Jesus Christ was one of the most intolerant people in the world!

[Jamastiene]

Nope, I didn't say that. A Mass. preacher did. It is a quote from an article I just read that sent shivers down my spine. I don't come here often because I don't know how to behave, but I thought you would want to know about this and do what you see fit (pray, maybe) so that these people do not succeed in their plan to fill America with more hatred and vitriol.

Here is a link to the article:
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=654

Thank you for listening, er, I mean reading.

[RevCheesehead]

1. Oh my dear God in heaven.

Perhaps Tom Crouse, a preacher from Holland, Mass., who is irate at his state's decision to allow gay marriages and who claims homosexuals have threatened to kill him, best summed up the tone of the event -- and also brought the audience back to the Christianity that it was officially tasked with saving from secular assault. "I am here to proclaim that God made us heterosexual," Crouse said to wild applause on the first day. "Jesus was not a pot-smoking hippie," he added. "Jesus Christ was one of the most intolerant people in the world!"

My response to preacher Tom:
1. Oh, Tom. People are confused. They think you're Tom Cruise. But if you keep up with bullshit like this, people ARE going to want to shut you up. (see #4)

2. I just returned from the most wonderful ecumenical service in our community, held each year during "Shanty Days." In it, Methodists, Catholics, Lutherans, and Assembly of God members all joined together in worship at the Lake. We did not focus on our differences. We did not need to create an enemy, or name an evil. We gathered in the name of the Living God, and left with an incredible feeling of love and unity.

3. Jesus wants to know what you have against weed. And hippies. And the gay thing - it isn't contagious, buddy. So if you've got issues, then deal with them privately, AND SHUT THE FUCK UP ABOUT IT ALREADY!!!

[Jamastiene]

2. Thank you for saying something in response to these

hateful people. I just don't get their philosophy. It's not logical at all. That bunch mentioned in the article sounds awfully dangerous to me. :scared:

[RevCheesehead]

3. They totally miss the mark.

In Sunday's texts, the point was made perfectly clear - by Paul, of all people - that God sent Jesus to the world as an act of LOVE, and that we are called to imitate Jesus, in showing LOVE to all people.

How Christian leaders could miss this is beyond me.

And remember, these are the kind of people Jesus was talking to when he said "do not worry about the speck in your neighbor's eye, when you have a huge log in your own eye."

Jammie, I'm sorry these kind of people express such hatred in the name of Christianity. It grieves me, and it grieves Jesus as well. :hug:

[hashibabba]

4. Thank you, thank you, thank you,

RevCheesehead, I agree with you completely on all counts! We need to shout it from the rooftops! A lot of Christians don't even know that!

[Jamastiene]

5. Thank you for your acts of compassion.

I wish more people like you could be heard more often than the hatemonger types in our country. I believe our circumstances would improve if people knew they could have a loving kind of Christianity instead of having to deal with the hate every time they turn around.

[RevCheesehead]

8. Thanks, sweetie.

I don't know what we have to do to get that kind of platform. All the TV preachers get their $$ from the ultra-conservatives, and if they want to stay on the air, they have to give them what they want.

I have to remind myself that Jesus didn't preach to be popular. He offered a new way of life, which many people chose to reject... even his own religious leaders. Ultimately, they killed him for being too different, and too much of a threat.

I'm glad you brought this discussion to us! :hug:

[Critters2]

6. Rev. C, you're my hero

I love knowing there's another pastor out there who uses "the 'f' bomb" from time to time. I feel liberated!

And everything else you said is good, too.

My colleagues here don't do ecumenism too well. Only mainliners come to our ministerial association, the conservative protestants have their own group--with a creedal requirement I can't affirm--and the Catholic priests (very Catholic town--three churches with 2 priests each) have their own thing, too. Breaks my heart.

I'm glad your community is getting it right!

[RevCheesehead]

7. Aw, shucks!

I had good training from great friends. :evilgrin:

The community sort of gets it - unfortunately, the church in the community is the one having some major relationship issues. It has been officially diagnosed "an unhealthy system." We need lots of prayer, grace, and a few $$ to address the problems.

Funny, isn't it - it seems that their real problem is that they're too small of a church to ignore the problems. But the problems are what's driving people away (especially the middle aged and younger people). They don't seem to realize that they're their own worst enemy.