Posted on 05/24/2007 7:20:35 AM PDT by epow
An official with the Institute on Religion and Democracy says it is outrageous that a leader in the United Methodist Church has called for the removal of U.S. flags from the denomination's churches.
Minister Clayton Childers of the Capitol Hill-based United Methodist Board of Church and Society said the presence of a national flag can imply endorsement of national policies, which often are counter to the teachings of Christ. Childers even noted that the Swastika flag was displayed prominently in German churches during the Nazi era.
Mark Tooley is with the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD). "Obviously," he notes, "there are a number of serious problems with that Nazi-American analogy; but one of the problems, of course, is that American churches display the American flag completely voluntarily. No one is compelling them to do it -- whereas, of course, in Nazi Germany the totalitarian state compelled its churches not only to display the flag but to support the government's policies."
Meanwhile, the IRD spokesman remarks, United Methodist officials apparently are not concerned about the fact that many churches display politically correct, rainbow paraphernalia and peace banners. He says the comments from Childers are not surprising.
"This illustrates one of the many, many problems with liberal theology, which de-emphasizes the need for evangelism and for conversion and for salvation," Tooley contends. "If you set aside all of those things," he says, "what do you have left but simply using the church for social justice issues?
“...Sophia Worship get togethers.”
Can you fill me in on this?
Those are about the most hateful and inaccurate comments I've seen in a long time.
American flag resides proudly at the front of our (Southern Baptist) church - right across from the Christian flag.
of course, our area is home to the world’s largest naval base, 2 naval air stations, 3 army bases, etc. *
757 shout-out, i guess!
( * and unfortunately, the virginian-pravda bird-cage liner, i mean newspaper)
It would not surprise me in the least if this is already being done in some congregations.
My brother told me that when he was attending an ELCA seminary several years ago, fellow conservative students (yes, there WERE some!) had a code phrase for this type. They would describe the woman as having "short hair" and the reference was basically understood.
Where do these freaks come from?
I’m afraid ole Newcthem’s comments are often true.
There was a UM Church near Fort Benning that was hosting meetings for the Leftist protesters we get every November. It is not just Glyde Memorial in San Francisco and some of the other big-city UM churches that are now part of the extreme Left. There are many “Theology of Liberation” congregations and the national body appears to be a lost cause. Years ago the Board of Global Ministries was a cheering section for the Sandinista takeover of Nicaragua and had no trouble with Sandinista logistical support for the FMLN in El Salvador.
In Nashville, Belmont Methodist was once considered a “conservative” congregation but the themes of many of my Sunday School classes back in the early 70s were bizarre and rarely differed much from what Trotsky would find acceptable.
Never mind . . .
Wonderful, I hope and pray that trend continues until the traditional Methodist Church comes home to it's first love.
Whenever I read something like this article it reminds me of the times when I was a young boy 6 decades ago and stayed with my Methodist grandparents while my mother was being treated for cancer in a Philadelphia clinic. Every night at bedtime I saw and heard them both on their knees by their bed praying for me, my mother, and the family. If not for their faithful witness for Christ and my parents faithfulness in taking me to church and Sunday school I doubt very much that I would be a twice-born Christian today.
I belong to a small rural UMC in Oklahoma. Most of the rural churches are still conservative, and the members do not know the extent of the radicalism of the national organization. Our former district superintendent did not believe in heaven or hell, but did instruct us to quit using styrofoam cups and to sign petitions for wind power. We, of course, refused. Thankfully, we have a retired Marine as pastor now. He has spoken on this flag issue, and there are some pastors (feminists) who have banned the flag from their churches. The Methodists are suicidal, but I’ll stick with them as long as our local church stays Bible-based.
Thanks for the picture, anyone have phone numbers or an email address? I’d like to send him an _ssripper! I’m Methodist and am highly offended by this “official” jerk! Wait ‘till my dad, a WWII vet, hears about this one!
Mr. Childers should know the following: I wish him no ill will now, and indeed have offered a prayer for him. That said, if it comes to civil war in this country, the fact that he claims to share my faith will not prevent me from shooting him or anyone who sides with him. He is an enemy of my nation and my God.
They are also BIG supporter of disarming YOU and ME.
I guess that the whackos join the methodist church when the unitarian universalist pews are full. Sick, sick, sick stuff.
We had a guest speaker from the local First Methodist Church of this small GA town at our relatively small Baptist church a few years ago. As far as I could tell from his bible-based message that church has not yet joined the overall UMC drift into liberal social activism and away from biblical Christianity. But that was 8 or 9 years ago, so I don't know what the situation there is now.
The widely reported lunacy of some individuals, a handful of congregations, or boards doesn't represent the overwhelming majority of Bible believing Christians called Methodist.
Just as Olympia Snow isn't the face of Republicans, the liberals of the church don't speak for us.
If he were to get this implemented I think it would be totally withing the perview of every other denomination to say they would not work with any UMC member in any ecumenical context.
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