Pastor Steven Anderson of the Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe, AZ, is making headlines, at least here in the Valley of the Sun, because he's preaching sermons on "Why I hate Barack Obama". What?? He is telling his congregation that he is praying for Obama's death. He doesn't want the president assassinated. That would make him a martyr. No, he's praying that the president dies of brain cancer or something. (Unrelated, but related, the guy who stood outside with an AR-15 when the president was visiting Phoenix attends Anderson's church.)
The "good pastor" assured his congregation that it's a biblical position to take. Look at David's imprecatory psalms. He prays for bad things to happen to his enemies. That's all the pastor is doing. So ... there it is! It's a biblical position!
I'm sorry, pastor, but I don't follow. I don't see any commands that tell believers "pray for the death of those you disagree with." Not finding it anywhere. I do find specific commands to "love your enemy". Paul specifically commands "I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior" (1 Tim 2:1-3). (Now, whatever you think of our president, there is no doubt that the government under which Paul found himself was more ungodly than ours.) I'm sorry, pastor, but it makes no sense.
When Osama Bin Laden and his folk ordered (and continue to order) attacks on "infidels", Muslims are quick to respond, "Well, that's them; that's not us." What they don't say is "They're wrong." When "fundamentalist" (their word, not mine) Mormons defy the law and engage in polygamy, Mormons are happy to say, "That's them; that's not us", but I don't hear "They're wrong." Every group out there -- political, religious, or otherwise -- will get its share of "bad representatives". Someone is going to do something that casts a bad light on whatever belief system you're in. The question is, what are you going to do about it? Pastor Steven Anderson is preaching a lie. I will not keep silent about it. I won't say, "That's him; that's not me." He's wrong. He is not representing genuine Christian teaching. I want there to be no doubt. Christians are commanded to pray for government, not against it. He's wrong.
11 comments:
Ridiculous.
This man ought not be a pastor.
His thinking and teaching and preaching and actions are un-Christian...at best.
I'll pray for him.
This pastor's position based off Psalms is unfortunately all too common. Too many people base their theology off the poetry books, or the historical narratives. King David and Solomon were both polygamists, and yet we know it is a sin. Just because David did it, doesn't make it right. The point of the Old Testament is to point toward Christ, show that He has been needed all along, and show that God is in control. The failings of the Biblical characters should not be upheld as good, just because they are in the Bible.
In case anyone wonders, "Why did Dan Trabue never agree with anything Stan said?", I got an email from him on this post that agreed. Disagree with ideas, but hating your enemy is not acceptable. Just in case anyone wondered.
Steve, agreed. A pastor teaching anti-Christian values is no pastor indeed.
David, true. Just because someone did it doesn't make it right. Now, I think that the imprecatory psalms actually provide some valuable insight ... but even then correlating "David wanted Saul dead" with David's "Touch not the Lord's anointed" is a bit difficult (read "impossible").
Well, that's the problem with a literalist reading of the Bible. Pastor Anderson takes those verses about executing gay people seriously!
Plenty of Pastor Andersons abound (though I think his congregation size ~30), especially south of the Mason-Dixon line…
I had not heard of this pastor and his death wish sermon, so thank you for making some of us aware, but then I've been on vacation, away from newspapers and TV news. (Ahhh, so nice to not be exposed to the swill of this world for a few days!) So, I just read up on it and spent some time on his wife's blog. Wow.
She is quite opinionated herself, isn't she?! And, now that they are in the national public eye, asking for trouble because of it. They have 4 cute, little kids who now need prayer for their safety. If their parents are going to be feeling some of these intolerant and hateful things, they certainly ought not be publicly stating them and attempting to sway others!
He's a pastor! Why not pray instead for our president to hear from GOD and for him to have a deeply personal relationship with HIM? Why not pray for GOOD things for him and his family and not evil? Why not pray that that our president's eyes be opened to the truth and that he will be given wisdom straight from God on how to lead this country? Instead Pastor Anderson and his wife want our country to be thrown into even more turmoil?
This is so wrong. Are they thinking Joe Biden would make a much better president? How many other world leaders are they praying will soon die? There will always be many with whom they will strongly disagree! Do they have a death "wish list" and some on it have priority status?
I just finished reading atheist Sam Harris' Letter to a Christian Nation and unfortunately these types of "Christians" feed his fire against belief in any god or set of religious beliefs. He has nothing good to say about Christians (or Muslims or followers of any religion). It doesn't matter that all the rest of us may believe differently; as usual, only a few "nuts" or misquided people can make everyone look bad. And of course the media feeds like sharks on such stories, circling around and around, always hungry for more!
I don't know if President Obama and his family have found a new church yet, but praying for their new pastor might be a good idea. The right man, hearing from God, could have much influence over our president, his wife, and their entire world view. He might only have the president's ear for a mere 45 minutes once a week only a few Sundays a month, but hey, God can do great things through humble servants wanting to be mightily used!
I hope this Pastor Anderson is not "mightily used" to make just another strong case for Sam Harris and his ilk. It's still possible this could somehow be turned around, isn't it? Hey, Stan, is his church in your area? :o) The handgun on his computer desk doesn't make him look quite as approachable as he sounds on the video clip. This situation, these beliefs, these hopes, or plans of his and his congregation need to be publicly repented for or confounded.
In defense of Baptist brand (which is also tarred by Fred Phelps and his godhatesfags.com), it must be noted that Pastor Anderson's "Baptist" church is an "independent", unaffiliated with any Baptist organization (at least to what I am aware of…)
Naum: "Well, that's the problem with a literalist reading of the Bible."
Well, that's the problem with assuming that taking the Bible as written results in that sort of thinking. The biblical idea is that those who have the Holy Spirit will be led into the truth. I take the Bible "literally" and don't come to such horrendous conclusions. In other words (and the content of my post said so), the Bible refutes these types. Be careful of over-generalizations.
Sherry, hope you had a nice vacation. This guy's church is in the valley where I live, but to far for me to go to correct the man. (Yeah, right, like he'd listen to correction.) But, like the president, I'll be praying for him, too.
Naum, it also should be noted that he's "KJVO" -- King James Version Only. If you're not using the King James, you're not using the Bible. In insane (and long past "literalist") position. The man is a loon, not deserving of the term "pastor".
Wow, I read some of the comments from the "GLBT christians"...see the link from Naum...very hateful comments after the interview.
And they DO lump us all together. Unfortunately this "preacher" gave Christianity a black eye.
Stan: Well, that's the problem with assuming that taking the Bible as written results in that sort of thinking. The biblical idea is that those who have the Holy Spirit will be led into the truth. I take the Bible "literally" and don't come to such horrendous conclusions. In other words (and the content of my post said so), the Bible refutes these types. Be careful of over-generalizations.
Uh, biblical text (OT) is clear and a "literal reading" leaves no room for maneuvering — persons committing homosexual acts are to be executed (Lev 18:22, Lev 20:13).
Of course, adultery was punishable by death also (Deut 22) — but a man could not commit adultery against his own wife; he could only commit adultery against another man by sexually using the other's wife. And a bride who is found not to be a virgin is to be stoned to death (Deut. 22:13-21)
Naum: "Uh, biblical text (OT) is clear and a 'literal reading' leaves no room for maneuvering."
A literal reading of the OT texts would tell you that in a theocracy the government carries out an execution of those engaged in homosexual behavior (and adultery, etc.). (No such command exists in the NT, so while the NT agrees that the activity is still a sin, it no longer requires that the government -- no longer a theocracy -- execute transgressors.) Again ... beware of over-generalizations.
Starflyer, I weep when I think of the shame that people bring on Christ by misrepresenting Him. And, of course, I wouldn't anticipate that the GLBT side would be a kind, forgiving, moderate group willing to discuss ideas and excuse others' errors.
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