Sad....really, really sad......

I got a call today.  I did not believe what I was told.  But I got in my car, drove to Harlan, and sure enough, I saw the sign in front of the Maranatha Chapel. 

My church taught me not to lie (he is NOT a muslim, even John McCain knows that).  And even if he was, my church taught me tolerance.  This one clearly does not.

Sad....really, really sad....

UPDATE- Shortly after noon today the sign was taken down.  Something about receiving several phone calls tends to make folks re-think their actions.

Comments

[Nick Metel]

Kevin, you're right. This is sad, and it reeks of ignorance. Signs like this are hateful, and Christians who say, write, and think like this do more damage than good to the faith they claim to profess.

As a Christian, I take seriously the red letters (quotes from Jesus) in the Gospels, and anyone who reads the Gospels would understand that creating such a sign would never, ever pass the ever-popular "What Would Jesus Do" test.

Jesus was very, very clear in directing His followers to love everyone, and it is by such love that "all will know that you are my disciples."

Jesus' message was love. There is no love in that sign. It is my sincere hope that everyone who sees this sign will realize that it was put together by people ignorant of Jesus' message.

Such actions, no doubt, were what caused Mahatma Gandhi to say, "I love your Christ. I do not like your Christians. THEY ARE SO UNLIKE YOUR CHRIST."

[Kelly]

I sincerely do hope someone calls this church on this. Silence just condones such abhorent actions.
It is incredible to me that anyone, let alone a 'church', would think this was okay. I think Everyone in Harlan--clearly the targeted audience should be angry. I know I am.

[Kevin]

Sad, but not surprising.

[Abby Scheibenberger]

And these people probably think they are GOOD Christians. This is so sad.

[TiredoldTrooper]

Heck, I hope someone calls the IRS. If this church wants to get into politics, let them pay the freight! As a matter of fact, I'll call them!

[TiredoldTrooper]

Just like the feds. Automated "get a form 3949-A" and mail it in!

[greg]

can some one give me this phone number?

[Andy]

Horrible -

Sad representation for the people who attend that particular church.

[Bob F.]

My brother Jim sent me this thread. He and I grew up not all that far from Harlan (in Waterloo IN).

The only question here is whether the leaders of this church are (a) ignorant, (b) stupid, or (c) hateful -- or all the above.

[Zeke]

But he IS a Muslim you idiot!

He was raised Muslim, has a Muslim name, and observes Ramadan. How much denial is too much?

[Becky]

I hate how the fear mongers just keep spreading this type of hate. Even if Obama was a Muslin (which anyone with half a brain knows he isn't) so friggen what? These are the type of "christians" who give all christians a bad name.

[Kevin Knuth]

Zeke,

No, he is not a Muslim and YOU are the idiot.

Check out SNOPES.COM, or Political Fact Check, or any credible news source....heck, even John McCain says Obama is not a Muslim.

You narrow minded, lying idiot!

[john wallace]

I called, left a message about the Ninth commandment, and the need to teach tolerance and love - not hate and lies.
Thee Pastor was all "bless you," and God loves you," on the answering machine. Then since he left his cell number for immediate contact I called him and left a message there.
I also suggested that someone who preaches hate and lies isn't really a pastor but just in it for the power and coin.
Looks like I wasn't alone...

[John Good]

The pastor of this church should resign immediately! He is not a follower of the teachings of Christ in ANY way!!

[Damian]

This church is catering to people like Zeke up there - ignorant of even the most basic facts because they let people tell them what the facts supposedly are rather than looking for themselves.

People who revel in utter stupidity. People who encourage hate and fear. People who hold the rest of humanity back from evolving past this kind of garbage.

[TiredoldTrooper]

Zeke, my boy. I fear you have been killing off to many brain cells.

But, be that as it may. Even if Mr. Obama was Muslim and Mr. McCain were a Hindu it wouldn't make one difference in the vast universe. It also makes no difference in the Constitution of the United States of America. Our Constitution, however, does address the Seperation of Church and State.
As a matter of fact, both the Bible and the Koran speak rather clearly on "Bearing false witness" (that's lying, to those of us with deminished capacity). And if I, neither a Born again Christian, a Muslim nor a Hindu, wish to observe Ramadan, Kawanza or Christmas, it does not mean I have any attachment to any of those faiths. The point of the thread was to display the intrusion of a church into the business of a government. On a brighter side, it did provide you an opportunity to voice your lack of knowledge!

[Nick Metel]

An appropriate replacement message for the sign would be: "John 13:34-35"

[Goldphool]

What really is offensive is the insinuation that our Presidents should all be Christian. Honestly I hope they have to start paying taxes. If they want to play favorites with government officials they should pay like everyone else.

[Jimmy]

The separation of church and state was established to ensure the government couldn't tell people what faith to follow. In exchange for not being taxed, there was no state religion. So if the state is holding up their end of the law, shouldn't church's hold up their end? My point is, if church's have 'political pulpit Sunday's' and brimstone endorsements follow those political sermons, then those church's should lose their tax exemption and pay assessed valuation and feel free to post and preach political opinions. Pay to play; Maranatha Chapel (Full Gospel) should be placed on the tax rolls as of yesterday.