No Room for Hatred
I believe it is the responsibility of those of us on the right of the political spectrum to speak out against the kind of “hate” spoken from the pulpit by Steven Anderson, pastor of Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe (1). According to a Fox News report, Anderson told his congregation this about President Obama, “I’m gonna pray that he dies and goes to hell when I go to bed tonight. That’s what I’m gonna pray.”
This comment made by Anderson, which he readily acknowledges, stands by, and continues to re-state is reprehensible. There is no room for this in political discourse and there is absolutely no room for this in Christian dialogue. Those of us on the political right have a responsibility to speak out against this kind of rhetoric – especially when it is comes from someone who is on the political right. Likewise, those of us in the Christian community, regardless of our political leanings, should stand up and say this is unacceptable.
Equally unacceptable are the multiple hate sermons given by Jeremiah Wright, former senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago where Pres. Obama attended for years (2). Wright’s comments on “God D___ America” and his Sept. 11th sermon on “America’s chickens are coming home to roost” are well documented. Like Anderson, Wright is unapologetic and, although he has stepped down as Senior Pastor of Trinity United, he continues to preach and teach the same.
We can be passionate about our opinions without crossing the line with this kind of hatred and nonsense. We can challenge our elected officials, we can voice our opinions, we can go to rallies, we can march, we can write letters, we can call, and we can encourage others to do the same. But regardless of our political leanings, we cannot be silent when someone – anyone – spews this kind of garbage.
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