Controversy erupted at the Stronger Men’s Conference in Springfield, Missouri, hosted by the James River Church, a well-known Pentecostal megachurch, when pastor Mark Driscoll publicly criticized a “strip-show-like performance by Alexandr Magala, a sword swallower and Las Vegas known for its past as a stripper.
The incident occurred after Magala, also known for his appearances on “Britain’s Got Talent,” performed at the conference shirtless. The outspoken pastor took the stage and expressed his dismay, suggesting that the spectacle was similar to the acts of seduction found in a strip club and indicative of a “Jezebel spirit.”
The term “Jezebel spirit” comes from the biblical figure Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab, mentioned in the Books of Kings in the Old Testament.
In contemporary Christian thought, the “Jezebel spirit” is seen as a demonic spirit or influence that leads individuals, particularly women (though not exclusively), to engage in similar behaviors attributed to Jezebel, such as manipulation, sexual immorality and rebellion against God’s order. ordered order.
Below is the performance of sword swallower Alexandr Magala:
Megachurch puts on a strip show at the men’s conference. Guest speaker Mark Driscoll spoke out against it and was kicked off the stage.
Incredible that a church allows this. Reason no. 538 to avoid attending a megachurch.#ChristisKing @pearlthingz @sovereignbrah @scrowder… pic.twitter.com/Fl2Vd3DDhn
— Caeden (@thecfrazier) April 14, 2024
“The Jezebel spirit opened our event… There was a pole on it… The same thing that is used in strip clubs for women who have the Jezebel spirit to seduce men. In front of that was a man who tore off his shirt like a woman does in front of a pole in a strip club… That man, therefore, is sinning,” Driscoll said.
John Lindell argued that Driscoll had crossed the line by not directly addressing his concerns before addressing the audience.
“If your brother offends you, go to him privately. I talked to Mark for half an hour. There wasn’t a word… If he wanted to say it, he could have said it to me first. He didn’t do it. You may not agree with me. You may not agree with him. But we are brothers in Christ, and there is a right way to handle this situation,” Lindell said.
According to social media users, the two pastors then returned to the stage to discuss the correct way to handle such disagreements within the church community.
The response on social media was mixed. One user defended the performance as a simple male stunt, arguing that seeing it as sexual in nature speaks to the viewer’s problems. Conversely, Twitter user Caeden, who shared the video, highlighted Magala’s past as a stripper, suggesting that the intent of the performance was indeed sexual.
He added: “This was NOT an issue with the Lindell, it was an issue with a performance that occurred in front of the church, so it should be addressed publicly. Lindell made an issue of it, which is even more alarming because he allowed it.
The Gateway Pundit has reached out to the Stronger Men’s Conference for comment.
CLOCK:
NEW: Pastor Mark Driscoll is kicked off stage at a men’s conference after calling out Pastor John Lindell for allowing a demonstration by a male stripper.
The incident occurred at the Stronger Men’s Conference in Springfield, MO.
After the Las Vegas stripper and the “sword swallower”… pic.twitter.com/hlDHqHHriY
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 14, 2024