. The war is over, it ended at Calvary. Now is a time to seek out refugees.

I speak for myself here. I don't speak for Steve Brown or even Erik.

Benny Blanco August 6th, 2012

Didn't Jesus hang out with whores without passing judgement on them?

"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." -Ghandi

Sharon Hersh August 6th, 2012

It's a wild ride when you combine the creative team on this show, the subject of sex, and a very human woman (me) who seldom says things exactly like I wished I would have said them. Especially when it comes to talking about the subject of sex and Jesus.
I think those concerned by this program are right. Sex is a really big deal. That's why books like Fifty Shades of Grey sell millions. We can either shake our heads in disgust (because there is a lot to be disgusted about), or we can ask, "What makes this story so compelling?"
Our sex lives matter. Marriage matters. Sexual abuse and lonely singleness matter. When we condemn the sexually saturated culture, we lie about The Gospel. When we relegate conversations about sex to rules and regulations, we lie about The Gospel. God created us, at a cellular level, to long to be joined to another, so that every story of being pursued, romanced, ravished, and made one with another — whether in the sinful story lines of a romance novel or in the elegant story lines of a fifty-year, life-giving marriage — are intended to make us ask, "Will I ever find a man to love me like that?"
So is "Christian" (the sinful character in Shades of Grey) like Jesus? No. But the question that lingers after every teen-aged soap opera or every best-selling love song is about Jesus. Jesus — the Ultimate Man — romances us through this fallen world and even in our very bodies so that we can see what we're without. We don't need to read an empty, porn-like novel to know that we're without. Singleness, a bad marriage, sexual addiction, and sexual abuse — God romances us with these painful story lines with patient, eager longing that we will call on Him to fill our emptiness.
Sex is the mirror in which we see what we were made for and how far we fall short of that in human experience. That's why a radio program with four very human people is certain to fall short in talking about this subject.
Do you see why God is so continually concerned with sexuality? And do you see why Satan continually tries to desecrate it? Because it's God's premier reference to His relationship with us — that He's crazy in love with us and has bound Himself to us in an eternal covenant, knowing full well how far we will far short in loving Him and even in talking about our relationship with Him. The Enemy wants to distort this reference point with books like Shades of Grey and radio shows that don't say it right or even well so that we'll think that sex is a subject we should just avoid, and then maybe we'll think that an intimate, passionate relationship with Jesus is something best avoided as well.
I am deeply sad that I might have offended someone with sentences that inadequately expressed what I believe about this most sacred subject. As Zach says, "I'm so glad it's all about grace." I don't say that flippantly, and I know Zach doesn't either. This subject of sex is intended to remind us of exactly of the grace we desperately need because we are so prone to offend, tell a joke at the wrong time about the wrong thing, criticize, judge, and shame. We need a Lover who will only see Love when He looks at us — who is faithful when we are faithless; who won't forsake us, even if we chase love in all the wrong places; who hung stripped and naked on a cross to cover our sin and shame; who is bound to us by His own covenant of grace, so that we are one with Him — bone of His bones and flesh of His flesh. (Romans 3:22)
I hope we keep having these conversations and offer mercy and grace to one another. Satan wants to take our broken, difficult, disappointing relationships (and radio shows) and turn them into our reference point — rather than making developing an intimate relationship with Jesus as the reference point. That's what I want and need! I pray — for every listener and especially for those who took the time to submit a comment — that an intimate relationship with Jesus truly becomes more real than all the disappointment, sadness, fear, and anxiety experienced in human relationships.
One more comment about the "bit" about Bob Jones University. I am grateful for the education I received there. I think the funniest or most ironic "point" may have been missed because we ran out of time — that this Institution filled with people who love Jesus and teachers who teach at the highest academic standards would graduate me with "The Citizenship Award" — a woman who has travelled a lot of miles marked by flaws and failures, whose only certain award of citizenship is in Heaven. After all of this dialogue I'm glad for the promise, "There's far more to life for us! We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him" (Philippians 3:20-21). Amen!

Jordan August 6th, 2012

Ok, I just listened to it. Now I'm relevant. **sniff, sniff** Hmm, relevance doesn't smell that much different from irrelevance.

Cynthia August 7th, 2012

The author was on focus on the family. Maybe you'll like how they handled it. If not, take them off the air too.

Andrew Holmes August 7th, 2012

Michael, my goodness these guys gave you an opportunity to show your righteousness in all its glory. I hope you sent them a thank you letter. You even got to show off all those resources you have at your disposal. Could they have made you look any better? Wow. Guys will you do another show outside of Michael Carbones comfort zone ? I would like to see if he can call down fire from the heavens..

Michael Carbone August 7th, 2012

Sharon, thanks for your kind response to my harsh and emotional reaction from Saturday. I relistened to the entire broadcast to make sure I got context and nuance. While I still have very serious objections about the content, I regret the tone of my former email. Unfortunately, david james, I cannot offer you (in the name of the "church") any liberty from the "sexual discomfort" you feel that somehow a desire to protect and defend the holy nature of procreation from crass jokes which you refer to as "edgy" statements is "narrow minded". Would to God that we would narrow our thinking on such holy subjects – that we now barge clumsily into as though God had not declared them holy. Nor benny blanco, who should re-read his Bible and find out that Jesus absolutely DID pass judgement on the prostitute (go and sin no more)…what he did not do was condemn her. There is a world's difference between the two. We are specifically called by the Bible to judge conduct.
With all that said, please know that I do not condemn Sharon Hersh; I like her. I'm sure that she and I would share a vast majority of our views (some of you must be shocked to hear that from a "Pharisee"). I found a great amount of common ground and found most of her commentary thoughful and heartfelt, having firsthand experience in these tough topics. I have also done marraige counseling, sexual addicition counseling, and have seen both abuse and restoration. As a pastor, I am also constantly fighting a culture war to defend my church from a permissive, profane society which we too often mirror rather than reject. Then, in what may be a defining moment, when we can unequivocally state that the world's culture as represented in 50 shades of gray is the moral filth and perversion that it is, we use words like "strong", "passionate", "pursuit" and "tenderness" to describe a disgusting, morally bankrupt person whose characteristics are said to be similar to Jesus! It does not help when hosts of Christian radio use the occasion of discussing holy union to crack jokes about how many times they have taken a sex class, or generally participate in what they later decry in the show – that society has coursened the sexual union of marraige. I do not apologize for standing for higher conduct. I do apologize for the harsh tone, and any feeling that my criticism was aimed at people, not conduct.

West III August 7th, 2012

I hope Mr. Carbone came back to read the comments here, especially Sharon Hersh's. He epitomizes the type of person who most needs Steve Brown Etc. and God's good news of grace. He also is in dire need of a sense of humor. Until reading his post I thought Keylife exageratted the negative responses received. Now I believe you!

I found nothing in the least bit objectionable about this program (and I'm past 50) and appreciated the mix of what I considered to be sound Christian doctrine with pop culture and comedy. We as Christians are in serious trouble if S-E-X is a topic we cannot discuss openly and reclaim it from the world.

I believe it is Mr. Carbone who owes the church an apology – along with Ms. Hersh and the SBE staff. Shame on YOU sir!

West III August 7th, 2012

BTW – apparently Mr. Carbone was writing his remarks at the same time I was writing mine so I didn't see his until after submitting mine.

My commendations to him for his apology and explanation. I do hope he also re-considers his decision to pull SBE from his radio schedule.

I thoroughly believe SBE needs to be heard – especially by those who disagree with it's content and that sometimes includes me – though rarely – as well.

Zach August 7th, 2012

I will continue to take sex class from Sharon every time it is offered at RTS because in it I am refreshed by the Gospel.

Christopher Battles August 7th, 2012

Thank you for this episode.
As a single fellow is was encouragement to enjoy where I am at now and stay strong.

K, bye

Jordan August 8th, 2012

Hear, hear, Mr. Carbone! I agree wholeheartedly with the heart and intent of your statements. Holiness is a good thing, not something to be shunned or crassly ridiculed. But I do not think that Erik was doing that. Sure he is a bit puerile at times. He really likes to push the line. But he was not being obscene. And I know for sure that he is mad about his faith.

There is a puritan undertone to the church in America, that I do not believe is necessarily founded on scripture. The Bible that I read uses quite a bit of sexual symbolism in its description of lover (Jesus) and the beloved (His Church). I completely agree that the culture of this world is derelict. But I also believe that, in America, we've grown up in a Christian culture that shuns even the discussion of sex. Sex is not dirty or pernicious, though it is dangerous. And our sexuality is not animal sexuality, it has a spiritual nature as well as a physical. That is what makes it dangerous. We do need convictions and to stand up for what is right and good in God's sight, but we need equal measure of compassion and a willingness to put judgement (though it is good) aside in order to bring people to Jesus.

God love you Mr. Carbone, and keep up the good work.

Jordan

Glenn August 8th, 2012

I wasn’t going to jump into the fray, though I was very tempted because I really like Steve and Erik. They have shown me the type of grace, freedom, and kindness that comes from being loved by God and loving him back.

This is a family matter and family feuds are the worst. Our families are on the receiving end of our ugliest moments, but they are also the people that tolerate us, and even love us, in spite all of our quirks. That’s what we need to do in this instance.

The problem I have with these family matters is that we act like it is all about us, the Christian community. The back-and-forth seems oblivious to the rest of the world. That world thinks Christians are self-consumed, self-righteous, judgmental and irrelevant, and too often, they are right. I can’t figure out how being easily offended does anything but reinforce that opinion.

Destructive sexual attitudes and behaviors characterize our world (and the church), so we should talk about sex. If Jesus loved prostitutes, then we can talk about pop culture and contrast it to the teaching of Scripture. If we can laugh a little in the process, it’s going to make it all more enjoyable and real. Lord knows we need to be real.

Rebecca Hunnicutt August 8th, 2012

Mr. Carbone, I just wanted to state…you have been very gracious, fair, and humble. You must be a man of good character, for you most obviously can take critisisim from people and not attack them back. I can sense a deep desire from what you've written here to be fair and open minded. Most of the others have not, they as most of us, want to lash out at anyone who disagrees with our thoughts. I love Steve Browns ministry, he has been used by God to help me with many issues…but I stand on what I stated earlier, I too found the show in bad taste. Which we actually have the right to do. God's Best to you Sir.

Cookie Groover August 8th, 2012

Ok let's hug this out now (((((hugs)))))

Eric Gatewood August 11th, 2012

Although I certainly can understand why even longtime loyal SBE listeners might think the Etc gang finally managed to fall off the daring edge of the grace cliff where they party, dance, and flaunt their freedom every week, I found this edition of the show to be (as virtually all of them are!) laugh-out-loud funny, refreshing, bold, and insightful. Now…if you want something TRULY crass and over the edge, how about my shameless attempt here to capitalize on this internecine squabble by plugging the teaching-and-talk station where I work? If you live in Winston-Salem, NC, you'll be pleased to know that WBFJ-AM 1550 was the first station in the area to pick up SBE, and we plan to continue to carry it. Saturdays at 3pm, and Sundays at 10am — y'all come! (Yes, Erik, we'll still air it even if you delete this comment…

davidjames August 11th, 2012

Sharon i don't know if you will read this but, it is very clear to me why you are the author and I am not! You said it so much better than I did. Wonderful response!