Religion & Crazy People
I don't know if anyone else heard about this, but i just want to preface the whole thing by saying that some people just don't really understand.
So, apparently there is this pastor of a particular church (it's in the article, if you haven't read it) that endorsed former pastor Mike Huckabee for the GOP nomination for the presidency back in August of last year. Now that's not a crime, however, doing it on church letterhead and on a tv show that is filmed in the church could have some tax consequences for the church.
Now the IRS is after this guy, or at least sent him a letter of warning, and are investigating him. But that's not the end of the story. What happened was that there was a group that doesn't like churches mixing religion with politics. So what does this guy decide to do? In a press release he urges his followers to direct "imprecatory prayer" upon the two leaders of the group that told on him.
Okay, i see this as major confusion for several reasons, mostly dealing with the Old Testament mentality. But i'll just go to the New Testament:
Matthew 5:44 - "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you;"
Romans 12:14 - "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not."
Luke 9:52-56 - It pretty much says that Jesus rebuked James and John for wanting to call down fire from heaven against the Samaritans.
If anything, we are taught to love those that persecute us. If we are supposedly righteous people wouldn't we know better? Couldn't we say "forgive them, for they know not what they do?" I just wish we showed better judgment and were more understanding sometimes. It's sad when people with so much influence are such bad examples.
So, apparently there is this pastor of a particular church (it's in the article, if you haven't read it) that endorsed former pastor Mike Huckabee for the GOP nomination for the presidency back in August of last year. Now that's not a crime, however, doing it on church letterhead and on a tv show that is filmed in the church could have some tax consequences for the church.
Now the IRS is after this guy, or at least sent him a letter of warning, and are investigating him. But that's not the end of the story. What happened was that there was a group that doesn't like churches mixing religion with politics. So what does this guy decide to do? In a press release he urges his followers to direct "imprecatory prayer" upon the two leaders of the group that told on him.
Okay, i see this as major confusion for several reasons, mostly dealing with the Old Testament mentality. But i'll just go to the New Testament:
Matthew 5:44 - "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you;"
Romans 12:14 - "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not."
Luke 9:52-56 - It pretty much says that Jesus rebuked James and John for wanting to call down fire from heaven against the Samaritans.
If anything, we are taught to love those that persecute us. If we are supposedly righteous people wouldn't we know better? Couldn't we say "forgive them, for they know not what they do?" I just wish we showed better judgment and were more understanding sometimes. It's sad when people with so much influence are such bad examples.
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