Christocentric

Pastor Steven Anderson

A pastor in Tempe, Arizona admitted he prayed for Obama’s death. Pastor Steven Anderson said this during a sermon in his church, a sermon that has him receiving death threats.  When asked about his statement he made during church services, he said the following (abc15.com in Arizona):

“If you want to know how I’d like to see Obama die, I’d like him to die of natural causes,” said Anderson. “I don’t want him to be a martyr, we don’t need another holiday. I’d like to see him die, like Ted Kennedy, of brain cancer.” (see full youtube video on sermon at bottom of this post)

This blew me away that someone who calls himself a Christian can be praying for someone’s death rather than pray for their change of heart, pray for their salvation, pray for a God-pleasing life rather than a man-pleasing life.  Those are the things I pray for Obama, but never praying to see him dead!

The title of his sermon that day was “Why I hate Barack Obama.” A sermon that I painstakingly listened to.  What were this pastor’s reasons for praying for Obama’s death? I was looking for more reasons for this pastor’s fervent hatred of Obama but after listening to his sermon, I listed many of his reasons he gave for this hatred below:

1. Obama’s stance on abortion – his responsibility in the deaths of many babies
2. His responsibility in bringing lewdness to America (obscenity, promiscuity, homosexuality)
3. His socialist/communist leanings
4. Blaming Obama for our unnecessary wars
5. For Overtuning the Constitution, overtuning the Declaration of Independence and overtuning everything that our country stands for
6. Accuses Obama of whoredom and wickedness

Pastor Anderson shared scriptures where he shows that we are justified in hating people.  He cited scriptures in Psalm 58, 109:2 and 139:19 where King David prayed for his enemies to die and justified his hatred of them because of their hatred of God.

He also evoked the name of killers Jeffrey Dahmer, William Gacy and Adolph Hitler as examples of people we are justified in hating as well.  My goodness, serial killers  and mass murderers on the same par with Obama?  I don’t agree with Obama’s position in our government with his obvious socialist leanings, I don’t agree with his support of homosexuality, abortion, and proposed government takeover of healthcare and a myriad of other problems.  But can we compare him to the mass murderers above?  Pastor Anderson I felt was overzealous in his description of things to blame Obama for.

What should be the Christian’s true response to Obama, to those of us who consider him our enemy?  Jesus gives us the answer very clearly in Matthew:

^“43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? ⁴⁸ Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”  Matthew 5:43-48

Pastor Anderson is sadly ignoring the words of our Lord Jesus who has completed the Old Covenant by bringing us a new one:  to love our enemies! It is disobedience to God’s commandments to hate anyone!  I hope those in this pastor’s congregation pick up their bibles and study the commandment to love as we ought to be doing, and not as Pastor Anderson is teaching.

This pastor’s hatred is sadly being reproduced in many, many people through our nation right now as the anger towards Obama grows.  But those who call themselves Christians should not be a part of this anger-movement – a counter-revolution as Pastor Anderson calls it.

All I can say is do NOT count me in with this new wave of hate-mongering by those who call themselves followers of Christ!

UPDATED! (same day)

His entire sermon he YouTubed himself (over an hour long):

My blogcation is over and it’s back to work time! Just going to begin with a few newsworthy items as I get myself back into the writing groove.  Anyone interested in what I did during this blogcation, you can find out through my very private Facebook page.  Only a special few will I allow on that social network as I post pics of myself, my family and etc.

If you love Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and can prove it to me somehow, then you’re in!  If you’re not a Christian and know me somehow through work or school then I may let you in as well.  Go to http://www.facebook.com/christocentric.

Nick Vujicic

“Redirecting traffic from the Gates of Hell” - Nick Vujicic

Starting off with last Sunday’s special guest at our church, Nick Vujicic.  This man was born armless and legless and was the first of three children born to godly parents.  (His two siblings were born with no disabilities.)  Nick shared his trials and tribulations and preached an awesome sermon on how God has a plan for EVERYONE who will allow themselves to be used by Him!  Take a look and listen to the sermon from the Rock Church San Diego’s website here.

This was a taping of the 7pm service, most popular with our teens and young adults.  See the response of gang members and those participating in pornography, sexual immorality, eating disorders and more as Nick invites them to a life with Christ! The response is incredible!

ELCA steeple broke from wind damage during homosexual clergy debate.

Another Apostate Church

Next newsworthy item is a sad item for those of us who call ourselves Christian.  The Lutheran denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) now accepts practicing homosexual clergy in their church. Below is taken directly from their legislative update (pdf):

“ASSEMBLY ACTION: YES-559; NO-451
CA09.05.26 – RESOLVED, that the ELCA commit itself to finding a way for people in such publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to serve as rostered leaders of this church.”

Lifelong monogamous same-gender relationship? Not even married?  The ELCA hasn’t only given the green light to have homosexual leaders, but unmarried sex is no longer forbidden!  Not only is this Lutheran church body ignoring the scriptures regarding homosexuality as a sin, but to allow homosexual leaders in church is a direct defiance of another scripture that describes qualifications of church leaders: (See entire chapter of 1 Timothy 3).

1 Timothy 3:2
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;

While the ELCA was debating the homosexual clergy question, a storm passed through the city where this convention was being held.  The convention center AND the ELCA church across the street from the convention were damaged.  Pastor John Piper wrote an article regarding this “mysterious” storm: Tornadoes, the Lutherans and Homosexuality. A coincidence? Wrath of God? I don’t know about either but it surely should have one take a a pause and reflect: Lutheran church AND the convention center both damaged? Hmm…

The apostasy continues but hopefully the members who are not about compromising God’s word will find a new church that is unwavering!

Michael Vick, the NFL, Dog Abuse — and Abortion! 

The outrage of Michael Vicks past actions regarding his animal cruelty are well documented.  Even the bible chimes in on a man’s character with animals:

Proverbs 12:10
A righteous man regards the life of his animal, But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

But what is more disturbing than Michael Vick’s past abuse is the nonchalant attitude many have toward the unborn baby.  Even a hollywood ‘starlet’, Kourtney Kardashian (The Kardashian’s Reality Show) commented upon finding out she was pregnant, how many people were urging her to have an abortion.  She said the following from CNN:

“”I do think every woman should have the right to do what they want, but I don’t think it’s talked through enough. I can’t even tell you how many people just say, ‘Oh, get an abortion.’ Like it’s not a big deal.”

It’s no big deal to kill a baby but just let someone hurt a dog! Where is the same outrage regarding the unborn?  God has placed a higher premium on us humans than on the rest of the animal kingdom so we should be even more outraged towards those who want to kill the unborn baby!

Where do I stand with Michael Vick in the NFL? If the apostle Paul can be forgiven for killing Christians, certainly Michael Vick can be forgiven for killing dogs! Let him play as he’s done his time, but only time will tell if his heart has changed towards animals.

“How you doin?” The Wendy Williams Show

One sentence: Don’t take any life advice from this woman!  (She’s pretty funny, especially the days when she has the reverend on the show who hits a buzz button everytime she gossips! I love it!)

Have a great weekend everyone!

There hasn’t been activity on my blog since July because I’m busy with  family reunions, getting college kids off to school and other boring things that my blog readers really wish NOT to hear about.  Anyways, I’ll be back sometime this month but feel free to post anything you wish or nothing at all and just browse through past articles.

My most popular post for the longest has been “The Negative Effects of Same-sex Marriage” and interest remains in my harsh critique of Steve Harvey’s relationship book “Act Like a Lady and think Like a Man.” My posts dealing with popular theological topics such as “speaking in tongues – why we shouldn’t” keeps a running interest as well.

So I’ll be back later but meanwhile browse, post (I won’t comment but I’ll post it for others to do so) and enjoy!

Carlotta