Is it ok for a UPC preacher to call Obama a moron?

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I think the minister was out of line to do this behind the pulpit. It was inappropriate. But he has the right to say whatever he likes in my opinion – though I strongly disagree with it.

I have a few big issues with this personally…

First, I’m a father. I don’t want my son growing up thinking its okay to talk or behave like that. I want them to love and respect all people…including sinners that we take issue with. I mean, how can they love the lost if they are permitted to think and speak this way about them? When kids hear ministers use words and pejoratives what moral ground do I have as a father to say, “I don’t want you using those words.”? It really puts me in a difficult spot as a parent.

Second, I think it’s inappropriate to politic behind the pulpit. This is a prime example of how the institutional church has become the political lap dog for the political right wing of our nation. We need to become “kingdom minded” and drop the politics.

Third, I think it’s terribly insulting to saints of God who prayed and wrestled with their vote and chose to vote for Obama (right or wrong) for personal reasons relating to their health care, the economy, jobs, foreign policy, or what have you. It’s abusive and hurts. Many no doubt love and respect this minister and he just cut them to satisfy his own political bent. He obviously doesn’t care about the saints as much as making a spectacle with which to validate his “conservatism”.

Fourth, he could risk tax exemption status. Why put the church in a position to be scrutinized like that? Reckless.

Fifth, it destroys any good report the church might have to society at large. One man told me once on a flight from Texas that he wouldn’t go to church because anymore you have to be a Republican to go to church. I was saddened and assured him that wasn’t so… but we all know all too often this is the case in our churches.

Sixth, it calls God a moron. Ultimately God chooses who rises and who falls. He influences the hearts and minds of men to accomplish His ends and His plans rather they be for our chastisement or for our good. Ultimately… God chose Obama and the powers that be are ordained of God. Give honor unto the king.

So, I have other issues but those will suffice for now. You guys get my point.

God bless and keep you all.

Excellent post. Christians have to temper freedom of speech with Christian values. The fact that we have the political freedom to say whatever we like doesn't mean we should exercise that right as Christians.

[1Corinth2v4]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Sometimes your posts are just

Do you love me as yourself, rgcraig?

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by 1Corinth2v4

Do you love me as yourself, rgcraig?

Do you love all of US as you love yourself, I Corinth?

[Tina]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Do you love all of US as you love yourself, I Corinth?

Gotta keep bumping the question like he bumps questions till people answer.

[1Corinth2v4]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Do you love all of US as you love yourself, I Corinth?

I love you all as myself.......Even you MissBrattified. I mean, how could I love all my healthy toe nails and despise the rotten one? I can't despise you MissBrattified, no matter how hard a may try.

[Margies3]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Sometimes your posts are just

Originally Posted by 1Corinth2v4

Do you love me as yourself, rgcraig?

If you say something that is clearly funny and someone lets you know that you gave them a good chuckle, why would that make you wonder about whether they love you as much as they love themselves?

If I say something that makes someone laugh, I'm glad to know it. Feel free to laugh at all of my posts, in fact

[1Corinth2v4]

Originally Posted by Margies3

Feel free to laugh at all of my posts

Already do. Thanks, anyway.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Carpenter

(re-post)

I gotta tell you folks, I was at what I thought would be a refreshing conference this weekend, only to get there and hear a guy who if I mentioned his name EVERYONE would know him, get up behind the pulpit, admit he was exhausted and unprepared, proceed to preach some good anecdotes...and then some extremely bad stuff. The good stuff was inspiring, challenging and pretty much the stuff I have come to appreciate about this guy. Then...

He goes off the reservation and starts talking politics and society. He stands tall and flat out called Barak Obama an "moron" and that those who voted for him are with the "(*Edited) loving, (*Edited) promoting, abortion, moron..." crowd and that (those who voted for him) would be called into question at the judgment. He didn't say it once, he screamed it twice just in case some folks didn't hear it.

Not only was I shocked at what he said, I was even more shocked at the peolple standing on their pews pumping their fist screaming.

I was ashamed and embarassed and wondered what CNN would/could do with the DVD if they got their hands on it.

THEN, the organizer got up and tried to save the day with his diatribe how the UPC is getting smaller because of all the people leaving over standards, how those churches lost their glory when the women cut their hair off and the UPS and McDonalds uniform

Did someone say reform?

Man am I glad that stuff is in my rear view mirror...

heh. I stayed home. Bad attitude on my part. Last time I was there I was literally tackled by the evangelist.

I can see calling a political opponent out - but I don't think I would use a pulpit to do so. I'm pretty anti-Obama and make not bones about it - but a pulpit is a sacred desk and some issues just defile that sanctity, IMHO.

I don't see anybody 'leaving the UPC" just to wear a "UPS or McDonalds uniform." The UPC is "getting smaller" simply because they have little of relevance to say. Maybe this was just another case in point?

[Margies3]

Originally Posted by pelathais

heh. I stayed home. Bad attitude on my part. Last time I was there I was literally tackled by the evangelist.

I can see calling a political opponent out - but I don't think I would use a pulpit to do so. I'm pretty anti-Obama and make not bones about it - but a pulpit is a sacred desk and some issues just defile that sanctity, IMHO.

I don't see anybody 'leaving the UPC" just to wear a "UPS or McDonalds uniform." The UPC is "getting smaller" simply because they have little of relevance to say. Maybe this was just another case in point?

EXACTLY!!!! Well said!

[Arphaxad]

Originally Posted by 1Corinth2v4

I love you all as myself.......Even you MissBrattified. I mean, how could I love all my healthy toe nails and despise the rotten one? I can't despise you MissBrattified, no matter how hard a may try.

love the rotten toe, amputate it and put it in jar next to your tonsils, but keep on lovin' it.