I am wondering how Rev. Joseph Lowery could still be United Methodist with many of his personal stances - contrary to the stance of the denomination. Why would President Elect Obama pick him to give a prayer at the inauguration.
The ways of God and men are not the same for sure...
Read this article for more thoughts on Rev. Lowery - http://www.theird.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=884&srcid=884.
The two pastors that President Elect Obama has chosen couldn't be more different. They truly stretch the concept of pluralism.
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When Quoting Scripture Inflicts Harm
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The article you posted was definitely worth a read. There really seem to be two clear sides polarized in the U.S. and interestingly one has a lot more support internationally than the other. Socialist liberalism for the U.S.A. is by far the apparent winner in a global majority vote. So since most people want it I suppose it must be what's best. (aka: group think fallacy)
Wow, That article is a real eyebrow-raiser, isn't it? I think the thing that stands out to me the most about what I just read is a seeming lack of exorsizing authority and dicipline by the organization that ordained him. It seems to me that when a minister publicly and passionately contradicts the docrinal stands of the Church organization he is supposed to represent, that person is in open rebellion, and should be just as publically repromanded for their behavior.
One of the things that God is restoring to the church in these last days is the God given authority to govern it's own. Public 'whistle-blowing' of such behavior is a good start. Hopefully it will help draw the attention of those who have entrusted with such authority.
An interesting article, although extremely jaundiced by the author's personal persuasions. It's a pity that spin is not called out for what it is sometimes.
Before we go off on another McCarthyist-style-isn't-it-terrible-there's-another-raving-liberal tirade, I suggest we look at these accounts through Jesus's eyes, and not through the eyes of our personal pet political persuasions.
Embedded in this article for example is the quote attributed to Lowery: ""Don't we have something better to offer the world than swords and missiles and smart bombs on stupid missions?" he asked. "The God I serve loves the motherless child in Baghdad as much as he loves the motherless child in Boston."". Through the writer's eyes, an implication was made that when shared with the reader, further colors the reader's perspective. However, compare this message with Jesus's manifesto, and can we honestly arrive at the same conclusion as the author?
The God I serve not only loves the motherless child in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in every Taliban and Al-Quaeda stronghold just as much as He loves you and He loves me, but also desperately longs for that love to be made known to those who the media will brand as enemies of America. If Jesus died only for us in our United States of America-ness, then someone better explain to me when the Book of Mormon got added to the Bible.
I despair sometimes at the unspoken implication that God-fearing and Christian is somehow equated with right-wing republican. The sooner we stop trying to make Jesus conform to our perception of how he should be and the sooner we start embracing how he really is and conforming our political and worldview perceptions to Jesus, then the so called extremism of Reverend Lowery and of the article's author, Mr Tooley, won't be anywhere near important.
Reverend Lowery, Reverend Wright, and indeed anyone in the spotlight these days are potentially victims of the subjective soundbite every time they say something. Rather than circling the wagons and turning up Rush Limbaugh or James Dobson, can I suggest that we make the effort to actually research attributed soundbites and quotes for ourselves, and in doing so weigh them in the context that might be otherwise absent from the reporting, lest it detract from the reporter's own agenda?
I have heard it said of the church in the United States that if the 1950's ever break out, the church will be ready for it. Perhaps it's time to look beyond our nostalgia and embrace the world as it is today.
Since Anonymous (11:50 am) made this discussion political, I hope that the new administration does not start handing out money, especially to those who can work but do not.
The Bible states: 2 Thessalonians 3:10: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
Actually, I didn't make it political, the author of the article politicized it.
I agree with Anonymous 5:01 pm, I too hope the new administration does not start handing out money, especially to those who will not be accountable for it, or those who have no intention of paying it back.
After all, it was the current administration's decision to allow Henry Paulson full discretion to give away 750 billion dollars with no personal accountability, resulting in $100 million of those dollars going to a sponsorship deal to put "AIG" on a soccer team's shirts, and $400 million of those dollars going to change the name of Shea Stadium (home of the New York Mets) to Citi field.
And we are concerned instead of the possibility of families being given extra money to help them survive. Remarkable.
I refuse to politicize this discussion, my original comment was based upon the article that was presented or discussion, and this comment is to respond to the comment made by anonymous 5:01.
I agree that Anonymous 11:50 did make the discussion political. But in trying to get back to a no political discussion they brought up a political comment again about Henry Paulson.
I believe that politics and religion go hand in hand. Pro abortion, CONDONING gay and lesbian unions goes with the liberal left and anti aborotion, less government, democracy by force(WAR) goes with the consertative right. We can't get away from it. Unfortuantely we have Pastors such as Lowery that stir up hate and dicontent within God's church.
The whole article reeks of political views - you couldn't comment without talking politics.
We must see the significance in allowing Rick Warren and Joseph Lowery to share a stage. The Enemy, The Father of Lies, tries to grab our attention with the lie of truth relativity and ambiguity of right and wrong. I think this goes to show where our world is heading to.
I do not fault Obama for choosing both Lowery and Warren to speak because he is just showing the diversity in America even in its religions. With all this in consideration we who are holding fast to Truth must stick with it for the Spirit's leading will not be contrary to the Word of God.
I honestly could care less about the United Methodist Church and whatever they dictate. I think that Jesus himself hated the religious and was more concerned with the heart. That is why I am grateful to be a part of a church that strives to simply seek Jesus. It's not a denomination thing, it's not a religious thing. It's a lifestyle thing and relationship with a Savior who brought Truth; shear truth.
We must be watchful. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The world has tried to discredit His life, and have attacked Christians for living in the Way. Now it's time for the world to try and discredit Truth. But He has already overcome the world.
Glory Hallelujah, His Truth will march on.
I bet that the President regrets now that he chose Lowery. How could a man of God make a derogatory remark about white people?
Linda
Honestly the UMC has to many pastors that give the Denom. a bad wrap. The question for me is why haven't these hard to deal with or bad apple pastor been removed? I mean everyone is entitled to their opinion but it seems to me that a pastor's opinion should line up with the Denom. opinion and beliefs.
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