What would you say to this pastor?

Question

I'm afraid in my case, it would be a series of cuss words. I am a very passionate anti-racist, and the granddaughter of very passionate racists.

Anyway, all during February (Black History Month), a Southern Baptist pastor in Louisiana has flown a Confederate flag above his parsonage. It just now got taken down, after a ruckus was raised about it.

http://thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070227/UPDATES01/70227029

He doesn't always fly it, either.

Oh, and while the Southern Baptists may be officially against racism now, the sect was founded to support racist practices in the South, like slavery.

http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/sbaptists.html

Glitterkitty, I *love* it!

Sage, I'm 10th-generation Floridian, and am proud of those aspects of my history.

Answer 1

What would I say to him?

Nothing. Giving him additional attention is what he is after. Since that is the case...he will get that attention here on earth...not in Heaven.

God loves all of His Children...even the stupid ones.

Peace!

Answer 2

What should I say to the pastor? I am also anti--racist, but they asked the man why he had the flag up, and he said he has relatives who fought in that war, and the flag is to commemorate them, not a sign of hate, but one of pride.
But thats not good enough for you? What will you have him do? Do you want blood?
This is the United States of the Offended. I am sick and tired of it. If your little sensitive ears and eyes cannot handle it, go live in Somolia -
There are no flags flying there, none to offend you, I promise. If you say anything there, you get shot, so probably your little ears will be spared. The man explained himself, but that still doesn't suit you. You just want to whine and complain about anything you see or hear.
Why don't you grow up and also maybe grow a backbone while you're at it.
Should we deport all the Black folks who live here because a black skin would probably remind us of slavery, too?? How about the black museums that tell of slavery - and the movie documentaries and books written?
How about Black History Month? Shouldn't we get rid of all these things because God forbid it may remind us that there were slaves, and someone may get offended??
I am sick and tired of all this whining. During the 60's there wasn't a teenager from here to kingdom come who didn't have a confederate flag in his/her bedroom. Get a grip. That man's flag wasn't doing one damn thing, that is, until people like you started yelling about it - thats the only reason it was noticed and televised.
The man owns property. What he wants to put on his private land is his own damned business, and if you get offended by every damn move a person makes, well, honey, I think the problem is you, and all those other whiners out there with you. I wish we could publicly whip anyone who just whines and complains. Thats not fair.
That upset me. That offends me. Oh my.
I'd like to see the **** beat out of you, and then see who complains next time.

Answer 3

It's a little much for Christians to condemn someone for the Confederate flag when their holy book contains not a single condemnation of slavery, but in fact their God regulates it as a commerce that's perfectly acceptable, including instructions for selling your own children as slaves. But when you close this question, count how many claim, without any basis, that this pastor is not a "true Christian." But a true Christian like Philemon, a personal disciple of Paul's, was a slave owner. In fact, the 10th commandment places slaves under the same protection as any other species of lawful property. The 10 commandments. That's straight from God's own mouth isn't it?

When you remember that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Job--the men with whom the Almighty conversed, with whose names he emphatically connects his own most holy name, and to whom He vouchsafed to give the character of 'perfect, upright, fearing God and eschewing evil' (Job 1:8)--that all these men were slaveholders, does it not strike you that you are guilty of something very little short of blasphemy when you say men who think of other men as inferior and property are sinful? You can own slaves, buy slaves, sell slaves, beat slaves, use them for sex, all with God's blessing.

For the sake of everyone I'll only site the verses. This is for the non-believers since of course believers will never look them up or anything else that portrays their God in the bad light he deserves.

Exodus 21:20-21
Exodus 21:26-27
Exodus 21:1-4
Deuteronomy 15:12-18
Exodus 21:7
Leviticus 25:44-46
Leviticus 25:48-53
Exodus 21:8
Leviticus 19:20-22
Leviticus 25:39
Exodus 21:16
Deuteronomy 24:7
Exodus 22:3
II Kings 4:1
Deuteronomy 21:10-14
Deuteronomy 20:14
Deuteronomy 23:15-16
Genesis 17:13
Genesis 17:27
Numbers 31:28-47
Genesis 16:1-2
Genesis 30:3-4
Genesis 30:9-10
Exodus 20:10
Ephesians 6:5-9
Colossians 4:1
1 Timothy 6:1-3

Answer 4

Flags or symbols may meen different things to different peoples. Fact is it is the U.S. Stars and Stripes that flew over slavery for most of the dispicable practice. Before any one has the right to critisize the Confederate flag, they must first consider slavery under Old Glory and the persecution of the indians, etc. Otherwise those who slam the Confederate flag is nothing but a hypocrite and not worthy of being heard, black or white. Deal with the truth. The U.S. bought and sold human souls.

And don't say well the North outlawed it first. Not an excuse for the pot to call the ketle for its own crimes. By the way Florida, a confederate state, founded under spanish influence, which did not have slavery, was the first to shelter run away slaves, infact Florida had the first citizen militia, it was a black militia around Ft. Lauderdale, the purpose was to protect their families from the Northern colonies who would have attacked and re-enslaved them.

Answer 5

very properly.l did no longer accept as true with the bishop.the bishop could desire to questioning with reference to the undesirable habit from the pastor yet to no longer the flaws that the pastor's very own.to race the donkey interior the time-honored public did no longer contain with undesirable action from the pastor.each person can play a superb pastime even despite if it is not rewarded.the Bible talk approximately the thank you to apply the present of God.the bishop have been in a state of untamed and did no longer recognize his very own accountability.besides what's in the back of the progression between the pastor and the bishop?if there is in the back of the scene then bishop reacted interior the way he understood. that good ideas your individual employer and don't placed your nostril in others (owned with the help of somebody) belonging.

Answer 6

I wouldn't say anything to him. If he feels it represents his southern heritage, then he has a right to fly it. This is America. How can you be certain that he is a racist? You can't. You just jump to conclusions. That flag can mean different things to different people and it is a part of our country's history. Stop being politically correct and let this man have the freedom to fly what he wants. Stay away if you don't like it or believe his explanation. I'd say you judged him and YOU could be wrong. I am not a southerner or a racist. I am just sick and tired of people picking fights over nothing and trying to limit our freedoms. You are going to destroy this country by making everyone afraid to be themselves. Even if he is a racist, he has the right to be as long as he doesn't break a law. Hate him if you want. I'd rather ignore him and now you.

May God Bless you.

Answer 7

Whether I like it or not, whether I agree with his views or not, he has every right to voice his opinions, and he has every right to fly whatever he wants to above his house. Freedom of speech has to apply to everyone, not just to those whose speeches we want to hear.

While I wonder how a person can claim to be a man of the cloth and fly a Confederate flag in the South during Black History Month knowing how he's hurting people, and no matter how crazy I think he is for doing it, I would have to keep my mouth shut.

Answer 8

I would have nothing to say to this pastor. As he's not harming anyone by flying his Confederate flag, it would not be any of my business to tell him how he must think or what flag he must fly. I truly believe in freedom of expression, so long as that expression does not cross the line and cause real harm. I might join a peaceful protest that expresses an anti-racist position as counterpoint, but I would turn in or physically oppose any fellow protester who presumed to try to harm this man or tried to abridge his freedoms.

As for the Southern Baptists being racist--we shouldn't hold anyone responsible for what their ancestors or predecessors did, so long as the new generation clearly stands opposed to what their predecessors stood for. The Southern Baptist Convention has officially and unequivocally renounced its racist roots and apologized for its past defense of slavery.
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_n21_v112/ai_17332136

Answer 9

If he's flying the flag to be racists then that's wrong but if hes flying it just because it's part of our history, then I see nothing wrong with that
Some folks believe the movie "Gone with the Wind" to be racist but I didn't see it that way. Maybe I'm naive but I saw it as a bonding between the black and white people and of course it was a love story also Mammie was one of the greatest in the movie and it had nothing to do with her color but because she portrayed the part so well and did her best to make Ms Scarlett behave. So I guess it's just how you look at things. I think really in this day and age our American Flag should be sufficient because we should be as one nation under God.. I try not to be racist but to be fair to all but it does go against my whole being for foreigners to come into this country and try to take over and i believe that's what is happening

Answer 10

I am as much of a Libertarian as I am a Christian. If it's his private property (both the house and the flag) - I firmly believe that this is still a land of free speech - that "pastor" can do what he likes and pay the penalty of negative public opinion if he flies that flag. Just like anybody who wants to protest his right to fly it has to pay the penalty for their actions. Like loss of their own liberties.

I don't like government interference in any free-speech areas.

This is still a free country. Or so I thought.

Answer 11

He should be more sensitive to what the Confederate Flag means to others. I don't like seeing the Confederate Flag [I live in NC], but some will never give it up.
God created everyone.
Jesus died for everyone.
Race is not an issue with God, so it shouldn't be with man.