This is a reprint of a post in Street Prophets.
I won’t be silent – This is not CHRISTIAN!
by angeleyes
Mon Sep 07, 2009 at 03:48:18 PM PDT
I’ll begin by saying this. I’m angry. Righteously Angry!!
Just a little background on me. I’ve been a dedicated Charismatic, Evangelical Christian for almost 20 years. I was raised in a Christian home. I’ve studied the bible – which I believe is the inspired Word of God. I’ve meditated on the teachings of Jesus Christ. I’ve ministered and represented His teachings publicly.
I take a fair amount of heat, especially in Democratic circles for my Christian beliefs. It’s frustrating sometimes to be sure, but you know, with idiots representing my faith saying things like this:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/…
I completely get it.
Part of the reason I believe Christianity today is so misunderstood is because those of us who are passionate about our faith, and happen to be sane, rational creatures are overshadowed by maniacal kooks who “wear” the Christian label, but are far from followers of the faith.
I woke up this morning and was checking the morning news headlines on CNN. There was the story of this Pastor (if I have to call him that) Steven Anderson of the Faithful Word (although I’m not sure what “word” that would be) Baptist church in Arizona who really has opened his mouth, as a supposed Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and actually said that he hates President Obama and wants God to “break his teeth” (a veiled reference to Psalms 58:6 where David was asking God to go after the truly evil folks who were after him and were trying to slander him and take his life). HE SAID WHAT?!!
So I immediately started scouring the internet to see what the TRUE Christian response has been – crickets. No one from the faith has denounced him publicly yet? How is this even possible!
Well, I won’t be silent! This man does not represent the Jesus I know, love, and serve. I won’t sit quietly by while this man grabs the spotlight and purports to speak for those of my faith.
The Christian faith is built on the foundation of love. There are denominational and doctrinal differences for sue, but the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, humility and self control are fundamental to the faith, and the bible says against these things there is no law (or rule that anybody could come up with that would negate them). When Jesus said to “love your neighbor as you love yourself”, he meant it. It’s not up for debate.
By publicly voicing his desire that President Obama be killed, have his teeth broken, and whatever else looney things this man has uttered from his filthy mouth, he has violated the very principal precept of our faith. Now faith, hope, and love remain, but the GREATEST of these is love (1 Corinthians 13).
I don’t have a pulpit to stand in and denounce this man. None of the major news outlets are contacting me and asking me my opinion on Pastor (cough!) Anderson’s ravings. I just have this diary.
If there are any Pastors, Ministers, Church Elders, etc. who are reading this, please, IT’S TIME FOR US TO SPEAK UP! We’ve got the “harmless as a dove”, “meek and mild” thing perfected dang near to a fault. We MUST speak out when someone is misrepresenting our faith! Not later, but NOW. Use your voice wherever you are planted, but we have to push back. Let’s write Focus on the Family, CBN, Family Research Council (since they seem to want to be “on point” for all things Christian) and ask them to remain faithful to the Word of God that commands us to represent his teachings above our own selfish motives, and public denounce Pastor (cough!) Anderson and anyone else who, in the name of our Lord, says such things.
Do you really want to keep explaining away these clowns? Let’s marginalize them NOW!
Thanks for writing this. It’s good to hear not all “Christians” subscribe to hate. As a gay man, I hear A LOT of hate spewed from Christians and I’ve been told I can’t be a Christian because of how I was born.
Unfortunately, I believe your efforts may be too little too late. I, along with so many others have moved passed and found peace without “Christian” leadership.
I will never go back to a faith that promotes hate.
I hear what you’re saying. A friend said much the same thing about her lesbian daughter who was raised in the church but felt only hate and hurt and is unlikely to go back despite the recent ELCA actions. The church and individual churches are filled with the same errors of their too human members, but many congregations and denominations are attempting to change. If interested, check out a congregation in your city that holds itself out as open and affirming to see if you can find a safe place that offers spiritual nourishment.
I, unfortunately, know more than a few 30-somethings who despise the “church” precisely because evil weirdos who spout hate from their “pulpits” are not denounced repeatedly by mainline churches – by name, citing specific instances, and flat out condemning such verbal filth. My only come back is that if they are that passionate about it, why don’t they themselves take on the hate mongers instead of lumping ALL Christians into the same category as them?
Thank you for standing up and speaking out. Steven Anderson’s hypocrisy and the deafening quiet in response are the perfect example of why I gave up on man’s churches. Such vitriolic words and apathy are the very stakes through Christ’s hands and feet.