Posted on 11/03/2010 7:06:04 PM PDT by FourPeas
Edited on 11/04/2010 5:40:03 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Borrowing from Todd Agnew:
"Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a clear complexion
Is how you see Him as He dies for Your sins
But the Word says He was battered and scarred
Or did you miss that part
Sometimes I doubt we'd recognize Him
Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and “the least of these”
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable
So which one do you want to be?
Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet might stain the carpet"
One of my all time favorite songs...
I was hoping he would look like Mr. T... sucka...
Perfect response...absolutely perfect
I bet you’re wrong. I bet this church really values the message of the REAL Jesus so much that they do not want the congregation distracted by a guy in a costume, who is only there for attention. What kind of Christian wants a bunch of attention on himself during a worship service? Not a Lutheran Christian, I guarantee you. I go to service to focus on the Jesus of the Bible, not for a show.
I'll say it once again in a little clearer fashion . . .
Anyone calling themselves Christian and going to a ‘Christian’ church shouldn't be pulled away from their worship by any individual that comes dressed in odd fashion, makes no commotion and participates quietly (all of which this fellow seems to have done). In fact, such a visitor should cause more than a little introspection in the heart of true believers - you know, the pharisee and sinner sort of thing.
My $0.02
While if the fact are as presented (a huge assumption in this day and age) he was not there to cause trouble anyone who shows up to a church were they are unknown wearing a costume is going to put the ushers on high alert.
It sadly has become a common thing for people to come to church in costume and actively disrupt the service. They even call their group "ACT UP" if I remember correctly.
1. His garb was odd, not psychotic.
2. Ushers on high alert is fine (serpents and doves and all that), they can watch for disruption and, if it occurs, act accordingly.
3. This fellow wasn’t anything remotely like a disrupter according to the account. Granted, news ain’t much these days, but all we know is what they printed in the paper.
4. Looks like they circled the wagons a little too early and, unfortunately, many others here would do the same thing.
5. I tend to take this fellows intent the way he seemed to have meant it - is Jesus welcome in our midst, or just folks that look like us and act according to our customs and comfort level?
2.) By the time the disruption occurs it is often to late to do anything. Perhaps I go more than a little overboard here but seeing people shot in church by nuts does tend to do that to you.
3.) Yes, this fellow was there to disrupt and he admits it. He dresses to attract attention and comment. He may not view it as harmful, but he was there to cause disruption not to worship.
4.) Maybe
5.) And I take it that he is one of those annoying attention whores who goes around trying to produce "teachable moments".
1. Did you catch the video? He was dressed not too different from a lot of Lutheran Pastors in a simple white robe. Actually, if I were to formulate a nutcase plan to kill churchgoers, I’d elect to dress as a prosperous white churchgoer. If you choose to profile and eject, you’ll also restrict who you’ll accept - they go hand in hand.
2. If you have actually been in a church that had a shooting, my condolences. However, your situation doesn’t change the Sovereignty of God or his call to all.
3. No, he wasn’t there to disrupt and he didn’t admit any such thing - your prejudice leads you to that conclusion. In fact, the police explicitly stated that he didn’t do any such thing. Further, he’s been doing this for 22 years and only had one other incident like this. Assuming he goes only 75% of the Sundays, that’s a whopping 858 other episodes like this one. Methinks this church is out of line.
4. You know they were. ‘Maybe’ is fudging.
5. I’ll grant a moot point about the man’s interior motives. However, nothing in the article, his stated purpose and behavior or the cop’s report indicates anything to support your assumptions. Truth is, most ‘Christian’ churches today are the whores seeking to impart humanistic ideas in theatrical ‘teachable moments’ which is no different from Christ’s time.
Well put FRiend
Following the tragic shootings at a congregation in Metro-East and in other parts of our nation, large churches were strongly encouraged to develop security plans and be vigilant. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Des Peres, Missouri developed such a plan. On Sunday, October 31, that plan went into effect when a man entered our church in suspicious clothing capable of concealing items, made advances toward the sanctuary and indicated he had a message for the congregation. He also had a large stick in his hand. Our security plan went into effect in order to protect our members and ministers. It is unfortunate that churches must have such plans and be so vigilant. This is the reality of the world in which we live. The critical reporting of this event may cause churches to be less vigilant, and thus place large churches everywhere in jeopardy when they seek to defend their members and ministers. Jesus was not asked to leave our church. Jesus is with us and is always welcome at our church.
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