Since the day Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced that he had invited the nation’s governors to Houston to pray for America (so far only two have indicated that they will come), the signs have pointed to yet another cynical attempt to use faith as a political weapon. On Monday Gov. Perry essentially confirmed that assumption. His gubernatorial campaign office blasted out an email to supporters and other political activists, calling them to the Houston event.
“I sincerely hope you’ll join me in Houston on August 6th and take your place in Reliant Stadium with praying people asking God’s forgiveness, wisdom and provision for our state and nation,” Gov. Perry wrote. “There is hope for America. It lies in heaven, and we will find it on our knees.”
That’s a wonderful message for people of faith — but its delivery through an electoral campaign office by a politician apparently preparing for a presidential run reveals it as little more than a cold and calculating political tactic.
In fact, later on Monday the hate group that Gov. Perry has asked to organize the event, the American Family Association, called the Houston gathering “apolitical” in its own email to religious-right activists: “This is not a political event. It is a prayer event. No candidate will speak.” No candidate will speak? Does this mean Gov. Perry has decided not to run for president? Someone should alert the news media about that revelation.
Actually, here’s a truly revealing part of AFA’s email: the group suggests that people who can’t attend the Houston event hold one in their local church — but register first with AFA.
Now why would AFA want people to register with a political organization simply to hold an event in their church to pray for our nation? Anyone who knows how campaigns work can answer that: such a list is a gold mine for an electoral campaign building a databank of names to contact for political purposes.
Just as with the Texas Restoration Project’s so-called “pastor policy briefings” around the state in 2005, Gov. Perry’s Houston event is little more than a cynical effort to turn people of faith and their houses of worship into parts of a partisan election campaign. “Not a political event”? Who do they really think they’re fooling?
You can sign on to an open letter calling on Gov. Perry to stop associating with a hate group and using faith as a political weapon.
And just where will the IRS be in all of this? I find it difficult to believe that those email addresses won’t be used to solicit money and support for Rick Perry. Churches and preachers cannot endorse a candidate directly or indirectly without losing the churches’ tax-exempt status.
” Churches and preachers cannot endorse a candidate directly or indirectly without losing the churches’ tax-exempt status.”
Get after it, AFA! Texas needs the revenue!
Oh what an awful web we weave when first we seek to deceive.
“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. (John 8:44).
I wonder what Texas voting precinct Satan is registered in to vote for Perry for President.
What, I wonder will it ever take for Christians to go read their bibles and find out what their messiah had to say about public prayer. Matthew chapter six says ” 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Just so we’re straight on this, I am NOT nor ever would even consider being a Christian. Have you ever listened to a funny-mentalist praying? “Father, God, we ask God and Father that Father God…” Over and over as though the deity has either a hearing problem or has the worst case of ADD ever. What did their guy have to say? Yeah, it’s up there in verse 7, “…do not keep on babbling like pagans for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”l
They have the idea that the Satan and the Devil are two different beings. Hate to tell them, there ain’t no such thing as the Devil because that guy is a god. You see, The Satan is similar to a prosecuting attorney. He can only do what the Deity TELLS him he can do; he has no independent power over anything.
Y’know something? IF Jesus said to do or not do something and Christians turn around and do the opposite of what their guy said…they are against him. Against…Anti! Christians are the ANTICHRIST.
They were told to love their neighbor, but instead, they HATE anyone who isn’t them. Here it is, 2011 of the common era and bigotry reigns supreme. They look at Romans and say that homosexuals are worthy of being put to death. BUT THEY IGNORE THE REST OF THE “SINS’ THAT ARE IN THAT SAME CHAPTER!
They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
WOW! Gossips, slanderers, greedy, they disobey their parents…each and every one of those practices deserve death. But somehow they see where homosexuals are to be put to death, rub their hands together in glee and then close their useless book; they’ve seen all that they need to persecute people who were born the way they were.
He who is without sin…aww hell.
All biblical references are from the NIV.
You might say that they have become the UNCHURCH.
What Beverly Kurtin said.
The Gospel according to Rick Perry and the Reactionary Party:
Blessed are the cruel, the haughty, the rapacious…
And the Lord said to him, “Sell all your possessions and give them unto the RICH!”
They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Just your average Roman citizen I guess.