A new story in the Texas Observer follows Gov. Rick Perry’s courtship of the religious right on a path to the fringes, where self-proclaimed prophets and modern-day apostles apparently like to hang out.
The story, “Rick Perry’s Army of God,” starts with a description of a meeting between Gov. Perry and pastors Tom Schlueter of Arlington and Bob Long of San Marcos. And things get rather mystical.
From the story:
The pastors told Perry of God’s grand plan for Texas. A chain of powerful prophecies had proclaimed that Texas was “The Prophet State,” anointed by God to lead the United States into revival and Godly government. And the governor would have a special role.
The day before the meeting, Schlueter had received a prophetic message from Chuck Pierce, an influential prophet from Denton, Texas. God had apparently commanded Schlueter — through Pierce — to “pray by lifting the hand of the one I show you that is in the place of civil rule.”
Gov. Perry, it seemed.
Schlueter had prayed before his congregation: “Lord Jesus I bring to you today Gov. Perry. … I am just bringing you his hand and I pray Lord that he will grasp ahold of it. For if he does you will use him mightily.”
And grasp ahold the governor did. At the end of their meeting, Perry asked the two pastors to pray over him. As the pastors would later recount, the Lord spoke prophetically as Schlueter laid his hands on Perry, their heads bowed before a painting of the Battle of the Alamo. Schlueter “declared over [Perry] that there was a leadership role beyond Texas and that Texas had a role beyond what people understand,” Long later told his congregation.
So you have to wonder: Is Rick Perry God’s man for president?
We should be clear that we don’t question the sincerity of Gov. Perry’s faith. That is, or should be, a matter between him and God. But the governor’s efforts to use faith as a political tool are well known — his planned August 6 prayer rally in Houston is only the most recent example. And it appears that this politician is especially interested in religious leaders who, as the story suggests, believe “they have a direct line to God.”
Sweet children of TFN Insider. As I have told you many times, the essence of the matter lies in the “fruit” itself or the “fruitcake” it is used to make. Jesus said it 2000 years before me. To discern a matter, keep your eyes on the fruits and what they are doing. That is all it takes. It is all in the fruits. Jesus said so, and whether you believe in him or not, He was quite a perceptive guy:
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Chuck Pierce, an influential prophet from Denton, Texas
I thought influential prophets were spos’ ta’ have names like Hezekiah or Ezekiel. “Chuck” just somehow doesn’t have the same weight. Kind of like our county sheriff being named Darren, instead of Buck or Jake.
That’s just mind-blowing. Do they remember what went down at the Alamo?
The ilk used to bilk the electorate this election time around, has curdled and created a critical mass of obstinate obfuscation so compelling and determined to force Jesus to return to drive the darky out of the White House, such necessity determined by prophecy requiring the faithful to create the catastrophic collapse of the economies of the world. It’s a contract outlined in Revelations et al, in which Jesus must return if the faithful create the conditions of the End of Times rather than waiting another generation. This is the Rapture centric view.
For a more statistical view of the prescribed course of events and probabilities thereto see the Rapture Index now at 182, a notch below the all time high of 184.
http://www.raptureready.com/rap2.html
Your top ten indicators and fertlle fields to plunder:
1. Natural Disasters – Earthquakes and Tornadoes
2. Unrest in the Middle East
3. Europe’s Financial Crisis
4. Preparation of an Attack on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities
5. China’s Growing Economic and Military Might
6. Global Currency
7. Big Brother Taking Over
8. U.S. National Debt Load
9. Terrorism
10. Friction Between the U.S. and Israel
There is a major internal inconsistency for the faithful, as it is axiomatic that these ten are the work of the Anti-Christ which must be opposed, to an opposite conclusion that these ten must be accelerated to accelerate the return of Jesus Christ.
If Rick Perry has so much influence with God, why is Texas still burning up after he called for rain-making prayer all Easter weekend? Did he have heat stroke riding on his father’s tractor out in that cotton field, and mistake it for a calling from on high?
Texas is still on fire from the blazing sun because the mayor of Houston is gay. If the righteous people of Texas will just band together, round up the few hundred unrighteous people left in the state, and escort them to the state line, the rains will come. You have read your Bible—have you not? The Lord causes the rain to fall ONLY on the righteous.
Texas Fundamentalist:
“I really have to hand it to that old Charles boy. He shore does know his Bible!!!”
People, people, people!
Perry can’t be the Chosen One. How could God tell Perry to run for President when He already told Michelle Bachmann to run? Remember? Bachmann said she prayed and prayed and preyed and wouldn’t run unless God gave her the Word. Then, one morning Bachmann heard “bird” and Bird was the Word.
But, wait. God told Huckabee to run, then told him cancel that, then told him to run again then cancel that and I guess at this point Huckabee is on hold.
But, wait! God told Mitt Romney to run, too! And Gingrich, but God pulled up short in providing Newt with air transportation which has become somewhat of a His bad.
But, wait! God told Herman Cain to run, or did He say, “Herman, why don’t you run down to Domino’s and get us a pizza!”
But, wait! God told Sarah Palin to run or maybe get ready to run or make excuses for not running or run away. Our Sarah hasn’t been too clear on the message.
Could it be like Archie Bunker that God is speaking English but the Republicans are listening in Dingbat? The mind boggles.
“Strongly guarded as is the separation between Religion and Government in the Constitution of the United States, the danger of encroachment by Ecclesiastical Bodies may be illustrated by precedents already furnished in their short history,” James Madison, Father of the Constitution, W&MQ 3:555, c. 1817 or p. 121, The Religion Commandments in the Constitution: A Primer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb7SbUWw9dM).
No, Gene, we need a separation between clueless morons and government.
Church and State! Church and State!
It’s a phrase that Gene-o hates!
But Religion and Government
It don’t rhyme
with nothing
not even orange.
Gene. As a personal favor to me, I would like to kindly ask you to visit this newspaper URL (below) and drop some of your gems for local consumption. The people in this small town have a state/religion issue going on in their public schools, and they need some education. I was thinking that an old Baylor Baptist like you might be exactly what they need. The story is “ACLU Lawsuit Sparks Changes.” You can make comments at the bottom of the article, but you will need to register to leave comments. It is a quick registration that takes just a few seconds. Thanks!!!
Oops!!! Sorry Gene. Here is the URL:
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110713/HENDERSONVILLE01/307130143/ACLU-lawsuit-sparks-changes?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Gallatin
Rick’s forming a band: Rick Perry and the Propheteers.
They’re going on tour with Huckabee’s Holy Hucksters and Michele Bachmann’s Selfrighteous Sisters.
Romney’s More Money Mormons (say it fast).
Newt Gingrich and the Grifters
Timmy Pawlenty’s Pawlenty-O-Twenties Ol’ Timey Jug Band.
I would like to see that, too. Gene is tenacious.
Ben:
I was actually very serious in my request, but Gene did not bite. Oh well, after my series of posts and some of the responses I got, a whole county is praying to Jesus that I will come to my senses and finally understand that the only “true” Christianity is Christian fundamentalism and that what this troubled country really needs is a good official national religion—which just happens to be their religion.
However, after that series of exchanges, something dawned on me—an epiphany behind the steering wheel of my car. Jesus said that sin always begins in the human heart and goes outwards to do its mischief. In the book of Genesis, Eve’s sin (the most famous of all sins now known as “original sin”) was that she wanted to BE GOD, know the difference between right and wrong, and render assorted judgments in God’s place. That is the central nature of this beast called original sin.
This is really the exact problem that is at the core of the Religious Right. Some fat-bellied old pastor named Beverly B. Beverly is out there saying, “What we need is to have a Christian nation.” Of course, the only way you are ever going to have a really and truly just Christian nation is for God the Father, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit to run it directly with no middle men like Beverly B. Beverly.
Basically, what the Religious Right and its fat-bellied preachers are really saying is this:
“Jesus has dragged his feet for 2000 years, and there is no telling when he is going to show up. It might be another 5000 years. Why don’t we go ahead and establish the Heavenly Kingdom right here on Earth, and we will call it the United States of America. I,or one of my Bible-believing preacher buddies, would like to sit on the throne reserved for Jesus in this here kingdom and run it until the Lord gets back. I am purer and holier than most and know all the right moves to make in governing this place. Because my unique understanding of the Bible is simple and infallible, I can render good and fair judgments on all sorts of issues involving right and wrong—and maybe take action to make this here country a virtually paradise of righteousness by the time the Lord finally arrives.”
Do you see it? Do you see the stamp of “original sin” just oozing out the pores of this monster called the Religious Right? The Popes of olden times thought they could do this same thing—and look what happened—a Europe and Middle East overrun with selfishness, corruption, persecution, torture, bloodshed, and death. Much of this involved people who claimed to be Christians going heatedly and passionately after each other. “I must destroy the enemy of God!!!” And the rejoinder, Not if I can gain God’s favor by destroying you first!!!”
This what is going on Ben. This is not new. It is very old—a movie that has been run one too many times.
One of the central messages of the Bible—one these fat-bellied guys never seem to get—is that human beings make very poor Gods.
Charles, I hear you. I enjoyed your comments on that Tennessee newspaper thread.