Posted on 03/06/2024 2:19:28 PM PST by Morgana
MONROE, N.C. — For the second consecutive Sunday, community members from all around Union County voiced their concerns about Bible Baptist Tabernacle following controversial comments made by the pastor.
Several signs, community members, and voices were outside the church preaching their frustration toward the church and Pastor Bobby Leonard.
“I'm appalled and indignant,” Rebecca Frick said.
Leonard said during a sermon that women make themselves targets for sexual assault based on how they dress. He said he wouldn't vote to convict a man who's accused of raping a woman if she wore shorts.
“We don't like [what he said]," Sanders said. "We're done with it. So he needs to be gone.”
Some say the incident has questioned their views on the church.
“It's kind of hard to view [the church]," Ben Rudy said. "Things are going on in so many different directions. It's a catastrophe right now in my eyes.”
Protesters' concerns are now stretching beyond the church to the Tabernacle Christian School.
Records from the NC Education Assistance Authority show that Tabernacle Christian received over $900,000 in both 2023 and 2024 in public taxpayer funds through a state voucher program.
Callie Price isn't pleased with where the funds are going.
“Why should our money go into this school?" Callie Price asked. "This church that preaches this message, and is not protecting women and children, and is promoting rape culture, and it's just something we've got to stand up against in this community."
People throughout Union County are calling for action and are prepared to keep pressing the issue until something is done.
“We need accountability for this man and leadership and these people in leadership for these statements," Price said. "They need to be held accountable.”
(Excerpt) Read more at wcnc.com ...
That man is nuts
Yes, that’s right.
"I used to say this," he said, "and I haven't said this in a long time. If you dress like that, and you get raped, and I'm on the jury, he's gonna go free."
Though it's a bad way to say it, he may have been trying to tell women to be street smart. Not so much that they're to blame for being raped, but that it'd be wise for them to do what they can to discourage it. And a warning, honey, a jury might not protect you. I know. I used to think like that myself.
At least that's what I hoped he meant to say.
Are we sure that the “pastor” is not an Imam? Sounds like that religion’s attempt at logic.
otoh not every woman who cried "rape" was actually raped.
it was a left field comment. Jesus would have told the woman to ditch the hot pants and yoga pants and stop sinning.
You know how a woman can helped from not being raped? While she’s wearing those hot booty shorts also be wearing a very large pistola strapped around her waist. Also she she have many hours on the gun range.
Men have raped females from 8 to 80 years olds.
Skimpy cloths may draw the attention of the rapist but the evil the guy does is his own fault .
So the pastor is a idiot on this topic
He blew it when he said he’d let the rapist go free. That goes way beyond warning women to dress modestly.
Keep in mind that many pastors have a habit of showing humility towards their past as a way to tell others that they too can be redeemed by Christ.
It sounds to me like he used to say it, doesn’t anymore, but still believes it.
I didn’t read him inferring that men can’t control themselves. I think you assumed an inference: I took it to mean that some men won’t control themselves.
I said it my first post that it was a bad way to say it. So I’m judging his oratory skills. But I want more evidence before I join the Christiophobic media in calling for his resignation.
Islam pretty much says the same thing if not far worse and backs it up by fording women to wear what they wear. No protests outside mosques that I can see.
forcing
The Bible says women should dress modestly.
That's an uncomfortable truth, although it's behavior more than dress ...
He said he wouldn't vote to convict a man who's accused of raping a woman if she wore shorts.
Bad idea. Rape is wrong no matter who does it. Even a literal street-walking prostitute doesn't deserve to be raped.
When it comes to sexual activity a change of heart is called for on all sides.
Even Monica Lewinsky made a speech once in 2016 saying:
“I made a mistake. I fell in love with my boss”
She has also said in 2018 that some guy named “Bill Clinton” should want to come forth with an apology.
Well that’s another story.
Islam? Good allies to have.
Matthew 5:28: "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.'
Luke 17:1: Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.
Romans 14:13 "Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20: "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
1 Timothy 2:8-9 "I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; also that women should adorn themselves modestly and sensibly in seemly apparel, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly attire but by good deeds, as befits women who profess religion."
1 Timothy 2:15 "Yet woman will be saved through bearing children, if she continues in faith and love and holiness, with modesty."
1 Peter 3:1-4: Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves."
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