Could somebody please tell me where there is a scriptural mandate for what the Jonesville Church of God in upstate South Carolina is doing with their sign?
From the story at WYFF in Greenville’s website…
Small Church’s Obama Sign Causes Big Controversy
POSTED: 4:20 pm EDT April 21, 2008
UPDATED: 10:18 pm EDT April 21, 2008JONESVILLE, S.C. — The sign in front of a small church in a small town is causing a big controversy in Jonesville, S.C.
Pastor Roger Byrd said that he just wanted to get people thinking. So last Thursday, he put a new message on the sign at the Jonesville Church of God.
It reads: “Obama, Osama, hmm, are they brothers?”
Byrd said that the message wasn’t meant to be racial or political.
“It’s simply to cause people to realize and to see what possibly could happen if we were to get someone in there that does not believe in Jesus Christ,” he said.
(snip)
Pastor Byrd, it’s an open question as to whether we already have someone “in there” who seriously believes in Jesus Christ today. So why is your church showing such concern now?
And how is what this pastor and his church showing that they sincerely believe in Christ, anyhow?
I said a few weeks ago that this kind of thing was going to continue leading up to the election. And though I’m not now and never will support Obama or cast a vote for him, I’m not nearly so worried about what he might do if he were to become President as I already am about too many of my fellow Christians who are not only frightfully paranoid – when scripture tells us many times to not be afraid of the things of this world – but also show such selective myopia on the basis of worldly politics. George W. Bush is already the most un-Christlike President in American history… so has the Jonesville Church of God ever condemned him?
Pastor Byrd says that the congregation of Jonesville Church of God unanimously voted to keep the message. Too bad they likely never bothered to pray and study scripture about the issue before deciding to press forward.
EDIT 11:43 pm EST 04/22/2008: I couldn’t help it…
Courtesy of Church Sign Generator. Credit for the idea goes to Ed Darrell who suggested it on Kevin Bussey’s post about Jonesville Church of God’s ridiculous sign.
On thing that some people fail to realize and something I really hate. Just because a person calls themselves a Christian does not make them a saint. Christianity is a belief not a way of life. Giving yourself to the Lord and being saved is what matters.
A person can go to the club Friday and Saturday Night, then be at church early Sunday morning. They may be a Christian but they are not a saved person living by God’s Word. Obama can be a Christian but that does not mean his soul is ready for heaven. But what that pastor is doing is not of God Word either, that’s the whole point!
The last I looked, bearing false witness is a sin. He phrases it as a question, “to get people to think,” but it is still a lie. The penalty for bearing false witness is death.
That means this “church” is being pastored by an unrepentant capital criminal by its own standards.
The last I looked, bearing false witness is a sin. He phrases it as a question, “to get people to think,” but it is still a lie. The penalty for bearing false witness is death.
Well Said anonymous posting at 5:05 PM
Let me understand you anonymous at 5:05.
Youre saying that bearing false witness= sin= for which the penalty is death.
Death, in Christian terms, is the seperation from God. There is only one unpardonable sin, to reject christ as your saviour.
If the wages of any and all sin is death, we would all be dead in earthly terms, which we are, until saved by Grace.
Jimmy, how can one be a Christian and not be saved? Maybe you meant to say they could be religous, going to church, etc, but not have accepted Gods Grace?
Like I said too many people confuse the confuse the term Christian. How many people do you know who are Catholic yet not living right, how many people you know are Jewish yet don’t always practice Jewish faith, how many people you know are Islamic yet don’t always practice the Islamic Faith. Each of these are just names describing a faith/belief.
Believing something is one thing but doing it is another. Some people believe smoking is unhealthy but they do it anyway.
Chris and Kevin:
I would strongly enourage you both to minimize or eliminate if possible, your judgement upon your bretheren. The original post, written by you Chris, declaring the church’s sign as being Un-Christ like is a direct judgement and codemnation of the brother.
cross referenced with Kevins website.
“You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11It is written: “`As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, `every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'” 12So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14(NIV)
Chris you have judged your brothers, who simply asked a question on their church sign. IS Obama a muslim? If asking a question in regards to one’s faith is equivalent to being judgemental, then how are we to go about witnessing? I mean, dont you ask where a person stands on faith, prior to witnessing, i.e.: have you heard the Good News, do you beleive in God, are you an aetheist, are you a muslim, etc.?
It is impossible for a question to be a judgement or codemnation without placing a premise within the question. An example here would be: “How many times does Obama face and pray towards mecca in a day?” This provides the premise that he is a muslim. The sign does not imply anything, it simply asks.
Kevin, your assertions of “the boneheaded sign of the year” have done nothing to lift up your brothers.
Instead of edifying, uniting and emboldening your brother, even if this were a weak momnet for them, you have chosen to ridicule them and cast allegations at them you dont know to be truthful (ie: Chris’s comment on it was to bad they never prayed about it.)
“But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. “10For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
11And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
1 Corinthians 8 (King James Version)
Chris and Kevin, your are sinning upon your brothers in Christ over non-essential items. Believe it or not, differences within the church are okay, however, your judgement of the brother and your condemnation for them asking a question on a sign are NOT okay:
“No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.” 1 Corinthians 11:19(NIV)
Bret,
Fair enough. I changed my title accordingly.
anonymous 2 posts up you are being a hypocrite. you complain about chris and kevin showing everyone how this church is wrong but you and this church can’t hide how much you want to do the same to obama.
Again Jay, the difference and the question at hand is if asking a question on a sign is judgemental. I think by the nature of this question, it can not be a judgement or condemnation…it simply asks a question.
on the other hand,
From a biblical stance, what Chris has done in labeling this Un Christlike is a judgement of the brother…clearly scripture takes offense to judgment of the brother ( i can provide more scripture if you would like, but some of what i detailed above shloud suffice).
I am trying to edify my brothers in Christ by pointing out the difference between their jusgement and the church’s asking a legitimate question. Iron stengthens iron.
As far as Obama, I clearly have a question to his faith, since he has been educated in muslim schools, by his own admittance, and since there is no apparent sign of his salvation, ie: his support of partial birth abortion….I simply can not accept one who is willing to support infanticide is a Christian….the sanctity of life is well documnented in His word and in Christs actions on earth.
If I appear a hyprocrite I apologize…if I AM a hyprocrite…i apologize twice.
One last try:
Chris I implore you to change the title of this posting.
If the scripture I have laid down isn’t enough for you, then look at some of the comments from your posters:
Jennifer says that Obama’s running is a good thing becasue it is expoing all the false Christians in the Jonesville church.
Antoine calls the church slanderers…how can you slander anyone with a question?
BWB calls the church pretend-a-Christians.
Chris, your posting has done nothing to edify, unite, or even correct your brothers in Christ.
In fact, the world (I assume you know what I mean by “the world”, if not replace it with “secular”) could not to a better job a tearing down the church than you are doing. I say that, becasue you are a within the ranks, a member of the church, versus a secularist. You offer a legitimacy that the secularist can not.
Call the sign undesirable, call it crazy, call it controversial…please dont call in Un Christ like.
For the sake of the church, your brothers and yourself.
Rememeber that “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
Dont cast judgement on this church, edify and strengthen them. Please dont hand the secularists some gasoline to throw into the fire that they would have sonsume us.
And finally:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Phil 4(NIV)
I reallly realllly would love if you would medidate on these words.
This is just another case of “just don’t get it!” The sign has NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE or POLITICS. It has everything to do with RELIGION. The church is trying to get people in America to get their heads out of the sand and recognize a religious problem. I thought that was what churches were supposed to deal with.
Radical Islamists have declared war on America and the rest of the “Infidels” in the western part of this world. They have very plainly stated their intention is to kill us. They teach it in their schools where Obama attended. Obama refuses to renown Farrakan and Wright who espouse the same hatred of America. Obama’s uncle is an active member of a Islamic tribe in Africa.
Doesn’t any of these facts make you stop and think mmmmmm. That is all that the good pastor of the church was trying to get you to do. Sure it was risky and drastic, but it got your attention. Now that you have been made aware of the problem, what are you going to do about it. Remember Nero, he fiddled while Rome burned. WAKE UP AMERICA BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Actually, I don’t see the problem as being Islam’s at all. That’s just “passing the buck”.
The PROBLEM is with those who PROFESS TO FOLLOW CHRIST! And the fact that many of us are so paranoid about “the Muslims” proves it. Islam could never destroy America. But Christians who cease in seeking after Christ first, they WILL bring this country to stagnation and ruin.
Don’t believe me? How many Christians have supported the Republican party without waver or question? Now look at what the Republican (and the Democrats also I should add) have done to this country… and yet VERY many Christians are under a STRONG delusion that they must act to enable and promote the Republicans, as if this party were God’s anointed change agent for America.
How many Christians ever stopped to think about how positively BLASPHEMOUS this is?
No, it’s not the Muslims that I’m worried about. It’s too many of my fellow Christians. And this pastor of the Jonesville Church of God, all he’s trying to do is distract Christians – and probably himself – from their and his own shortcomings. The weaknesses which they don’t seem willing to bring to God.
What is wrong with Pastor Byrd’s sign?
Nothing if you are a Republican. It’s good politics, if rather grubby.
Why?
Not only does it ask a question, but it implies an answer.
It links the name of a United States senator with that of Osama Bin Laden, a man who was the driving force behind the worst terrorist attack on this country.
The implied messages is that Obama is a brother terrorist. The aim is not to ask a legitimate question, but to undermine a man’s character by word association.
It is the politics of fear at its best!!! Well done Pastor Byrd!
Is this unchristian? Probably not. It seems to be typical of many christians.
The real question, would Christ himself employ these tactics? Probably not!
Inuendo and lies were foreign to his nature. Love rather than hate permeated his character.
Besides he made it clear that his kingdom was not of this world.
Now when we consider the idea of Obama as the fulfillment of Kings’ dream we should refer to the great one himself. In his now popular, “I have a dream,” speech delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial at the 1963 March on Washington, King elucidated his vision of things to come.
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Jenila
South Carolina Drug Addiction
Religious liberty is a Christian doctrine. Hence, the state can be free to uphold that liberty only by remaining strictly Christian. There is no room for pluralism in the authority of the state. We are one nation under God.
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Linc
South Carolina Alcohol Addiction Treatments