Pastor tells congregation to, "Love it or leave it!"

[Reformed]

Pastor doubles down on 'America: Love or leave it' sign as members walk out

In my opinion, this pastor is wrong because he placed nationality over the Gospel. I love America. Like many other BB members, I proudly wore the uniform of one of our military branches. But I am not an American first. I am a child of God. It seems like this pastor's version of patriotism has split his church. How sad.

 

[Revmitchell]

If no one shows up it did more than split his church. I don't know that this is not a recoverable issue. However, he doesn't seem to want to. Two things:

1. This is not a result of placing nationality over the gospel.
2. This is not a result of racism.

 

[GoodTidings]

There is a time and place for everything. The pastor is right in what he said, but wrong in his delivery method.

 

[Reynolds]

Pastor doubles down on 'America: Love or leave it' sign as members walk out

In my opinion, this pastor is wrong because he placed nationality over the Gospel. I love America. Like many other BB members, I proudly wore the uniform of one of our military branches. But I am not an American first. I am a child of God. It seems like this pastor's version of patriotism has split his church. How sad.

I agree with him. If anyone didn't like it, they are liberals. Church will be better off without those tares anyway. I wish our pastor would run off what few liberals we have.

 

[37818]

I agree with him. If anyone didn't like it, they are liberals. Church will be better off without those tares anyway. I wish our pastor would run off what few liberals we have.

Hmm. . . . It needs to be done, if at all, over the word of God and not merely over American patriotism.

 

[Baptist Believer]

If no one shows up it did more than split his church. I don't know that this is not a recoverable issue. However, he doesn't seem to want to. Two things:

1. This is not a result of placing nationality over the gospel.

Sure it is. He has declared a nationalist message on the church's sign, making it an official message of the congregation/pastor. The kingdom of God is not the United States.

At the same time, how does this nationalist leader masquerading as a spokesman for God judge 'loving' America? I suppose he might think that a person doesn't love America if that person offers a critique of something in American culture or government policy, but if that is true, then just about everyone reading my words now 'hates' America. Also, that would mean that the OT prophets hated Israel, Jesus hated Israel, the New Testament Christians hated every culture, and our current President has hated this country and it's leaders for much of his public life.

However, I sincerely doubt this nationalist leader has given his message that much thought.

 

[Reynolds]

Sure it is. He has declared a nationalist message on the church's sign, making it an official message of the congregation/pastor. The kingdom of God is not the United States.

At the same time, how does this nationalist leader masquerading as a spokesman for God judge 'loving' America? I suppose he might think that a person doesn't love America if that person offers a critique of something in American culture or government policy, but if that is true, then just about everyone reading my words now 'hates' America. Also, that would mean that the OT prophets hated Israel, Jesus hated Israel, the New Testament Christians hated every culture, and our current President has hated this country and it's leaders for much of his public life.

However, I sincerely doubt this nationalist leader has given his message that much thought.

Anyone who doesn't like it is either a liberal or is OVERTHINKING it.

 

[Baptist Believer]

Anyone who doesn't like it is either a liberal or is OVERTHINKING it.

Please tell me, what does it mean to "love America?" What does that look like on a practical and public level?

 

[Reynolds]

Please tell me, what does it mean to "love America?" What does that look like on a practical and public level?

Not undermining and trying to destroy her as the liberals are doing.

 

[Baptist Believer]

Not undermining and trying to destroy her as the liberals are doing.

That's an extremely subjective standard. I happen to think our current President is undermining most of the American principles laid down by our Founding Fathers and destroying the hard bi-partisan work of many generations. I think our previous President also did some damage by setting the precedent of using Executive Orders to accomplish things he could not do through Congress.

So if you support our current President, I think the shoe is on the other foot and you should be the one leaving this country. But that would be a totalitarian attitude which violates our foundational and sacred American principles, so I don't have that attitude. But you and the President need to stop it. Don't hate America.

 

[Wingman68]

Went to Walmart today for some range ammo, & saw a twenty something girl there wearing a bold t-shirt saying the same thing. I was a little surprised but heartened at the same time. There is nothing wrong with the message. Too many of the messages coming from churches ARE wrong, morally, this is not one of them.
I would be elated to see this on my church marquee, I might even think about going back, however the Pastor is a supporter of ‘the new deal’ that has overtaken the hapless SBC, so.............

 

[Reformed]

Please tell me, what does it mean to "love America?" What does that look like on a practical and public level?

Speaking only for myself here are a few ways how love for America can be displayed:

Pray for a large-scale movement among God's people to put off worldliness and put on godliness (1 Peter 1:15).
Pray for our leaders without blind party-allegiance to every decision they make (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Display our love to our fellow brothers and sisters so that God receives the glory even among unbelievers in our society (Matthew 5:16; John 13:34; Galatians 5:14).
Take up the plight of the unborn who are being slaughtered on the altar to Satan (James 1:27).
Proclaim the Gospel not only in our churches but in the public square, knowing that it is the only hope in our godless culture (Romans 1:17; 2 Timothy 4:2).
Do not erect unbiblical requirements (tradition, political, societal) that a person must meet in order to be one of us (Galatians 1:10).

 

[Baptist Believer]

Went to Walmart today for some range ammo...

I haven't bought ammo from Walmart in a couple of years. They were having trouble keeping it in stock, so I started buying online. Are the prices still decent on "white box" Winchester ammo?

There is nothing wrong with the message.

Well, it violates our founding principles, so I think it is unAmerican.

Too many of the messages coming from churches ARE wrong, morally, this is not one of them.

This type of message shouldn't come from the church at all. The church should be about the Kingdom of God, not promoting certain views of earthly kingdoms.

 

[Baptist Believer]

Speaking only for myself here are a few ways how love for America can be displayed:

Pray for a large-scale movement among God's people to put off worldliness and put on godliness (1 Peter 1:15).
Pray for our leaders without blind party-allegiance to every decision they make (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Display our love to our fellow brothers and sisters so that God receives the glory even among unbelievers in our society (Matthew 5:16; John 13:34; Galatians 5:14).
Take up the plight of the unborn who are being slaughtered on the altar to Satan (James 1:27).
Proclaim the Gospel not only in our churches but in the public square, knowing that it is the only hope in our godless culture (Romans 1:17; 2 Timothy 4:2).
Do not erect unbiblical requirements (tradition, political, societal) that a person must meet in order to be one of us (Galatians 1:10).

This is an outstanding and biblical answer.

 

[Reformed]

This type of message shouldn't come from the church at all. The church should be about the Kingdom of God, not promoting certain views of earthly kingdoms.

Amen and amen.

This pastor made a subjective statement on what it means to love America. Apparently, the majority of his church disagreed. Are they to be condemned for that? Where is this pastor's love for his flock evident? He is so willing to take a principled political stand that he will allow his flock to be scattered? How very sad.

 

[Revmitchell]

Sure it is. He has declared a nationalist message on the church's sign, making it an official message of the congregation/pastor. The kingdom of God is not the United States.

Sorry your black and white fallacy doesn't stand.

 

[Revmitchell]

That's an extremely subjective standard. I happen to think our current President is undermining most of the American principles laid down by our Founding Fathers and destroying the hard bi-partisan work of many generations.

Of course you do. TDS is in full effect.

 

[Wingman68]

I haven't bought ammo from Walmart in a couple of years. They were having trouble keeping it in stock, so I started buying online. Are the prices still decent on "white box" Winchester ammo?


Well, it violates our founding principles, so I think it is unAmerican.


This type of message shouldn't come from the church at all. The church should be about the Kingdom of God, not promoting certain views of earthly kingdoms.

Federal & Winchester 9mm/100 rds, 17 bucks. Didn’t need ammo, but don’t want to cut into the stash. They only had a couple of rifles, but plenty of 22 ammo, bricks, buckets, boxes, so that was good.

 

[Baptist Believer]

Sorry your black and white fallacy doesn't stand.

You are quite good at claiming things true or false, but very poor at actually explaining why.

Why is my statement a fallacy? Why do you consider it not black and white?

The message is about the United States, a political entity (nation) of this world. The sign identifies the location as the place where the business/worship of the church (Friendship Baptist Church) is based, and there is not indication that the church allows the community or passers-by to place messages on the sign. The duly-appointed leader of the congregation proudly admits that he placed the message on the sign, so unless you are making the claim that the public does not perceive the pastor as having authority to speak for the congregation, then it is an official statement. Beyond all of that, Jesus explicitly taught that His Kingdom is not of this world, as a political agency where people would take up swords to defend it.

So how in the world is my statement a fallacy?

 

[Baptist Believer]

Of course you do. TDS is in full effect.

Yes, Trump Delusion Syndrome. You have a severe case of it.