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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 15948
[Religious]
Date Posted:
7/29/2006
1:36:56 pm EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 9,511
RSS: 21,454
Comments: 31
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Conservative Pastor Steers Clear Of Politics, And Pays
Author: Laurie Goodstein Source: NY Times
Title: CONSERVATIVE PASTOR STEERS CLEAR OF POLITICS, AND PAYS
Like most pastors who lead thriving evangelical megachurches, the Rev. Gregory A. Boyd was asked frequently to give his blessing — and the church’s — to conservative political candidates and causes.
The requests came from church members and visitors alike: Would he please announce a rally against gay marriage during services? Would he introduce a politician from the pulpit? Could members set up a table in the lobby promoting their anti-abortion work? Would the church distribute “voters’ guides” that all but endorsed Republican candidates? And with the country at war, please couldn’t the church hang an American flag in the sanctuary?
After refusing each time, Mr. Boyd finally became fed up, he said. Before the last presidential election, he preached six sermons called “The Cross and the Sword” in which he said the church should steer clear of politics, give up moralizing on sexual issues, stop claiming the United States as a “Christian nation” and stop glorifying American military campaigns.
Mr. Boyd says he is no liberal. He is opposed to abortion and thinks homosexuality is not God’s ideal. The response from his congregation at Woodland Hills Church here in suburban St. Paul — packed mostly with politically and theologically conservative, middle-class evangelicals — was passionate. Some members walked out of a sermon and never returned. By the time the dust had settled, Woodland Hills, which Mr. Boyd founded in 1992, had lost about 1,000 of its 5,000 members.
But there were also congregants who thanked Mr. Boyd, telling him they were moved to tears to hear him voice concerns they had been too afraid to share.
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Community Thoughts: There are 31 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Whoa....I Can't Believe It | Aug 1st. at 2:58:52 am EDT
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Taliesin (Northgate, Washington) - Email Me
This reverend is the real deal.
The way he created attrition by getting all the dead weight (lovers of the whore of babylon) to leave his church was awe inspiring.
Soon there is going to be a huge split nation wide and it will create conflict between Christians not unlike the Sunni and the Shia' in Iraq. Hopefully it won't get violent though (knock on wood) .
There is a new consciousness as Eckheart Tolle talks about that is arising and spreading across the planet, yet the old consciousness dependant on mind created structures is fighting to hold on.
This may be a manifestation of that.
T.
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| Amen, Brother | Aug 1st. at 12:43:36 am EDT
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AutumnFire (Macomb, Illinois) - Email Me
I sometimes wonder if I would have the courage of my convictions if I were pressed. What would it cost me?
Oh, yeah, I have been pressed before. It takes quite a bit of pressing to to get me worked up to the point where I will take a stand. Still, what would it cost me?
There is a great deal that I don't agree with in evangelical and fundamentalist Christianity. On the other hand, I know that the teachings of the Christ are true and I cannot abandon them.
"The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand," he said, but those who heard him say it didn't understand it. Perhapse Rev. Boyd did. "Those with ears to hear, let them hear," he said. Those who heard him could only ask, "What does he mean by that?"
Rev. Boyd is an anomaly in a world that is going mad by leaps and bounds. The extreme forms of Christianity and Islam want the war, they want the tyranny, they want the control. Without these, their prescious prophecies are meaningless! They would lead us to the brink of destruction just to prove their point. And that will cost all of us plenty.
Blessings to All
AutumnFire
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| An Actual Ethical Christian Pastor! | Jul 31st. at 7:03:44 am EDT
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foreverknightfan (Dardanelle, Arkansas) - Email Me
Kudos to the conservative Christian pastor for having the integrity and the honor to not sully his religion and his church with politics. As Jesus Christ said, " render to Ceaser what is Ceasars and to god what is god's".
The endorsemen tof certian candidates and views gives the impression that G-d endorses the candidates and views. And if you disagree with G-d.......
The pastor probably won't like us Pagans, but as for me I admire his ingerity and sense of honor. I will disagree with him, OC but at least he is trying to keep his faith in the spiritual, not poliical.
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| Really?? | Jul 31st. at 4:03:24 am EDT
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Patrick McKinnion (Seattle, Qatar) - Email Me
I have to wonder if the previous commenter actually READ the article before talking about how this pastor was "not allowing his people to have an opinion".
There was nothing in the article that said he was prohibiting his people from having opinions, he just refused to give those opinions a rubber stamp of the churches approval, even if he happened to agree with them. That's not saying "you can't have an opinion", that's saying "your opinion is your own, but even if I agree with it, I can't let you promote it in my church."
It's very sad that these people were so shallow in their faith that they felt the church's role should have been to support *politics* rather than to support their faith. What they wanted was the churches rubber-stamp on their political beliefs - and left when they didn't get it.
Church should not be used to support a *political* belief. Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Pagan, Unitarian, Democrat, Republican, Green, Libertarian, etc. If your faith leads you to support a political action or cause, so be it. But to see your churches' function as *support* for that faith is, at best, misguided, and, at worse, mocking of the very faith one claims to be. I would be just as offended by a Unitarian's saying their church's "purpose" is to support the "Democratic Way", or for any faith - my own included - to see their purpose as supporting political group x, y, or z.
Kudos to this pastor. He could have taken the easy road like many of the evangelical "megachurches". But he listened to what his faith and heart said. The 1000 that left are poorer spiritually as a result - but the ones who remained and those who have since joined are richer as well.
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| Wow! Did You Hear What Mr.Boyd Said? | Jul 30th. at 1:51:26 pm EDT
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Richard Brownbear (North Wilkesboro, North Carolina) - Email Me
"The Church should steer clear of politics, stop moralizing on sexual issues, stop procaliming the US as a Christian nation, and stop glorifying the American military campaigns".
He goes on to state he is no liberal, being opposed to abortion and homosexuality, but that Christians "should not "seek power" over others". WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He takes a stand, but doesn't force others to follow it! Nothing wishy-washy about this guy!
I'll be sending him a letter of support and praise on his courage in the face of mainstream Republican-Christianity!
Blessings to all!
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| An Honest Man. | Jul 30th. at 9:37:42 am EDT
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Medea (Somewhere, Massachusetts) - Email Me
Blessings on this good, sincere man.
It's refreshing to read about someone who actually knows what the Christian faith is really about. AND, he knows he's better off now that a fascist faction has left his church.
Yes, freakish right wing extremists are giving Christians and Christianity a bad name. They are destroying it from the inside.
It's nice to see someone who really cares taking it back.
I don't want to see Christianity destroyed.
I do want to live in peace with the Christians, Muslims, Jews, and everybody else out there.
I also am getting really sick and tired of being branded "Anti American" because I am not Christian, and have the nerve to be a member of the Green Party. (Horrors! Not one of THOSE!!!!!)
We have separation of Church and State for a reason. It's a very good reason, too.
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| There Is More You Can Do Than | Jul 30th. at 5:51:15 am EDT
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WitchPoet (Claremont, California) - Email Me - Web
post here on Witchvox. HEre is the letter I sent him after I left a nice thanks in his voicemail. Note that I do not mislead him. but pointing out that I am Wiccan would distract from the fact that I would like to see Christians act like Commited CHRISTIANS.
Hello; while I live in Ca and am not an evangelical I am greatly cheered by the articles I have seen on your sermons of late. I have watched in dismay as a minority, heretical sect has slowly spread it’s control over most of the Conservative side of Christianity. In their arrogance they think that it is their duty to MAKE the world ready for Jesus to return instead of admitting that ONLY Jesus can make it right AFTER He returns! They have taken a page from the books of the Communist religion, Islam and the worst of Christian history. They have embraced the concept that lies and outright manipulation of others is justified if it serves THEIR idea of what God wants. This is idolatry and arrogance unbound. They will tell any lie, twist any statistic to advance their cause. They have locked Jesus in a closet in their hearts instead of standing in the closet themselves to escape the world and HEAR him.
I spent some time in the Minni/St. Paul area last year and loved it. It reminded me of Southern California 30 years ago. I would have moved there but I was there in spring and the winters would kill this California boy
We need more Conservative Christian voices that are not under the Bible Belt theocracy and remember what Jesus actually preached. Instead these people USE Jesus as a weapon for political gain to further their agenda of proving that they do not NEED Jesus to save the world!!!!!!
Please continue to speak out. You have a far reaching voice; Use it as a rallying place for those Christians who want to listen to Jesus not Idolatry.
Take Care and Blessed Be
Hmm, maybe I should volunteer for an interfaith board?
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| 2000 Years Of This | Jul 30th. at 5:08:30 am EDT
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R. Cicero (Seattle, Washington) - Email Me
Actually, 2006 minus around 40, because they didn't fabricate the gospel till about 40 years after the scantily documented death of a radical rabbi. A man who was not recognized as the messiah by the Jews, upon whose faith Christianity was crudely hoisted. So here we have a thousand persons thinking Jesus was all for this point of view, and a pastor thinking he meant this or that. Meanwhile, no rapture, no intervention, and certainly no hard primary and well documnented history of what this man might have actually said. What I think of most is the tyranny in the households of that thousand that walked. Imagine the type of dinner conversations they hold The mind shudders.
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| Good For Him! | Jul 30th. at 4:38:07 am EDT
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Istari (Hazel Park, Michigan) - Email Me
It is scary how rabid and vocal this minority of Christians are, how they wish to seize political and military power and make Biblical law the law of the land, burn the witches, etc, etc. I hope I am not here if or when that happens!
Pity they're not all like this man...
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| I Am Very Concerned | Jul 29th. at 11:41:55 pm EDT
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LD Wolverine (Edmonton, Ontario) - Email Me
There are people who say "Oh dear he's a christian so therefore we must hate him and throw him in the pit with all the other hated christians" and this has me quite alarmed.
I think this person did the right thing. He stuck to his guns and wouldnt let the Political Propaganda play him.
You know what? I dont give a flying fig what preachers say about witches in their own services. You know why? CAUSE ITS A FREE COUNTRY!!!
And the "bad" christians are far outnumbered by the "good" christians in my experience. My mother is a United Minister. She buys me crystals and herb books for Christmas and wishes me a happy Yule!
My good friend who lives in Ottawa still sends me little angel pins and statues and I adore them. I send him little rocks and amulets and I know they are on his desk right now in his direct sight because he treasures them. I have told them their meaning to me as he has told me the meanings of his angels. Neither of us is trying to convert the other, just trying to share the beauty of our beliefs with each other.
I would LOVE to meet this man. To shake his hand and thank him for his forthright thinking and his spunk!
And to those who would interfere with their freedom of religion, shame. Let them preach how bad we are. Let them preach how we are going to their hell. Have a problem with them when they bring it outside their church...I really dont care, as long as it stays inside the church. (I know it rarely does, but trying to rule what their sermons are about is only asking for trouble people, like them trying to tell us what we can or cant say during our rituals)
Peace.
Linda
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| The Pastor Is Actually An Old Time Evangical | Jul 29th. at 9:27:42 pm EDT
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Dennis Deal (Nazareth, Pennsylvania) - Email Me
A vanishing breed I am afraid. Preach the religon, leave the politics to the politicians. Support those poloticians certainly, but never , never give a politcal speech in the form of a sermon.
But that policy has been thrown to the side in favor of money and favors.
When the then President Reagen invited the so called christain right in to the party I knew then that this would divide the country.
This pastor has at last made a stand and said enough. Surprise it was only a thousand and not more people to walk out of the church.
Most importantly though he seems to be calling for the evagical church to take a step away from the politzation (is that a word?) of the christain religon.
I wish him luck...and Blessing of the Gods be with him.
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| Proof. | Jul 29th. at 7:43:03 pm EDT
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Amtehuti (Queens, Florida) - Email Me
This article proves what radical Christians are all about. As much as the conservative Christian base may say they want to bring morals to society, all they want is to create their own theocracy and destroy all opposing opinions. This pastor was turned on by his own flock just for going against that mindset. Isn't that enough? The sheep will listen and follow until you voice that maybe, just maybe, the entire world should not be run by Christian morals. Then it's the pastor that is the heathen.
Didn't one of the gospels have a man asking Jesus about taxes? It was something about whether the Jewish people should give taxes to Rome. Jesus said that you should give unto Caesar what is Caesar's, aka give your taxes. Obeying the law is what you SHOULD be doing. The 20% that left are probably the same ones that raise hell if they can't physically intimidate non-Christian into converting, aren't allowed to use public schools as a Christian pulpit, fire non-Christians, or even have to give non-Christians the basic rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of taxes.
At least this pastor realized that, though he may have opinions many may object to, his place is to preach religion and not politics. Give unto Caesar's what is Caesar's. Well, it's no surprise. Fundies only listen to their own Bible when it doesn't get in the way of their hate crimes.
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| He Could Be A Good Pagan But Then, | Jul 29th. at 6:56:14 pm EDT
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Libertarian (Langley, Washington) - Email Me - Web
He wouldn't have a church of 4,000 sheep !
In any case, I would love to meet this guy and have a chat. He's right about one thing. Religion isn't about political power. He said it and may the Goddess bless him for that .
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| About 20 % | Jul 29th. at 6:02:37 pm EDT
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Beldapriest (New Castle, Georgia) - Email Me
I always say there are some Christians that are really trying to be good people. This supports what I believe. I am Pagan and proud of it. Christianity simply will never work for me again. I keep running into that 20% that ruin everything. There are about 20% of Pagans who also have their problems. 20% of people who can't read in a country that provides free education, and 20% of the country that can't see any problem with the government no matter what they do. On the other hand there were 80% who were willing to support the right thing. This gives me hope.
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| I May Not Agree With His Positions | Jul 29th. at 5:52:11 pm EDT
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AnnieBW (Laurel, Maryland) - Email Me
But I'm d**n glad that he's not pushing them on anybody else! If only more Evangelical ministers were more like him. Keep the politics out of religion, and keep the religion out of politics, and everyone will be satisfied.
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