Posted on 01/19/2011 3:10:09 AM PST by markomalley
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley told a church crowd just moments into his new administration that those who have not accepted Jesus as their savior are not his brothers and sisters, shocking some critics who questioned Tuesday whether he can be fair to non-Christians.
"Anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I'm telling you, you're not my brother and you're not my sister, and I want to be your brother," Bentley said Monday, his inauguration day, according to The Birmingham News.
The Anti-Defamation League on Tuesday called Bentley's remarks shocking.
"His comments are not only offensive, but also raise serious questions as to whether non-Christians can expect to receive equal treatment during his tenure as governor," said Bill Nigut, the ADL's regional director.
Speaking at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Church after the official inaugural ceremony, Bentley told the crowd that he considered anyone who believed in Jesus to be his brothers and sisters regardless of color, but anyone who isn't a Christian doesn't have that same relationship to him.
"If the Holy Spirit lives in you that makes you my brothers and sisters. Anyone who has not accepted Jesus, I want to be your brothers and sisters, too," Bentley said.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Interesting.....will be interesting to watch this guy’s career.
He is being honest, he knows as a saved child of God through Jesus Christ, that all others are not given the name of being God’s children, they are God’s creation, and certainly he knows to treat all as God, as it is His life in all things, but only those who accept redemption through the blood of Christ are given to be God’s children, being a created being does not mean you are a child...Got Jesus?
I think if Alabama were mostly Jewish or Muslim instead of 80+% Christian, he’d be in trouble.
This is a foolish remark.
Anyone who is not a Muslim is my brother and sister.
I don’t think there is ANYTHING in the New Testament that infers Christ thought that.
As for the ADL, WHERE are they when Muslims spout typical anti-Christian, anti-Jewish rhetoric??? The Koran is full of crap like this directed at all non-Muslims.
Talk about throwing red meat to hyenas.
The Marxist media will turn him into chopped liver
before the day gets started.
Total, utter, unmitigated twaddle. Anyone with half a brain can see that in the context whereby the remarks were made, i.e. in a Church and as an exhortation for others to embrace faith, they are not in any way offensive and in no way imply discrimination.
Perhaps you should re-read Matthew 12:46-50
I don’t think they’ll have a chance to do that (LSM - chopped liver, etc.). I agree with Bentley. Most people here do. This has been the position of many of our government officials including our recent governor, Bob Riley.
I think any Christian who makes a statement like this governor made is living in the twilight zone and does more harm for interfaith relations in a Country which has become increasingly pluralistic with respect to religion over time.
We Christians are still a majority here, but America is not a theocracy and never was intended to be.
In the bigger picture we can co-exist with people of all religions and treat them as our brothers and sisters. The ONLY exception are the Maniacs who practice Islam. And our common victim status in the face of Koranic oppression does make us brothers and sisters even more.
There were no Muslims when Christ was alive.
But I will check that quote out and get back to you with my opinion.
Indeed. He is parroting Christ’s own words.
Of course not, because you have set up a straw man.
I’d be far more worried about “government brothers” and “government sisters.” Big Brother, Big Sister... barfffff!
Drawing a syllogistic conclusion is not “alteration.”
Got yet another straw man?
Good for him. Proud of my new Governor already.
And the retraction and/or clarification will come in three...two...one.
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