Pastor's sign rubs salt in the wounds of the downtrodden (Katrina)

[Modem Butterfly]

"They'll know we're Xians by our love,"

http://www.suntimes.com/output/falsani/cst-nws-fals16.html

Not long after several thousand evacuees from New Orleans began arriving in Tyler (including two dear friends of mine who moved from Chicago to the Crescent City last year), Bennett spelled out a fire-and-brimstone message on a sign in front of his church: "THE BIG EASY IS THE MODERN DAY SODOM AND GOMORRAH."

. . . . . .

Even after several evacuees confronted Bennett and asked him to remove the offensive sign, the pastor refused. Earlier this week, after vandals knocked off a few of the letters, Bennett still wouldn't take down his damn(ing) sign.

. . . . . .

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.

"New Orleans is a wicked city," he repeated. (Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Biloxi, Miss., and Tyler are also "wicked cities" according to Bennett.)

[nonconformist]

1. Disgusting.

"The original intent was to point out that the United States of America right now is in a deep state of sin"

Then why not make a sign that says: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS IN A DEEP STATE OF SIN?

[demnan]

2. He who is without sin

throw the first stone.

[Journeyman]

3. Another ignorant fool, trying to remove the mote in my eye. . .

while ignoring the beam in his own.

(And for revelation of that hypocrisy, I'm indebted to the bigoted pastor's own savior, quoted in Matthew 7:3-7)

[Brewman_Jax]

4. With friends like that

don't need anymore enemies.

[Modem Butterfly]

7. Every one of the evacuees should get five minutes with this guy...

[Brewman_Jax]

9. I think he should get a few minutes with

Hello Cthulhu :evilgrin:

[gatorboy]

13. Where did you get the "Hello Cthulhu"??

I've been meaning to ask you about that. :hi:

[MamaBear]

5. Sinners in the hands of an angry God

I wonder if this clergyman is the recipient of any "Faith-based initiative" dough.

It's amazing what the opportunistic will do and say in a time of crisis. Or any other time, come to think of it.

[Horse with no Name]

6. And when this church gets torched

They'll say THAT was a hate crime, but ignore the hate crime that preceded it.

[Akoto]

8. I'm a Buddhist, but I believe I can safely say that ...

Hatred, and seizing opportunities to strike out at the misfortunes and weaknesses of others, do not lead to salvation.

[wtmusic]

10. fuck -- I live in a wicked city

oh well, might as well make the best of it :evilgrin:

[Mr_Spock]

11. No wonder people burn churches.

Fucking ass hole - he's not even human never mind religious. That pastor mine as well be Satan x(

[TWiley]

12. Not often enough to suit me.

Religion has become a global blight.

[Mr_Spock]

14. I agree with you on both points

I hate to say it but someone has to take control from these people or deal with the consequences...