Minister/Community Organizer: Five Scriptures You Won't Hear At Rick Perry's Prayer Event

Counter Currents ^ | August 3, 2011 | Jim Rigby, pastor of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX

[Cincinatus' Wife]

As a native Texan, I'm used to crazy religion and crazy politics. So, the announcement of Gov. Rick Perry's plans for “The Response,” a prayer event scheduled for Aug. 6 at Houston's Reliant Stadium, was not a surprise.

But as a Presbyterian minister and community organizer, it's part of my job to stand up for my neighbors. The use of the governor's office to promote one religion in a country with such rich religious diversity is obviously unhealthy politics, but -- if one takes the Christian and Jewish scriptures seriously -- it is also unhealthy religion. Here are five rather important verses of scripture you aren't likely to hear at “The Response”:

Don't make a show of prayer

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray in public places to be seen by others… But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your heavenly parent, who is unseen.” (Matt. 6:5-6)

While Jesus never addressed the issues most important to some of this event's co-sponsors, such as homosexuality and abortion, he did speak out against public displays of religion. Whatever Jesus meant by the word “prayer,” it seems to have been about the quiet and personal. The disciples had to ask Jesus how to pray, which is a pretty good indication that he wasn't praying a lot publicly. What he did say about prayer carried a warning label: “Don't rub it in other people's faces.”

God doesn't withhold rain because we've done something wrong

“God causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matt. 5:45)

Perry recently called Texans to pray for rain, which implies that God steers clouds toward the worthy. According to Right Wing Watch, one of the events co-sponsors has said the earthquake in Japan happened because the emperor had sex with the Sun Goddess. It may be a part of our lower nature to blame disasters on people we don't like or understand, but Jesus taught that God sends rain on the just and unjust. Furthermore, he said our love should be equally nonselective.

I have chosen Christianity as my life's religion, but when nonjudgmental love is taken out of its center, it becomes poisonous and predatory. The word “God” can be a helpful symbol for all the transcendentals of life, but the symbol becomes instantly pathological when used as a scientific explanation or political justification.

God doesn't have favorites

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism.” (Acts 10:34)

When the Bible says that God is not a “respecter of persons” it means that God doesn't have a favorite country or religion. The idea that God wants Christians to be in charge of other people violates Jesus' teaching that we are to take the lowest place. We are to change the world by humble persuasion and good example, not by messianic coercion. The assumption that Christianity and America are God's two favorite things will be particularly ironic, as the prayer event falls on the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima.

Worship by those who neglect the poor is offensive to God

“I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me… Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:21-24)

The prophet Amos chastised the religion of his day for praying to God while mistreating people. Texas leads the nation in citizens who are uninsured, who work for minimum wage, and who die from unsafe working conditions on construction sites. Our state has the widest gap between rich and poor of any in the union. If the governor wants to call us to repentance it should begin with our real sins against the poor not the imaginary sins dreamed up by his friends.

The heart of Christian ethics is being a good neighbor

When Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) it was to teach humility to a rich young zealot who thought he was approaching moral perfection. The Samaritans were the scapegoats of the day. The rich young ruler would consider Samarians heretics and immoral people. Jesus used a merciful Samaritan as the example of ethical perfection. It is a lesson many Christians have yet to learn.

One sponsor of the event, the American Family Association, is listed by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group. The group's director of analysis for government and policy is quoted by the SPLC as saying that Hitler was “an active homosexual” who sought out gays “because he could not get straight soldiers to be savage and brutal and vicious enough.” He also said Muslims should not be allowed in the military or be allowed to build mosques in the United States.

None of this analysis springs from malice. In fact, I must confess that I have a soft spot for Rick Perry. When the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in Texas was passed, I had the honor of pushing the wheelchair of Byrd's mother into the governor's office for the signing. I privately thanked Perry for his courage in standing up to all the groups who had fought against the bill; I knew he might pay a political price for signing the bill. Tears came to his eyes, and he said, “It's the right thing to do.”

I can't know what is in Perry's heart, of course, but I do know the problem isn't one politician but rather a nation that has embraced an unhealthy political arrogance undergirded by even unhealthier religious hubris. The “prayer” that is most needed at this time is for each of us, believer or not, to go into our own heart and find the humility and empathy that is at the core of righteousness, political and spiritual.

Jim Rigby is pastor of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX. He can be reached at jrigby0000@aol.com , and videos of his sermons are available online at http://www.staopen.com/sermons/ .

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Imagine! He got all that from this:

The Response
Saturday, August 06, 2011
11:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM
Reliant Stadium
1 Reliant Park
Houston, TX 77054
Phone: (832) 667-1400

Fellow Americans,

Right now, America is in crisis: we have been besieged by financial debt, terrorism, and a multitude of natural disasters. As a nation, we must come together and call upon Jesus to guide us through unprecedented struggles, and thank Him for the blessings of freedom we so richly enjoy.

Some problems are beyond our power to solve, and according to the Book of Joel, Chapter 2, this historic hour demands a historic response. Therefore, on August 6, thousands will gather to pray for a historic breakthrough for our country and a renewed sense of moral purpose.

I sincerely hope you’ll join me in Houston on August 6th and take your place in Reliant Stadium with praying people asking God’s forgiveness, wisdom and provision for our state and nation. There is hope for America. It lies in heaven, and we will find it on our knees.

Sincerely,

Governor

[nuconvert]

what yucky Bible translation was he using?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I was wondering that myself.

[muawiyah]

The Governor's right to observe his own religious beliefs as he sees fit EXCEEDS the authority of a Presbyterian Minister to suppress such practices.

Sometimes I wish we could shut up some professional Protestants so the Catholics don't find out about how much so many of them are like the worst priest they ever met.

I tell you, it's a contest going on !~

[BenKenobi]

Fr. Jim, if he can be called this:

“We are each a part of the Life Force of this world. We are each equally called to enjoy this creation, and to be good stewards of it. And, we are each equally loved by the God who is in us, creating in us.”

Some Christian!

[DManA]

There is criticism from the right about this event too. Some of the participants teach some pretty heretical doctrines. Should be be holding hands in the name of Jesus with heretics?

[BenKenobi]

Amazing, gotta get the ‘Catholic’ hate in, eh?

This has nothing to do with us, period.

[thackney]

we must come together and call upon Jesus to guide us

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray in public places to be seen by others… But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your heavenly parent, who is unseen.”

So, has Pastor Jim Rigby stopped public prayer at his church? Has he urged everyone to stop coming to service and just stay at home?

Or does he understand Jesus call to spread the word and you don't do that in a closet. Churches as well as societies are full of sinners and we need to encourage each other to continue to seek Christ and call out to others who wander lost.

[MrB]

So, is this “pastor” of the “social gospel” persuasion?

Remember, when you add any modifier to “gospel”, it’s no longer The Gospel.

[apillar]

When the Bible says that God is not a “respecter of persons” it means that God doesn't have a favorite country or religion.

Uhh, yeah in the bible I read it seems like God favored Judaism and Christianity a little more than all those pagan religions he was constantly telling the Israelites to smite and not allow a single person to live. Also he didn't seem to have a very high opinion of people who "commune with spirits" "tell fortunes" or dabble in the occult.

[MrB]

That’s hillarious, “BenKenobi”,

that the “Christian” you quoted is pretty much talking about “The Force” instead of the God of the Bible.

Any time someone brings up “the God inside us”, you should raise a HUGE red flag. There is a difference between being a temple of the Holy Spirit, and what these people are talking about - the actual innate divinity of mankind.

[Grunthor]

Ya know...I’ve been chewing on this Perry possibility for some time now. Some days pro, some days anti. I like Bachmann, Cain or Palin at this point and really don’t feel that there is room for both Perry and Palin. They’d all split the vote and nominate Romney. Lately I’ve been more anti-Perry than pro because someone asked me here on FR I think just yesterday; “What has Perry DONE, not co-opted, not said pretty things about but accomplished in order to deserve the conservative credibility that some try to heap upon him?”

I really don’t have an answer for that question....do you?

[Truth is a Weapon]

Pastor Rigby should remember the scripture that says “let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” He displays the self-righteous judgements that he disdains in this very message.

He is also wrong on his pronouncements about the meaning of the passages he cites. God throughout scripture invites us to petition him with all kinds of prayer. He responds in His sovereign will as He chooses. He is neither threatened or angry at our selfish prayers as long as we humbly accept His response.

“God does not have favorites.” Well, I would kind of say that those to whom He grants salvation through His sovereign grace would have to be considered favorites on some scale. That is unless Rigby believes in universal salvation which can in no way be considered a Christian doctrine.

While God does encourage people to be generous to the poor throughout scripture. There is not one scripture in the entire Bible that supports forcing people to be charitable. There is no where that property is taken from one person and given to another is called kindness and charity. It is only called stealing.

In my opinion, Pastor Rigby does not believe in the God or Christ of the Bible but rather has created a false God who is no God but rather some benign being who has neither power or will but just dispenses a meaningless emotion he calls “love.”

[dirtymac]

Like so many other phony Christians that think that love is all there is to God & Jesus. Yet he will viciously condemn those that do not agree with his tripe.

Yes, I remember well those Bible passages where God and/or Jesus welcomed other religions, but I just cannot find them right now. We should be building mosques so that our sworn enemies can recruit more religion of peace adherents.

[OrangeHoof]

These are the same Austin clergy who show up to oppose pro-life rallies. You will never hear them preach scripture about sinful behavior (you know, like adultery, homosexuality, bestiality, etc.) or about the salvation from sin offered by Christ. To them, God is just the good liberal in the sky who can be ignored when he bumps up against political correctness. It’s feel-good non-judgemental pop sociology disguised as a religion.

[Grunthor]

Maybe he should have been using the KJV because...ya know....that’s how Jesus talked.

[muawiyah]

You are so silly. It's about keeping stuff secret from you ~ not hating you.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Maybe Pastor/Community Organizer Jim Rigby can help you "The Rev. Jim Rigby is pastor of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX, and a longtime activist in movements concerned with gender, racial, and economic justice. This summer he is finishing a book on principles for a New Reformation."

He seems to have a lot of opinions to share on HuffPo.

[BenKenobi]

Well, he left his website right there, you can find his sermons and read em for yourself.

This dude’s a kook, but then we already knew that.

[Prov1322]

I have chosen Christianity as my life's religion...

Well, when you have religion instead of relationship, that's what happens, "Rev"!

He approaches Christianity like it's a choice between joining the Rotary or Civitan clubs (no offense meant to either here, just trying to make the point between "selecting" a religion and having a relationship with The God Who created the heavens and the earth...)

2 Timothy 3

This know also: that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, without selfcontrol, fierce, despisers of those who are good,

4traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God,

5having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. From such turn away.

6For of this sort are those who creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth -- men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

9But they shall proceed no further, for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

10But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

11persecutions, afflictions which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra -- what persecutions I endured. But out of them all, the Lord delivered me.

12Yea, and all who will live a godly life in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing from whom thou hast learned them,

15and that from childhood thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

17that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly equipped for all good works.