Pastor Beaten After Blunt Eulogy

The Carolina Channel ^ | 21 June 02 | AP

[aomagrat]

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

Glynis Bethel told The Associated Press that her husband -- the Rev. Orlando Bethel -- was attacked during a June 14 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 Glynis Bethel's uncle.

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

Glynis Bethel, who's also a preacher, says "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.

[DugwayDuke]

"Afraid you are missing the point. The point was that this pastor was asked to hold a memorial service. He took that opportunity to kick the loved ones when they were down. This was not preaching. This was absolutely an abuse of religion. Where is the love and kindness shown here? Maybe the man is in hell but there is nothing the loved ones can do about it now and the memory of that service and the hurt involved will be with them for a lifetime."

No, you're missing the point. Whether the message choosen by this minister was appropriate is not the point, but I will address that below.

You see Yeti asserted that the minister should have been sued for preaching the Word of God because it hurt peoples feelings. Yeti also asserted that this preacher would, because of this message, be the one in Hell. Do you really think that a pastor should be subject to lawsuit because his messages hurt the feelings of those in the congregration? Do you really think our courts have (or should have) the power to make such judgements? Do you really think that a pastor will spend eternity in Hell for preaching the Word of God? Do you see now the points I was addressing?

"How many of those people do you think would ever set foot in that pastor's church after such a display? He created an absolute horrible memory for the hurt loved ones and totally corrupted Christ's desire to have people come to Him. Why would that action draw anybody?"

This is a different matter entirely from my issues with Yeti. This really is one of the fundamental issues in Christianity. What should pastors preach? Should they be inoffensive so as to not allienate or "drive away" some? Or should pastors preach the whole Word of God even if that offends some? For example, should pastors condemn homosexuality, even if that condemnation drives some away?

Of course, there is also the issue of whether this particular message was appropriate for an eulogy? Well, that's a judgement call, but to me, these words are always appropriate at a funeral: "For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Rom 6:23. We may debate endlessly whether these words would drive away some or whether pointing out that that an unsaved soul will not see Heaven might also be the very words to bring someone to Christ. True, a funeral is an emotional time, but it might also be the time when the weight of these words strike home.

Finally, it seems to me that the condmenation here should not be directed at the pastor but should be directed at those who would attack a man of God for speaking God's Word. One wonders just what difference there is between these who beat up a Christian pastor in Alabama because they disagree with his message and those who would do the same in some Muslim country.

[blam]

"Actually, if you check the Red/Blue map, Baldwin county went for Bush."

I'll say. The last presidential election was a Republican sweep in Baldwin county. There aren't any Democrats in elective office anywhere in the whole county.

[mhking]

If you can't join him,

beat him....

[aomagrat]

Apology accepted! :-)

[LowOiL]

What I like is the fact that alot of people want to hear sweet talk at a funeral. I bet most have never darkened the door of a church. They had rather pay a preacher to preach sweet lies than the truth.To say a Son of a Gun is a great fellow makes a mockery out of religion. Better the folks get someone else to say words than make a preacher spout lies.

People need to live their lives like it counts, cause it does. No preacher words will get you to heaven. Gotta go through the blood of Jesus.

[Jorge]

***So preaching the bible is an "emotional assault"?***

Apprarently yes, when you are preaching to people who reject God.
The Bible is full of stories about people who hated God's Word so much they attacked and even killed God's messengers.

[LowOiL]

This Preacher was kin to the deceased, he obviously knew him well. He obviously loved his family enought to not want to see them burn too. His did not do this to make people mad, he did it cause he loved them. He might of been at this fellows death bed begging him to accept Jesus's love and forgiveness and been rejected. It is not a far leap to guess this fellow probable is in Hell if he denied Jesus to the end. (I don't know, noone can be sure, we don't know the depth of their relationship from the article). To sugar coat a persons life is pretty lame and deceptive (at alot of funerals I've observed over the years this occurs). Perhaps this preacher should of just turned down the invitation to talk, but maybe he was pressured and God wanted him to say some truth. It is the fault of those that asked him to preach it. Not the preacher.

[Jorge]

"He did not rightly preach God's message. He declared a man went to hell for commiting sins. The Gospel says that all people sin. Even the saved and born-again. Sins do not send one to hell. If they did, EVERYONE would be in hell. Read the Gospel before commenting on it."

Jesus Christ Himself told people right to their faces that they would die in their sins and if they didn't repent.

[JoeSchem]

You would think that people claiming to have so much fun in life could sit through a short sermon without getting upset.

[Lightnin]

Yeti, you need a life!

[LowOiL]

"Actually, if you check the Red/Blue map, Baldwin county went for Bush"

You'd better believe it! As a matter of fact, we saw as many, if not more, Baldwin County folks at the Bush Rallys in downtown Mobile (Mobile County btw).

The whole state did a good job for Bush, including some of us Northern Bama people. *surprise surprise*

[Senator Pardek]

Jesus Saves... BUT GRETZKY SCORES ON THE REBOUND!

[DugwayDuke]

I'm truely surprised that some would think that this pastor got what he deserved or that the courts have a part to play in determing the appropriateness of a ministers remarks.

[sneakypete]

Tough crowd.

[sneakypete]

But then I have been to so few drunken fornicator funerals.

Ahhh,you just don't understand the "Full Gosphel" crowd of fundies. They see religion as a full-contact sport.

[sneakypete]

We are located in South Alabama in beautiful and progressive Baldwin County

"progressive"? "Baldwin"?

[Hacksaw]

Ahhh,you just don't understand the "Full Gosphel" crowd of fundies. They see religion as a full-contact sport.

ETD.

[sneakypete]

They should have just laughed at the notion, right?

They were just mad because somebody was telling them they would have to share a space with all those Catholics and Baptists.

[Cap'n Crunch]

See, that old Irish saying is true:

"Many a man's mouth broke his nose"

Slainte

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh I have seen the full-contact sport types, from a distance, the way I would watch pro wrestling... shaking my head with embarrassment... They can steal the grace from even the most divine of ideas!

You know, lie if you must, but say something nice. It is his funeral. God will understand.

Speaking of which... can you imagine the fist-fights in the religious forum if one of them were to pass, and someone wondered aloud whether the person was actually in heaven?