Perry Noble: The Frankenstein Syndrome

“It’s alive. It’s alive!” These famous words were spoken in the 1931 movie version of Frankenstein. We all know the scene, even if we have never seen the movie. It is etched into pop culture as we know it. Dr. Frankenstein is in the process of attempting to create life in his own image by patching spare body parts. As the lightning hits his experiment it brings the jolt of energy to reanimate the monster to life. I say monster because what Dr. Frankenstein actually creates is far from the intended desire. What follows is chaos and destruction.

You may be asking yourself: What does this have to do with Perry Noble? Though, not isolated to Perry, we have become overly obsessed with these high-profile preachers, their falling from glory and debating when and if they should ever return to ministry. If you were unaware, Perry Noble recently went through rehab for alcoholism, and afterward entered into a consulting job for leaders that focuses primarily on church ministry. As well, he just recently spoke at Elevation Church for their 11th year anniversary.

It didn’t take long for the internet to blow up as article after article jumped on the bandwagon of covering the news that Perry was “back in the saddle”. With article titles like “Alcoholic Pastor, Perry Noble, Says He Will Return To Ministry“ and “Fired NewSpring Pastor Perry Noble Returns to Pulpit at Elevation Church,” people are not slow with their opinion and debate if Perry should be returning to ministry or should be preaching at Elevation Church at all.

Why the obsession? Why the need to dissect the life patterns of one man, one preacher, one leader? In a lot of ways, we have turned into the tabloid version of the Christian world, looking to get the dirt on Perry, his life, and lay judgment on the decisions he makes. Though the obsession is bad enough, I sit and wonder why people are so worried about Perry choosing to guest preach or find work as a consultant. As though he is Dr. Frankenstein attempting to revive his dead ministry/career and if we allow this, we will collectively create a monster.

I find it funny that people would be so ready to wish to axe any attempt for him to serve the church, not as a pastor, but as a consultant. As though, because he finds himself being imperfect and broken, that he is unqualified to work. Not that I am saying he, and those close to him, should not use wisdom in guiding him in moving forward, but it is the obsession of the masses wishing to dissect his every move that makes me wonder if we are actually the mad scientists in this story and not Perry.

Is he beyond God’s ability to redeem and be used in the midst of his brokenness, through his brokenness and with his brokenness?

Which brings us to his guest preaching at Elevation Church. I could sit and tell you all about the sermon and the details surrounding it, but honestly, I think you should listen to it yourself. What struck me about the message was both the introduction by Pastor Steven Furtick in how he honored Perry and his impact on Elevation Church but also that Noble did not make it all about himself.

I think that Furtick did a wonderful job of speaking into Perry’s life through his introduction and also gave just enough to both honor Perry and give context to why he was speaking. The introduction alone is worth the 10 minutes. But the message that follows is impactful, to say the least. A raw and real exhortation to the congregation of Elevation Church and all those who heard him.

Noble did not stray away from the topic of his addiction but he did not make it the main focus of his message either. He used certain details to springboard and point to Jesus, His finished work on the cross and the hope of the message that God isn’t finished with anyone of us. It may not have been his best message, or the most exegetically honest, but it was real, it had power and it spoke life to those who so desperately needed hope when they may have felt hopeless.

Honestly, it was beautiful to see how Perry could show how God showed up in his darkest hour and flipped the script on its head and through his story brought a light and hope that people could cling to and raise as their own banner as well.

I believe what we are seeing unfold is not a freak experiment come to life and form into a monster. But a man who God isn’t finished with yet and use that experience to exhort others to realize:

If God isn’t finished with him, He isn’t finished with you.

Even in our lowest places, our darkest decisions and our worst of sins, God is still saying, “I am not done with you yet.” That there is hope for the broken, the hopeless, the sinners, the disqualified and that He wishes to take us from that low place and make us into the masterpiece we are called to be.

Am I predicting what Perry Noble’s future will look like? Of course, not. I don’t know Perry’s heart, what decisions he will make in the future, or if he is ready for whatever next step he will take. But what I can hope for is that God is working in this man’s life, as he is in all of our lives, and I can hope and pray that God will continue a good work that He started, no matter how hard we try and derail it.