The mayor of a Washington town has directed pastors to stop invoking the name “Jesus Christ” in city council invocations. Posted on 03/08/2013 6:12:10 AM PST by Kaslin
The mayor of a Washington town has directed pastors to stop invoking the name “Jesus Christ” in city council invocations.
Don Jensen, the mayor of Longview, Wash., told the Kelso-Longview Ministerial Association that prayers mentioning Christ were not acceptable because they could expose the city to a lawsuit.
The decision has sparked controversy in the city – located about 50 miles north of Portland, Ore.
Mark Schmutz, who pastors the Northlake Baptist Church, said if they can’t speak the name Jesus Christ, association ministers will no longer provide the invocation.
“We need to be able to speak Jesus’ name,” he told The Daily News. “They’re asking us not to do what we’re called to do. This is the one and only true God. We’re not trying to be against anybody – we’re just being clear about what we’re for.
Local ministers have been leading City Council invocations for more than 50 years – and until recently there had never been any complaints.
That changed when resident Dan Smith started raising concerns about the constitutionality of prayers that include the name of Christ and whether it was appropriate for the ministerial association to be responsible for the prayers.
“I do fully realize that this may not be a popular thing for you to do, but as an elected public official it is the right thing to do,” he wrote in a letter to council members.
Smith describes himself as a “comfortable atheist” – and called the longtime prayers an embarrassment. He hinted that unless the prayers were dropped it might lead to a lawsuit.
The city’s attorney said invocations are certainly permitted under the Constitution but what is unclear is whether the prayers can invoke the name of Jesus Christ.
Mayor Jensen told the newspaper he regretted having to issue the edict.
“It’s not my choice to stop this, but I don’t know how we can put our citizens at jeopardy and cost our city and our citizens a lot of money,” he said.
Jensen said the invocations set the right tone for their meetings and said it encouraged residents to be “more friendly.”
Fear and greed are all that is left.
This isn’t anything new. Even in the Bible, men were told to not say the name Jesus Christ. (WHY? Because it hold so much power against evil)
If it were me, I would not stop and see if they would arrest me. I would go to prison.
JESUS CHRI....zot!!!
I can hear it now...
“That’s my name, don’t wear it out!!!”
In the end, I know who will have the last laugh...I can dig it...;-)
That’s a silly point by the mayor. Of course Christian pastors will use Jesus’ name. The way to protect the city council is to open the invocation up to all actual residents of the city who will volunteer to pray.
Then, any and every group has their day to read their prayer.
It will statistically reflect America in that the majority religions will have more sign up.
It is inappropriate to make a list of local religions and give each of them their day, balancing the list. That would advantage some far beyond their actual representation in the population.
Instead one simply asks for volunteers and allows the statistical representation of any group in the population to be reflected in their rates of volunteering.
The holy martyrs whom we commemorate every day during Great Lent faced prolonged, gruesome tortures and beheading for invoking the Name of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Compared to that, facing a few atheist politicians’ and lawyers’ threats is NOTHING!!!!
I agree, that would be my mission...
Yep. Those first 2 amendments are so murky to progressives.
Someone is going to have to take it there. In fact a bunch of us might have to take it that far. I have three kids to raise still- but I will take up the challenge.
I know that these “Chaplin” offices, in various groups are going to be a battleground.
I would wish to finish raising my kids first, but if God calls me into prison, for standing up for his name, I am going.
I will pray for you, that if you are called into prison and go, you will have courage and peace. :)
We should pray for anyone who has the courage to go to prison for Jesus, our Lord.
sounds like mr atheist outta be introduced to the Father by a few good samaritans of the city...
I believe this was John and Peter's response also.
"...who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed dominion over the faith of others, setting up their own opinions and modes of thinking as the only true and infallible, and as such endeavoring to impose them on others, hath established and maintained false religions over the greatest part of the world, and through all time;...that it is time enough for the rightful purposes of civil government, for its officers to interfere when principles break out into overt acts against peace and good order; and finally, that truth is great and will prevail if left to herself, that she is the proper and sufficient antagonist to error, and has nothing to fear from the conflict, unless by human interposition disarmed of her natural weapons, free argument and debate, errors ceasing to be dangerous when it is permitted freely to contradict them. ""I HAVE SWORN UPON THE ALTAR OF GOD ETERNAL HOSTILITY TO EVERY FORM OF TYRANNY OVER THE MIND OF MAN"--The Virginia Act For Establishing Religious Freedom
--Thomas Jefferson, 1786
that prayers mentioning Christ were not acceptable because they could expose the city to a lawsuit
So what.
Grow a set and stand for hat is right
Dan Smith, thank God for you...
“what is unclear is whether the prayers can invoke the name of Jesus Christ”
huh? Then why have any prayers at all?
Is some level of government choosing who or what is “acceptable” to be prayed to?
How about Father Son and Holy Ghost? Blessed Trinity.
Can we say that?
Can Catholics pray the rosary? Can we say that?
If I am offended by “allah” can I file a lawsuit and stop that name from being prayed to?
The lawyers who issued this should be asked to produce in writing a list of deities to whom it is acceptable to pray- then let citizens pour some bleach on this reasoning
Is it OK to say Mohammed or Allah?
Just wondering...
But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Mt. 10:33 KJV
I think it is crazy that we are talking about going to prison for praying in America. What has happened to us???
Wait a minute, I think you are mixing something up. It does say that we should not say the name of Jesus Christ, but it does say specifically, which you either forgot or ignored, that we should not say the name of Jesus Christ in anger or as a curse
So when a Church clergy says " in the name of Jesus Christ Amen" at the end of a prayer or speech is perfectly okay
Ouch! That solidly conflicts with "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us."
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