Posted on 06/30/2014 11:34:57 AM PDT by wonkowasright
Former SBC president supports convicted New Orleans mayor. The immediate past president of the Southern Baptist Convention sought leniency for former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, convicted in February on 20 criminal counts including bribery, fraud and money laundering. Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, wrote one of 31 letters of support—five written by ministers—in advance of Nagin’s sentencing on July 9. Luter, the first African-American SBC president, said he has known Nagin since high school, and Nagin wasn’t the same person after Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of the city in August 2005. Luter asked U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan to consider that context and grant Nagin leniency. “He is a good and decent man who made some unwise choices and decisions during a very difficult and traumatic time in his personal and professional life,” Luter said.
I just found it amusing which is why I post this...
Known him since school. So this was just a personal thing.
Race above all else with these black racist thugs.
I was suspicious from the moment that Luter was elected president of the SBC. Suspicious that he was just a liberal plant. I lay the SBC’s recent bent toward leniency with cultural degradation (failure to expell sodomy affirming church) of late largely at his feet.
I’m a member of the SBC and do not disagree with both of your statements.
Race trumping Christian Values? Disappointing.
As a side note: The SBC needs to get with the program and come out swinging in support of Israel.
Namby pamby leaders in the SBC across the country are causing their churches to have a Laodicean bent.
Revelation 3:14-22(NIV)
To the Church in Laodicea
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Memories of Katrina and Nagin doing nothing or so it seemed.
“Namby pamby leaders in the SBC across the country are causing their churches to have a Laodicean bent.”
Unfortunately this problem is not limited to Southern Baptists.
There are many SBC churches that are clearly on fire for the Lord; many who strongly stand with Israel; many who take their members to Israel and the Holy Land and yes; many, many who strongly stand with Israel.
The SBC's individual churches are autonomous (each of us has our own board of Deacons and Elders, who vote for various things, pick and choose their leaders and yes, even choose to toss them out.
What we don't do, is tell another congregation whom to support, unless they no longer support the Baptist Faith and Message (which has varied but slightly over the decades.)
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