Posted on 10/18/2010 10:49:12 AM PDT by darrellmaurina
(Oct. 18, 2010) — Vicky Hartzler, the Republican trying to unseat U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton, the 17-term Congressman who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, has clearly identified herself as a Christian conservative. She served as spokesman for the successful campaign in 2004 that amended the Missouri state constitution to prohibit gay marriage, and she’s the author of a book entitled “Running God’s Way; Step by Step to a Successful Political Campaign.” So what sorts of sermons does she hear on Sunday mornings in the church in Harrisonville where she’s attended for three decades? Just before leaving on vacation, Hartzler’s pastor at Harrisonville Community Church decided not to start a planned sermon series on marriage but instead preached a nearly hour-long sermon on Christian principles of relating to government. The pastor, Randy Evers, left no doubt in his Sept. 26 sermon about his conservative evangelical convictions and his sympathy for the charismatic movement, relying heavily on the book “Shaping History through Prayer and Fasting” and other writings of Derek Prince, a framer of modern Christian Zionism and support for Israel.
(Excerpt) Read more at pulaskicountydaily.com ...
The pastor is flat out wrong and a so called spiritual bully.
God ain’t about that homey.
On the one hand, anyone who doesn’t vote in an election as vital as this one SHOULD get a butt-kicking. On the other hand, it isn’t a Pastor’s place to advocate such a thing.
So what sorts of sermons does she hear on Sunday mornings in the church in Harrisonville where she’s attended for three decades?
Why is it he only time the media is concerned about a candidate’s religious beliefs is when that candidate is a conservative?
You don't think Christians have a responsibility to work toward a just society and government, including voting?
You don't think Christians have a responsibility to pray for good government?
Or you don't think a pastor has any business talking to his congregation about their Christian responsibilities?
If you read the article it notes the Pastor immediately back off the statement right after he said it and admitted it was inappropriate wording. The sermon itself was about praying for one’s political leaders and involving oneself in the democratic political process. It doesn’t appear he endorsed any candidate or party. So, all in all it was no big deal and for the most part was biblical.
No, it is inappopriate for a pastor to tell Church members that there will be a “butt kicking” if they don’t vote.
“Butt kicking” is a figurative expression meaning, in this case, “stern rebuke,” which certainly is a pastor’s province.
The pastor immediately retracted that language and acknowledged it was inappropriate.
God doesn't want people to vote and work for a just government?
What in the world are you claiming the pastor is wrong about?
This is basic, basic stuff, folks. It's scary that "conservatives" would attack a pastor for preaching on the epistles of St. Paul and applying them to our lives today. Really scary.
Ridiculous.
Go get him arrested for assault. After all, he's threatening violence, right?
It's an expression. Get over it.
It's amazing to see the anti-religious thugs come out every time a minister, priest, or other religious figure speaks out about Christian responsibility. We're in a democratic republic and we have a responsibility to work, pray, and vote for a just government.
17 terms?
We don’t need an aristocracy
Actually, I think a good argument can be made that modern Christians do have a Biblical mandate to vote and participate in our political system.
Biblically, we’re expected to obey the governmental authorities. Exemplified in the phrase “Render unto Caesar (the government) what is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s.” Jesus made it clear that we are supposed to fulfill our obligations to the government (taxes, obeying the law, etc...)
The United States doesn’t have a king. The government is made up of the people. Our “obligations” to the government go beyond just paying taxes and obeying the law. Our constitution assumes citizens will be active participants in the government.
So yes (imho) a case can be made that if a christian fails to vote, they are not “rendering unto Caesar.”
Voting our Christian principles IS our solemn duty and responsibility. I wish more pastors would preach it!
Pastors should never get into endorsing a candidates while giving a sermon for sure. The very notion that pastors shouldn’t talk about such things is pure horse poo!
In this case, the pastor used I Timothy 2 as the basis for his sermon.
In denominations that believe in both Scripture and Sacred Tradition (which predates recording of the New Testament), the Christian responsiblity to work for a just government is ingrained in theology.
I thought the term was “cleansing of the wicked”.
Please explain how the pastor is wrong and a “so-called bully.”
Oh!
Okay then.
Let the but kicking ensue, for not voting.
So let it be written, so let it be done.
This is the second time you are responding to an argument not being made.
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