I caught this on the local Memphis news but am having difficulty embedding you tube videos suddenly.
A local church created a bit of controversy in South haven Mississippi with a church sign that said, Exiles in Obama Nation
The pastor of the church was quick to indicate that:
"We're not racist at all and again we're going to pray for him. He's our president. But we don't agree with our platform," pastor Dr. Barry Baker said.
Baker said the church does not like Obama's stand on homosexuality and abortion and that is what he will talk about on Sunday.
Fair enough, but I can't help but wonder why the sign did not say:
Pray For Obama on Sunday
A church member was quoted as saying she understood the implications of the message clearly.
Probably what the Bible says on how our country may evolve. What does the Bible say about that. Tribulations possible maybe the end of the world is about about to come,"
The sign attracted plenty of attention, folks stopped by and took pictures.
Not all church member were pleased about the sign.
A few church members took pictures of the sign and said they do not like the sign because it is sends the wrong message
My question: if the sign sends the wrong message and it does not have racist overtones, what wrong message are they concerned about?
Ultimately, the sign was removed after the church was with calls and negative comments. The Commercial Appeal also reported the church recieved threatening phone calls. I thought it was interesting that this was just self reported by the church. Maybe it happened but if I recieved threatening phone calls, I might want to save the messages, or even play them for the media.
It isn't often that community members in the Memphis area push back against local churches given that most people are Christian, tend toward being overtly conservative, and generally and unfortunately worship separately. Comments in the Commercial Appeal tended to support the church.
Here is a sample:
Free speech is going out the window under Obama.
During the race the media or anyone else could not say anything negative about Obama, the truth never came out about him and when it did it was covered up quickly. For now on you will not be able to say anything negative about Obama or you will be called a racist, a bigot or down right threatened. we better get ready for some hard times.
Drip. Drip. Drip. The sound of white resentment in my area.
I would like to think those who resent the change are in the minority. But several anecdotal conversations have led me to wonder.
I am not a Christian myself but I see no problem with churches discussing the intent of future sermons.
But the sign did not say:
We Will Pray Because We Disagree