Friday, May 06, 2005
NC Baptist Minister Ejects Members Who Did Not Vote For Bush.
From The Daily Kos: "Yesterday, on the National Day of Prayer, we learned that the East Waynesville Baptist Church in North Carolina essentially kicked out its Democratic members. Nine members were "excommunicated" and 40 other members of the 405 member church resigned in protest." Georgia at Kos is following this story and is providing updates along with a link to the local news story on this. Click the story headline above and you will be transported to the story and other related links.
Well, this is where these folks are taking it. Here is the love of Jesus for you. In defense of the majority of sane and thinking Christians, this is a minority and not a majority action. These are the folks who are drunk with power and hold their own frightening interpretation of the Bible. You want to know what folks? The Bible is not that hard to understand. Good God, this is not trying to wade through a Kathy Acker novel, or wallowing in self pity over reading William Gass, it's the fucking Bible. These are plain and simple stories meant for all to read. It does not take a PhD in Literary Criticism to get what the Bible is saying. So, why do these folks get away with their strident reinterpretations of the simple words of the Bible? Stop does not mean go. It is that simple.
I implore you well meaning and lovely Christians to begin to speak up. We need you. We need you to show the world what the church is really about. We need more of Jim Wallis and the Sojourner's Community. You progressive Christians are not alone. Please, for the sake of your families, our country, and the world, speak out. Band together. We need you.
(Update: Monday, May 9th) Now Pastor Chandler, says that the ouster was all a big misunderstanding. Maybe the phone calls and the public shaming by other more sane Baptist ministers helped him see the light, but I doubt that he means a damn thing that he said. Ah, to be so ignorant.
Well, this is where these folks are taking it. Here is the love of Jesus for you. In defense of the majority of sane and thinking Christians, this is a minority and not a majority action. These are the folks who are drunk with power and hold their own frightening interpretation of the Bible. You want to know what folks? The Bible is not that hard to understand. Good God, this is not trying to wade through a Kathy Acker novel, or wallowing in self pity over reading William Gass, it's the fucking Bible. These are plain and simple stories meant for all to read. It does not take a PhD in Literary Criticism to get what the Bible is saying. So, why do these folks get away with their strident reinterpretations of the simple words of the Bible? Stop does not mean go. It is that simple.
I implore you well meaning and lovely Christians to begin to speak up. We need you. We need you to show the world what the church is really about. We need more of Jim Wallis and the Sojourner's Community. You progressive Christians are not alone. Please, for the sake of your families, our country, and the world, speak out. Band together. We need you.
(Update: Monday, May 9th) Now Pastor Chandler, says that the ouster was all a big misunderstanding. Maybe the phone calls and the public shaming by other more sane Baptist ministers helped him see the light, but I doubt that he means a damn thing that he said. Ah, to be so ignorant.
