After More Than 1.5 Million Views, Pastor Speaks Out About Viral Video

“I view [praise] as a reflection of the … millions of people who … believe that our world can be a better place … for all people.”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=A8JsRx2lois.

Source: youtube.com

Following attention this video has received more than two months after he gave the speech in Springfield, Missouri, Rev. Dr. Phil Snider of Brentwood Christian Church added some context to the speech on Saturday.

The video, which had minimal views for its first two months online, received more than 1.5 million views in the past couple days.

On Saturday, Snider wrote:

The last few hours have been a bit of a whirlwind for me, to say the least. I’m really heartened by all of the emails, Facebook messages, and kind words that I’ve received over the last 24 hours. As I read each one, I don’t see them simply as messages that seek to affirm a particular talk I gave on a particular night in Springfield, MO (as grateful as I am for such affirmations), but rather, I view them as a reflection of the thousands — indeed, the millions — of people who, on a daily basis, are journeying together because we believe that our world can be a better place, a fairer place, a more beautiful place — for all people and not just for some — and we won’t stop calling for a more beautiful world to be born. …

A lot of people ask, ‘How can a pastor who values the Bible take this kind of stance?’ Truth be told, there are a bunch of pastors and people of faith across the country who are open and affirming — not in spite of their faith, but precisely because of it. …

Secondly, to the many of you who said, “I wish I lived in Springfield, because yours is a church I could actually attend!” Well, this kind of statement makes my day. … I also want you to know that there are several churches around the US with a similar ethos. We may not be big churches or fancy churches, but we are there.

After discussing the issues involved, he closes:

My gratitude to each of you as we try to build a better world together, as we try to live into what Desmond Tutu once called the dreams of God for this world. Not for some people, but for all people.

After watching the full video (if you’ve not seen it already), read his full response.