Pastor's sign rubs salt in wounds of downtrodden (SHOULD 'RELIGION WRITER' APOLOGIZE OR RESIGN?)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | September 16, 2005 | CATHLEEN FALSANI RELIGION WRITER

[pa mom]

Unfortunately, I see those words around here all the time directed at liberals.

I think this pastor is being disingenuous. He clearly believes NO is a den of iniquity and deserved to be destroyed but it trying to backpedal away from that by saying he meant all of the US. If he believes it, stand up for it.

We had a sermon a couple of weeks ago at my church about those who claim Katrina was God's wrath. I was glad our pastor spoke against that and for God's love and grace.

[Bigh4u2]

"So high that God couldn't reach it?"

It was a 'warning' shot!

[mingwah]

Dr. Bennett's beliefs are based on scripture as opposed to Falsani's beliefs which appear to exclude a need for salvation through Jesus Christ.

There are things that happen particularly at night in New Orleans which I would not want to see or try to explain to a child but then we aren't really suppose to object to anything no matter how debauched it may be.

[brytlea]

I tried to engage Bennett in a discussion of his shoddy theological reasoning (and general insensitivity), but he couldn't see what I was saying, either. There he was, trying to preach the message of salvation, which he believes happens by grace alone and not by anything we can do ourselves, while rubbing salt in the wounds of the downtrodden. By offering no grace, only blind judgment.

Well, if she is their religion writer, she should certainly know that his theology is very Baptist. So, it's not shoddy, it's what they (and alot of other Christians) believe. And, how can anyone other than God offer grace?
A religion writer who doesn't understand the basic tenents of many of the major Christian denominations should be sacked simply for that.

susie (yes, I'm probably a fundie)

[Bigh4u2]

"trying to backpedal away from that by saying he meant all of the US."


And yet his sign says: "THE BIG EASY IS THE MODERN DAY SODOM AND GOMORRAH."


Can't be any clearer than that!

[pa mom]

But in the article he states that he was trying to point out that America is in sin.

[Rutles4Ever]

"I think this demonstrates whose side God may actually be on," Robbins said. "Maybe all of us who like to eat, drink and make merry should relax."

No. It just demonstrates the immense mercy of God towards the sinful. Although it's bittersweet, I'm sure most of the poor souls who perished in this disaster are enjoying Paradise. God's mercy may have spared the decadent if only to give them the wake-up call that can save their souls...

People often ask why God allows these things to occur. I'm not sure anyone will know until we enter His house. But then it doesn't make much sense in our small, human way of thinking that He would become man, then elect to suffer and die on the Cross to pay for my sins...

A lot of people here react violently to the thought that, "wow, God is still in charge and maybe He's trying to tell us something" -- as if we're not worthy of being chastised for 45 million dead babies, but China is.

People like Falsani who claim to be religious experts but out-of-hand discount the possibility that God is trying to speak to us completely ignore a critical component of Judeo-Christianity - and that's JUDGMENT. And sadly, this is just a microcosm of man's attitude towards his own soul. Truly, the only end of the world we have to worry about is our own. If I go out and accidentally step in front of a bus, that's the end of my world. It doesn't do me much good to go through life assuming that God never punishes those He loves. Most people don't care to take stock of their souls. In the larger sense, when things like this happen, our country becomes terrified of taking stock of our nation's soul. And that's folly.

Still, God is truly merciful. As Mother Angelica once said, "the way things are going in this country, God is going to owe Soddom and Gommorah an apology". I don't know that this was a warning from God, but to dismiss it is only the tragic repetition of those who ridiculed Noah for building an ark.

Just my .02...

[Bigh4u2]

"But in the article he states that he was trying to point out that America is in sin."

Which I thought my statement addressed!


I think we are in agreement!

:0)

[pa mom]

I don't believe God sent the hurricane, though I defend this guy's right to say it.

[Bigh4u2]

"I don't believe God sent the hurricane,"

I don't either!

I shouldn't have left off the 'sarcasm' tag!

[pa mom]

My sarc meter is out for service, sorry!

[squarebarb]

Geez, I thought Robbins was dead years ago from drug abuse.

[dsc]

"liberal city dwellers"

Ummm...what could be worse than "liberal city dweller?"

[Goofystacey]

Because if he had WOULD any one pay attention to it then.

[Goofystacey]

Because the truth don't sell.

[hosepipe]

[ "THE BIG EASY IS THE MODERN DAY SODOM AND GOMORRAH." ]

Wrong..
New York is Sodom... and..
Chicago is Gomorrah..

[Goofystacey]

Amen Very well put.

[pa mom]

I don't quite get it. I feel he was singling out NO for it's reputation for sexual openness. When he got called on it, he claimed it was meant to mean all of America.

He thinks NO deserved to be hit. All of us have sinned, even if we are virgins (because the sexual sins seem to get him the most riled up). But the rest of us don't deserve to be destroyed?

[dsc]

"I come from a long line of rednecks."

Might be very long indeed. The term goes all the way back to the Limey Isles.