Christina Aguilera isn't alone: preachers have super slip-ups

Christina Aguilera publicly embarrassed herself when she forgot a line of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl in 2011. But preachers, who speak all the time, find that “slip-ups” are a hazard of their occupation. Here are a few samples:

Pastor Jimmy in Paint Creek, Texas, was at the grave side of a lady whom he had known for nearly 20 years. He said, “We are here to place the body of…” Nothing came to him except two names and he knew neither one of them was correct. The pastor next to him said, quietly, “Shirley.” Everyone knew what had happened, so he confessed, “I had a senior moment there.”

Pastor Kevin in Falkner, Mississippi, was preaching one time and intended to say, "Jesus is Lord!" Problem was, his intentions did not play out. He said, "Satan is Lord!" He never had any idea what he had said until his wife told him about it weeks later.

Pastor Paul in Metairie, Louisiana, was telling the story of the Prodigal Son's return to the father that he blurted out the father's memorable line, "Kill the fatted pig!" The laughter didn't stop until the sermon ended. (If you don’t get it, look up Luke 15:11-32, especially verse 23.)

My favorite comes from Pastor Rick in San Antonio, Texas. He says, “Once, my wife gave me 'that look' as I was preaching, and knowing that I said nothing wrong, I stopped and asked, "Why are your giving me 'that look'?"... Her public response was, "ZIP UP YOUR ZIPPER!"

Now that’s one super slip-up that Christina Aguilera will never make.

Scripture reminds us of how we all slip-up on a regular basis. The apostle Paul bluntly says, “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). He quotes numerous Old Testament affirmations of our imperfection, and interestingly, a lot of them have to do with messing up in the mouth. Romans 3:13-14 mentions the throat, tongue, lips and mouth.

Thank God we can be “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).

So when you slip up, look up. Look to God for His forgiveness and grace. And when your brother or sister slips up, offer them the same grace.

(Copyright 2011 by Bob Rogers.)