Christian spirit?

[Bob Dole]

A confrontation this morning between an East Texas church and an evacuee from New Orleans. It centers around a sign out front of Woodland Hills Baptist Church on Old Jacksonville Road in Tyler, about a mile inside the loop. Some say the message is offensive.

"I drove by that sign and was just horrified when I saw that," says Kelly Jackman who now lives in Tyler but used to live in New Orleans.

That sign at Woodland Hills Baptist Church reads ,"The big easy is the modern day Sodom and Gomorrah."

Kelly along with her sister Robin Lafont, an evacuee from New Orleans, showed up this morning at the church to talk to the man who put it up, Pastor Wiley Bennett.

During a heated discussion, Robin asked, "What's the point of the sign out there?" Pastor Bennett replied, "The point of the sign is New Orleans, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and New York City are some of the most wicked cities in America."

Robin, who still has family members unaccounted for in New Orleans, is offended by the sign. "I'm telling you. This hurts. Why would you want to put more hurt, more salt in my wounds and why would you want to do this to me?"

Kelly adds, "And to go by and see this church saying that God did this to destroy these people and basically they're celebrating that by putting that sign up there saying look at what God has done. He has destroyed the city of New Orleans because it is evil."

Pastor Bennett says, "Anybody that's ever visited New Orleans, the very name its self - Big Easy - denotes that it's easy to find sin there."

Pastor Bennett says the sign, is a sign of the times. "The purpose of the sign is to wake American up to the fact that America is going away from God. New York City's 9/11 was a call of judgment and New Orlean's horrible incident was judgment on a wicked city."

Pastor Bennett was quick to point out that the church has helped evacuees by donating clothing, food and lodging, but their good will seems to be overshadowed by the sign.

"I'm not saying that you were evil and didn't have good intentions but it is hurtful. It's extremely hurt full. That's all I'm saying. I'm asking you to take it down," pleaded Robin.

"If I was doing it to hurt people I would take it down, but I'm not doing it to hurt people. I'm doing it to point out the sins of America," said Bennett.

Even after the sisters left the church, the confrontation continued in the parking lot. Kelly said, "That sign also says a lot about your character and your integrity and it's nothing good I assure you."

"They both called me an ungodly person with bad character and all that, and that's their right, but I have people that would say differently," Bennett told us.

Finally, the confrontation came to an end, but with no resolution. Robin tried one last time, "I'm asking you to take it down." Bennett said, "We can not go any further so we may as well go." Robin said, "That's fine. I need to go."

Robin and Kelly say they are going to spread the word of opposition to the sign and encourage people to contact the church. They hope the church will eventually take it down.

Since the sign went up, many KLTV viewers have e-mailed us with their comments. Wednesday night, a viewer named Tammy told us:

"Encouragement is needed, not more salt in the wounds... How could anyone see that sign as appropriate or bearing witness for Christ?"

We were at Woodland Hills as they prepared for Wednesday Night services.

They say earlier in the day, they were deluged with phone calls from people urging them to take the sign down.

But they say after our report, the response has been 100 percent positive. They began their service with a prayer for the people of New Orleans and Mississippi, and we spoke with many members including these who say they support the message on the sign.

Betty George has been a member for 23 years.

"Our pastor has a strong stand on the Bible and he preaches God's word, and he has compassion for America and the souls of America."

Randy Hays joined Woodland Hills in 1999.

"All our pastor was trying to say is that America is pulling away from God, and He wants America to realize that."

Pastor Bennett told us once again he has no plans to take down the sign right now, despite outcry from the community.

Gillian Sheridan reporting. [email protected]

Source

[Bowser]

Never would have expected a Fire and Brimstone Baptist to put up a sign like this. [/sarcasm]

What a clown.

[Boozer]

God apparently hates poor people. http://volokh.com/posts/1126031439.shtml

It's not surprising to me. There are some incredibly judgemental "Christians" in this country.

[keg in kc]

That's disgusting.

[Warrior5]

Obviously of the same ilk as Phelps. What a stupid thing to do... essentially craps on all the great things Christians are doing for Katrina victims.

[jspchief]

Weird. You almost never see some religious nutjob passing judgement at inappropriate times.

If anyone wonders where anti-religious sentiment stems from, this is a good start.

[Adept Havelock]

Pathetic. Hope this guy finds out God speaks with a Cajun accent when he meets his maker.

[luv]

I know that part of being a pastor is telling people things that they may not want to hear. But that is to his people who choose to go to that church. I would think they would want a sign that attracks people to the church. Well, this one did, I guess. People calling, news crews, etc. He's probably loving it. While what he said may be true. There is sin in EVERY city in the US. Why point out this city at a time when the wounds are still fresh? I think it was tactless. He could share the same message later, when things have calmed down. People are way too emotional at this point. Good message, bad timing. IMO.

[Rain Man]

Wow. I hope that sign catches on fire tonight. And then falls on the preacher.

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by luv2rite

I know that part of being a pastor is telling people things that they may not want to hear. But that is to his people who choose to go to that church. I would think they would want a sign that attracks people to the church. Well, this one did, I guess. People calling, news crews, etc. He's probably loving it. While what he said may be true. There is sin in EVERY city in the US. Why point out this city at a time when the wounds are still fresh? I think it was tactless. He could share the same message later, when things have calmed down. People are way too emotional at this point. Good message, bad timing. IMO.

Its a crap message at ANY time! This is what drives me nuts with these religious wackos. Nothing is right in the world unless everyone else is doing exactly what they are doing. Absolute crap!

Dave

[KC Kings]

Originally Posted by luv2rite

I know that part of being a pastor is telling people things that they may not want to hear. But that is to his people who choose to go to that church. I would think they would want a sign that attracks people to the church. Well, this one did, I guess. People calling, news crews, etc. He's probably loving it. While what he said may be true. There is sin in EVERY city in the US. Why point out this city at a time when the wounds are still fresh? I think it was tactless. He could share the same message later, when things have calmed down. People are way too emotional at this point. Good message, bad timing. IMO.

Exactly!
The only good things NO is known for is their food and music. The drunken festivals, acts of violence, sexual activities, and Saints football are only a few the bad things that NO is known for. That's not to mention the voodoo creole women that give you lots of money to marry them then kill you when you try to leave with the money. When you see people on tv asking how God could let this happen, you have to think to yourself, why would God want the activities there to go on as they have?

Anybody who thinks that God made this huricane to specifically knock out NO's, every other American that sat in their own state knowing the sins that were going on in NO and did nothing to stop it, better watch out because they will be next on God's list.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by KC Kings

Exactly!
The only good things NO is known for is their food and music. The drunken festivals, acts of violence, sexual activities, and Saints football are only a few the bad things that NO is known for. That's not to mention the voodoo creole women that give you lots of money to marry them then kill you when you try to leave with the money. When you see people on tv asking how God could let this happen, you have to think to yourself, why would God want the activities there to go on as they have?

Anybody who thinks that God made this huricane to specifically knock out NO's, every other American that sat in their own state knowing the sins that were going on in NO and did nothing to stop it, better watch out because they will be next on God's list.

This is a ridiculous post. The part about the Saints was funny, though.

[Braincase]

Talibaptist.

[KC Kings]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

Its a crap message at ANY time! This is what drives me nuts with these religious wackos. Nothing is right in the world unless everyone else is doing exactly what they are doing. Absolute crap!

Dave

There is a difference between trying to follow God's word and sinning, and specifically seeking out things that are religiously and morally wrong. Putting that message on a sign for the general public will do more harm than good, but even if God didn't send Katrina to clean out NO, (which I don't think he did), using an event that you have no control over to make yourself a better person is the best thing that could come out of the situation.

I don't think there are many people in America that haven't changed their values or the way they live (religiously or morally) after watching 9/11, the tsunami, or Katrina. But I guess it is ok to let a bad situation change you for the better if you aren't religious, but if you do the same thing using the bible as guidleline you are a whacko.