Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals Invites Pastor Known for Cigar and Horror Interests to Reformed Conference in Byron Center, Michigan

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals has invited Thorn, a pastor and podcaster, to speak on justification and the Christian life at its upcoming Reformed theology conference. Some observers say the invitation runs counter to the alliance’s stated mission of “calling the church … to repent of its worldliness.” Thorn’s public work includes a series of videos and posts that reflect his enthusiasm for cigars, bourbon, tattoos, horror films and dark fiction.

The conference, titled “Redemption Accomplished and Applied,” is scheduled for March 16 at the First Christian Reformed Church of Byron Center, Michigan. Thorn is slated to lead a session on “Justification Through Faith Alone” and a workshop on “The Cross and the Christian Life.” Other speakers include Liam Goligher, Ian Hamilton and David Murray.

Thorn leads Redeemer Fellowship in St. Charles and is the author of several books, including “Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself,” “Experiencing the Trinity: The Grace of God for the People of God,” and a trilogy on the church: “The Life of the Church,” “The Heart of the Church” and “The Character of the Church.” Moody Bible Institute, where he is a graduate, published the trilogy under its Moody Publishers label. Thorn co-hosts the podcast “Doctrine and Devotion” and is often pictured or filmed smoking a cigar.

Thorn’s YouTube series “Pastors in Cars Smoking Cigars,” posted in 2017, shows him and pastoral assistant Jimmy Fowler speaking casually on various subjects before turning to the video’s topic. In one clip, Thorn asks Fowler to identify a song played from a phone through the car stereo, and Fowler names a 2000s hit. In another video, the two discuss alcohol at a friend’s party, with Fowler saying his wife had supplied bourbon and cigars for his birthday. Social media posts from Thorn, Fowler and others associated with Redeemer Fellowship have shown similar interests, including one image of a tray of liquor that the poster said “knows how to throw an elders’ fellowship.”

Thorn has also appeared on Les Lanphere’s “Reformed Pubcast,” a podcast about alcohol and theology, and was featured in Lanphere’s film “Calvinist.” In a 2015 episode, Lanphere discussed how Christians should act toward others who object to drinking. Thorn, in the same discussion, said that the Apostle Paul would avoid drinking around people who might stumble, but would not accept the claim that Christians may not drink at all. Thorn has also said on the Popcorn Theology podcast in 2016 that he has favored the horror genre for many years and watches about one new or unseen horror movie each week. He named the R-rated film “Frailty” and “The Bad Seed” among his favorites, describing the latter as a film “everyone should watch.”

The conference’s program and the alliance’s decision to invite Thorn have drawn attention because of the contrast between his public persona and the alliance’s stated call to repentance. Accountability for speakers in a church setting is a matter of shared concern, and the source material does not report any response from the alliance or the host church. (1 Corinthians 8:9 is a fitting reference for the discussion of how believers should act around those who may stumble.)

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