Interview with Craig Gross of XXXChurch.com

[The Gutter: Where Life is Meant to be Lived]

Craig Gross, a co-founder of xxxchurch, was kind enough to take the time to answer some questions for me. Gross is the kind of guy with a heart for ministry that isn't found all that often in the U.S. these days, at least not in my experience. I admire him because of his carefree willingness to do whatever God asks. We should all be so eager. Unfortunately, most of us aren't. I highly recommend reading The Gutter. Its a book that will get you thinking about how you conduct your life as a Christian.

So, before you even finish reading this interview, click on the link above and buy The Gutter. I mean it. Of all the books I have recently read, this is the one that I have found the most valuable, powerful, thought provoking and attitude chaning.

So here it is:

In your experience, do Christians struggle with pornography addiction as
much as non-Christians?

Yes... Just as much. I think it sucks that divorce and porn are just as common in church as out of church.

You use the term "pre-Christian" throughout The Gutter. What do you mean by
this?

I think it is the same thing as nonchristian just a different way of saying
it. I think it just sounds a bit different. Prior to becoming a christian.

Where is the gutter? Need it be in the obvious places?

My gutter is the Porn Industry. My friends gutter is the tattoo shop. My other friends in rock clubs. The list goes on. There are gutters everywhere, everyone has one, you just have to open your eyes and open your heart to God and see where he wants to use you. It could be your family could be your gutter.

Being in Christian circles, I've heard the phrase, "in this world, but not of it" more times than I care to admit. While its probably true, it seems we have taken it to mean that we need to cover our eyes and ears and hide from the "evil world." Why do you think this attitude has come about?

Scared Christians! Jesus's last words to his disciples were to GO INTO ALL THE WORLD. He promised he would be with them. They did not have it all figured out, but he told them he was with them and would go with them. The closer you get to the fire, the closer I believe God comes to you and protects you.

I am tired of lazy, scared, weak Christians that are afraid of the world. How are we going to have an influence on the world from the sidelines. The sidelines are the Pews, I believe. Get out of the church and into the world.

When I first became a Christian, I witnessed another "Pastor Bible," at my college, screaming and yelling about how all the pagan college kids, 'whores' and 'sinners', were going to burn in hell. The students around him were angry, and not just with the crazy preacher, but with Christianity. This is an extreme example, but it seems to me that many Christians have a bit of a "Pastor Bible" within. Do you agree? If so, how do we better reach out?

A better way of reaching out is putting the sign down and the megaphone down and loving people as Christ loved people. If you ever came with us to a porn show you would noticed that what we do is pretty easy. Let me explain: It is the hardest thing we do having to be in that environment, but the easiest thing. We meet people where they are at, we go to them, we listen, we talk when asked too and we show them love regardless if they believe, look, talk or act like us....

You seem like the kind of guy who seizes the moment. You hear God and you act. Paul was that way--the classic type A of the Bible. How can those of us who want to be more type A about our faith do it? How do we break out of our shell?

Start with something today. God wants to use everyone now. Not after you graduate, retire, get married or get a job. Today.

He took a bunch of unqualified misfits and changed the world with those guys. They dropped everything they had and followed Christ. We have it easy. Most of us are not going to leave our family, but we must be willing to just go. Just do what Christ has called us to do. He is just looking for willing people. If you are willing and want to shine for Christ he has a place for you.

It seems to me that 'the gutter' can be right inside the doors of a church as well. The gutter can be the lukewarm attitude that fills so many churches. What is your opinion on this?

How can one can convey the importance of reaching into the gutter to a "traditionalist" church culture that would rather shy away from the world, or go around the world, rather than reach in?

That is why there is a up and coming generation that is not interested in church. People 18-28 are not going to church because the church never went to them and they have given up. If we continue to shy away from the world the church will die a slow death. We have to go!

I listened to an mp3 of you speaking at Mars Hill Church in Michigan. Afterward Rob Bell went on to speak of the debt that you went into to start xxxchurch (this was Rob's idea, and Gross and Foster were unaware that Bell was going to ask for a collection for them). I was most surprised to hear that you were willing to go into debt for the cause. Do you ever have any fears about your calling? What would you say to those who feel called to do something but remain fearful of acting on the call?

Porn is expensive... and God has provided sometimes later than we wanted and sometimes right in the nick of time. But he gave us this ministry and knows we are up for the challenge.

I don't worry about money, God has provided and will continue. I quit my job as a youth pastor in 1999 and started a ministry and have never gone without. We are willing to take gigantic risks with this ministry and i think God has honored that.

Any plans for another book in the near future?

A few in the works...

1. Just finished a book called "The Dirty Little Secret" it is "The truth behind Porn". This is about my journey into the world of porn and the people that I have met along the way. An eye opener to a lot of people... I think it will be. Comes out with Zondervan in May 2006.

2. I am writing a book with my friend John Mahon right now called Starving Jesus. Really excited about this one.

3. Mike and I our starting a book called "7 ways to Ruin Your life".