Fight breaks out at funeral over pastor's blunt eulogy

AP ^ | 6/24/02

[truthandlife]

Authorities in Loxley, Alabama, are investigating the alleged beating of a preacher by funeral mourners who didn't like his blunt eulogy.

Glynis Bethel tells The Associated Press that her husband -- Pastor Orlando Bethel -- was attacked during a June 14th funeral and dragged out of the church.

That's because Bethel told mourners the deceased was in Hell and that they were headed the same way.

The dead man was Mrs. Bethel's uncle.

Pastor Bethel referred to him as a "drunkard and a fornicator."

Mrs. Bethel, who's also a preacher, says -- quote -- "the fornicators didn't like what he said so they got up and beat him."

She says police didn't make any arrests, so she and her husband -- who may have a broken nose -- are taking out warrants.

[kjam22]

LOL.... I know the preacher's comments were out of place and out of time.... but I gotta tell you.... the "prophet" in me enjoyed this article.

[camle]

truth hurts?

[TomServo]

Already posted here and here.

[sheik yerbouty]

He could have said all that, but could have mitigated it by saying" but his brother is worse!"

[truthandlife]

I did a search and this AP story is under a different title

[kinsman redeemer]

This is very funny, right?!

I had never seen it and I am glad you posted it.

LOL

[mad puppy]

I've always been amazed how 'group think' will allow people living a lie to resist coming to the truth, not just on a life-death, heaven or hell issue like this one either. Those who dare say that indeed 'the emperor has no clothes', are typically beaten in one fashion or another. "Clinton is a liar and a sex-addict", "abortion kills", "gay is not normal", "abstinence"....

[TomServo]

I did a search and this AP story is under a different title

Did ya try only doing a word search? Full titles searches don't work.

[Bonaparte]

A pastor has no business saying who is or will be in hell. Nor does he have any business downgrading the dead at a funeral. And a congregation has no business beating up a pastor. All parties to this incident are out of line.

[archy]

It's just a good thing this sort of thing didn't take place at an Asatruist worship ceremony. The swordplay would have been mighty, the blood would have flown, and Valhalla might have had a couple of newly-fallen, where they'd have found out if the topic of their dispute was recently a resident of Hel.

But I suspwect that All-father Odin prefers those who do battle for causes at least a tad more noble.

-archy-/-

[lavaroise]

A pastor has no business saying who is or will be in hell.

WHAT!!! Do you pretend to tell he does not know all but you know all????

A pastor can say whatever he damn wants, and if he fears for the behaviors of some, that he mentions about hell is part of his job. It's one thing if a pastor worships himself, it is another thing if he is blunt, and probably helpful.

[lavaroise]

I think before we go to slanderous conclusions here, we better know better who this pastor really is.

[hoot2]

"truth hurts? "

c'mon....the truth shall set you free
the consequences may be a broken nose tho...

[Minnesoootan]

Nah,it's all the guys fault for tippin over,ungrateful fornicator.... ;-)

[oiljake]

sometime the truth hurts but in this case it hurt on both ends

[TexasRepublic]

This is what heppens when you stop "preaching" and start "stepping on toes"!

[WellsFargo94]

Did ya try only doing a word search? Full titles searches don't work.

I was accused of this earlier today, with a different article. So, I went back and did a keyword search (for this article too) of pastor, then fight, then funeral. Nothing came up.

So what if it gets posted more than once? With the multitude of articles that get posted all day long they get lost in the bunch. It's nice to have an interesting article show up again.

[TomServo]

So what if it gets posted more than once?

Here, here, here and here.

You're welcome.

[Bonaparte]

"A pastor can say whatever he damn wants..."

Actually, he can't. All pastors are sinners, just like the rest of us. Just as we are not rewarded for our good works, we are not punished for our sins but for failing to repent in our hearts in Jesus' name. This "pastor" had no idea what was in the man's heart before his death, and he spoke out of turn.

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save yourself and us.

But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Lk 23:39-43

The man crucified beside Jesus had committed worse transgressions than the man in the article, and yet he ascended to heaven. I repeat: We are not judged by our works or our sins, but by our faith in Lord Jesus and our sincere repentence. The preacher in the article was denying this.