Would you support a minister or church that considered it justified to disobey laws he considered sinful?

Question

In regards to hate speech...should a minister be allowed to call homosexuals an abomination.

In regards to separation of church and state, should a minister be allowed to tell his congregants whom to vote for.

In regards to drugs, should he be allowed to use and sell marijuana as a sacrament? See attached story.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19833390/

These are all supposedly men of God...doing what they feel compelled by God to do...based on their interpretation of opinion of scripture.

Your thoughts?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, godly men sometimes make mistakes in their zeal to support scriptures. Jesus would never condone disobeying a law, but would certainly speak out and work toward change.

Answer 2

OK, the story i read was only about the drugs thing, so I'll address that first,

it sounds like a mix of suede Christianity (aka Bible ism or Jesus ism) and Native American teaching, in that case it doesn't really belong in a category w/ main line teaching faith's. But no if my minister were selling drugs after a long talk i would have to end my 7 year friendship with him.

to the separation of Church and state, while putting aside the phrase "separation of church and stat" doesn't appear in the constitution, but in a letter ensuring a small church that the government would not interfere w/ there services. no i don't think it's ethical for people to bring the absentee ballots in to the church to be filled out, it may have been a necessary evil for short time in black history (the mistier doing the research and trying to push so Jim Crow's out of office) but today it's inappropriate.

and to the hate speech, wrath is a sin too, remember that

Answer 3

For me, it would depend on which law the minister considered sinful and how he disobeyed it. For example, if he considered the law sinful that prevents gay people from marrying, and he married gay couples, I would support him.

A minister calling gays an abomination? Well, it depends on what his/her motives are in saying this. If the motives are to promote homophobia and the result is harm against gay people, then it is wrong. The Bible tells us many things are an abomination including "lying lips."

As respects separation of church and state, a minister should not be allowed to endorse a candidate and as far as I know this is the law. The problem is the law is not applied equally and many anti-gay Christians ignore it. (Which is another special right to which they think they are entitled.) If they are taking part in the political process, they should be taxed like other entities taking part in the process.

Marijuana as a sacrament? No, I don't think so. But this is the problem you get when people try to justify their personal beliefs with the Bible. This is the same thing as saying your religious beliefs permit you to be homophobic and deny rights to other citizens. Those who push this misguided line of thought should be very careful...it may come back to bite them one day.

Answer 4

Should he be able to call homosexuals an abomination? That is legal. It is free speech. Not all agree with him but he does have the right to say that.

Be allowed to tell his congregants who to vote for? Kind of legal if the church wants to end its tax status with the IRS. However, if the minister is forcing people to vote differently then that is against the law.

Sell drugs? I personally do not agree with people given special consideration due to their religion and allowed to break the law. In fact, the constitution of the US considers that a bad idea too. However, some courts have sided with the churches in similiar cases like this.

Answer 5

I will answer the first 2 q's

Yes. the minister is ALLOWED by GOD to preach the Truth. He is ordained by Jesus (Eph 4:11) and nothing shall be held back.

Separation of church and state is misrepresented, due the letter to Jefferson from the Danbury Baptists. Why did the judges in the 60's say it is wrong when the judges from the eras before disprove separation?
Why can't the minister give his "opinion" of challengers to the presidency? Everybody else does by "religion" can't? What a crock.
The "wall" was never intended by our fathers. The difference was to establish that "religion" would not take over government, but assist, when needed. The same is vise versa.
Third q...
Pharmacy comes from the greek word pharmikia. This refers to "control". Marijuana has its medicinal purpose but I don't believe healing glaucoma is what is meant for sacrement.

Answer 6

The bible specifically states that we are to obey the laws of our country until such laws go directly against Gods word.

THis should not be a grey area and misunderstood.

Our laws so far, do not state that we cannot call a sin a sin. Homsexual behavior is a sin and an abomination against God. The person who feels these desires, but does not act on them is not living in a sinful state, but the one whom feels these desires and acts upon them(while claiming to follow God) is in direct disobedience to Gods word.

Our laws on abortion do not compel anyone to have an abortion. If at some point that they did come to this, and a Christian was told that they must undergo this procedure, then and only then can that person go against this direct law.

As far as whom to vote for, we all have our opinion on whom might make the best candidate for any job , position, or political office. I respect my pastors opinion and he respects mine, even though we do sometimes disagree on different things.
I do not follow man, I follow God and his word. So, No, I do not see a problem with a pastor or anyone for that matter speaking their mind and how they feel about a certain subject.
We have freedome of speech in this country and it should stay that way.

Again, with the marijuana story, it is a law in this country not to grow or sell , or use it . The bible never specifically states that we must use this substance in anyway. SO, OBEY the laws of your country., as the bible states.

Answer 7

There is definitely a problem here. Preachers I know admit they are human and use themselves as wrong doers at times, because we are all sinners even pastors, Politics is not to be heard in church, my husband was in politics and that did not happen. Homosexuality, yes he has a right, because it says in the Bible that is wrong. The drugs is a definite NO---he should be report and cast out of his position if this is true, There are different denominations that believe in differ rent ways, but that doesn't make it right. That is why people should study the Bible and go to church and evaluate
if they are preaching from the Bible and living as they should,

Answer 8

Ministers should be allowed to name-call if they want -- in their own buildings, on their own time and on the payroll of their followers.

Churches or ministers who endorse political candidates or bills jeopardize their tax-exempt status; the IRS sends them reminders of this each election year, but as to whether all the offenders have their 501(c) yanked, I doubt it.

The legalization of marijuana is long overdue as it is; its criminalization creates serious civil liberties issues, and if churches are willing to challenge it, let them!

Answer 9

I would support a pastor and a church that stood upon the Word of God.. and not their own opinions. sin is sin is sin.... homosexuality is no worse sin than lying or cheating or gossiping (even tho some will say it is worse, they are incorrect.... all sin seperates us from God)

no church is able to support a 'candidate' by law....

as far as drugs.... the laws of the land are subject to punishment... and not my own 'personal judgement'... if he breaks the laws of the land, he answers to the authorities.

it is important to be grounded in your faith and not 'follow' one man or religion, especially if it goes outside of what God says in the bible...

Answer 10

Should a minister be able to rail against segregation laws? Thank God some cared enough to......