Alabama Governor

[Anon]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/01/18/new-ala-gov-just-christians-family/?test=latestnews

Seems like he could have witnessed publicly without being so polarizing. This doesn't seem like a wise decision. It makes born-again Christians look yet more ridiculous to the world.... I'm all for the witnessing part but he didn't have to actually come out and say "We are not brothers" because that means something pretty terrible to the public.

[Cliff Hanger]

I agree. Many times it's not what you say but how you say it. He has to know that everything he says as Gov. will be scrutinized especially since he's a Christian and we all know that the msm is itching to find anything that can make Christians look bad. When your a Born Again Christian in a gov. position you really have to be careful how you say things. He was speaking the truth but the unsaved won't see it that way.

[1Timothy115]

I applaude him and I hope he sticks to his faith in Jesus Christ.

I can't wait to see further comments here on this but, I have to go to the vet with the puppy now.

[HappyChristian]

I think the "I want to be your brother" should mitigate all the criticism. He was addressing a church crowd, not a sectarian group of citizens. After the statue of George Washington was boxed in at an MLK meeting in SC this past Monday, to prevent offending someone, I think this is pretty tame!

We are far too sensitive in this country: people can't be outspoken Christians anymore (without their "fairness" being questioned...even though the majority of Christians in politics are more "fair" than anyone else), nor can they be truly patriotic anymore without the media jumping on the bandwagon and making a mountain out of a molehill.

[Anon]

I absolutely agree HC! I was just saying...he should have known what would happen after he said something like "You are not my brothers and sisters" in our day.....

Yes everyone is offended WAY TOO EASY in our day...even Christians. Sometimes, especially Christians.

[HappyChristian]

You're right, he shouldn't have been surprised.

This is a tempest in a teapot, actually - what the media is so good at! What if he were addressing folks at an Al-Anon meeting...and he said, "There are some here who drink too much. I don't drink. I would like you to be my compatriots in not drinking." Would there be this much notice, and jibber jabber about him not being "fair?" Of course not. It is only when it involves Christianity!!! And of course they have to pull out the first amendment and misinterpret it...

"If he does so, he is dancing dangerously close to a violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which forbids government from promoting the establishment of any religion," Nigut said.

First of all, the first amendment forbids the US Congress from creating laws in respect of a certain religious belief. Far cry from a government official (a state official at that, not US Congress) stating, basically, that he is a Christian and would like others to be.
Second, when they talk about the religious prohibitions, they always forget the next part: "prohibiting the free exercise thereof:" What that governor did was his free exercise...as well as the next part: "or abridging the freedom of speech."

That amendment is a restriction on, as I said, the US Congress. But if they want to apply it to the AL governor, they need to apply all of it - and it clearly states he is free to believe and practice and SAY what he wishes. Unless the AL state constitution forbids the governor from addressing his religious beliefs, they are blowing smoke...

I just hope he doesn't issue an apology. If he does, he'll be a failure as a governor. Watch and see.

[John81]

I applaude him and I hope he sticks to his faith in Jesus Christ.

I can't wait to see further comments here on this but, I have to go to the vet with the puppy now.

It's very refreshing to hear someone speak boldly exactly what Scripture says. His comments were obviously entirely with regard to "religion" and as LuAnne pointed out, his clear all for all to become his brothers/sisters in Christ establishes this without doubt.

In reality, the outbursts against the governor are little different than those who began spouting attacks against Repubs, conservatives and Sarah Palin after the shooting in Arizona. Any excuse, ANY at all, the enemies of Christ will latch onto. The same happened to the Lord Himself and the Apostles and we have their example of not softening the message, not taking opinion polls into consideration, but rather speaking the truth in love everywhere they went.

How much more loving and accepting could the governor be than to reach out to all lost folks calling them to join him in being born again in Christ and saved from eternal damnation?

The Gospel is supposed to be an offense. For some, this offense will lead to opening their heart to the Holy Ghost, for others it will lead to anger at having their lost, sinful state exposed.

Praise God for his bold, biblical witness! :clapping:

[no name joe]

Being in public office, one has to be very careful about what he or she says. The church crowd understood that he means that only followers of Christ are brothers and sisters in Christ, and that that does not prevent us from being fellow citizens of the human race, and thus brothers and sisters united by our humaness, or by our citizenship, etc.

What he said does come across as divisive, though I am sure he did not mean it that way. In his role as governor, he is there to serve all people of the State of Alabama, whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim, athiest, Budhist, etc. When in public office, he has, in my book, an ethical duty to be very careful in what he says, as do all public servants. For example, judges cannot speak out on certain issues without violating their ethical duty to do all they can to remain unbiased.

When he said that some cannot be my brother or sister, that is easily misconstrued to show a bias toward one particular group.

This story does not concern me a whole lot, as I think it is an example of media using a minor story to make headlines and sell papers and attract viewers. However, if my governor said he did not consider all citizens of my state as his brother or sister, it would concern me, even if said in a non state event. It gives the perception of being biased to one group. People can be united in many different ways. Religion is one exampe. But we are all united as US citizens, or citizens of a State, or graduates of a particular college. I had pledge brothers in college from many different backgrounds, and consider them all my "brothers" because we have something in common, even though some are not my brothers in Christ.

[Anon]

Think how we'd have felt if we had a Muslim governor telling a Muslim church that anyone not a Muslim was not his brother....

I think he could have easily witnessed without actually saying "You are not my brothers."

[John81]

Regardless of our position in life, whether a janitor, governor, president or whatever, we are called by Christ to proclaim the truth in love. There was absolutely nothing unbiblical or wrong in what the governor stated. Past governors and other politicians in America have proclaimed the truth equally or even more boldly.

A governor should be as bold in his faith as should all Christians.

[Anon]

"Wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove..."

"All things to all men, that I might win some...."

[1Timothy115]

I see there is no scripture reference in backing the negative points of view. Some comments remind me of Laodicea.

Matthew 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Revelation 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

How appropriate the following two scriptures have been of late.

Proverbs 17:15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Proverbs 18:5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

If someone were to take offense with the scriptures let them take it up with Jesus Christ. Or, if someone were to present an argument against the AL Gov. then, please address the argument to my Savior.

[Anon]

Paul actually preached to the government officials in private....I don't have the reference but its in the context "I became all things unto all men, that I might win some." He knew what was wise...and he knew how to witness in ways that would have the greatest effect on certain groups of people.

I have said this whole time, he could have witnessed the same without outright saying "You are not my brothers". Am I saying don't witness? NO! Am I saying be careful HOW you witness, esp if you are in political office? YES. Paul was careful when he witnessed in political realms...so should any of us be.

[1Timothy115]

Think how we'd have felt if we had a Muslim governor telling a Muslim church that anyone not a Muslim was not his brother....

I think he could have easily witnessed without actually saying "You are not my brothers."

If this country keeps the luke warm attitude it has then there will be no "if we had a Muslim" it will be when and freedom to express any opinion other than the predominant religion will not be tolerated.

[trc123]

I am only a brother if one is born from the same mother.

I am only a spiritual brother if one is born of the same Spirit.

I am only a citizen brother if one is a fellow citizen of the USA.

I am only a brother of the human condition if one was conceived in sin as I was.