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

[Calcountry]

Originally Posted by KC Kings

How is it ridiculous? The people suffering weren't the rich owners of the bars, strip clubs, or casinos. If God punished them they were guilty only by association. Any religous leader that believes that God targeted the victims merely because of association better watch out themselves because knowing the sinful things that were going on and doing nothing to stop it make you just as guilty.

Why do you think Chiefs Planet overloads so much?

[KC Kings]

Originally Posted by Bowser

KC Kings...are you saying you agree with what was put up on that sign, and that New Orleans had to be "punished" or "cleansed"?

Not at all. The people that suffered and died were not the ones responsible for or benifitting from the sinfull activities that NO is known for. A poverty stricken eldery grandmother is no more responisble for the sins of the Big Easy than a Texas preacher is for knowing what went on and not doing anything to stop it. If God specifically setout to drown grandmothers in sewage water to pay for the sins of NO, then the preacher better watch his steps because he is just as guilty.

[Simplex3]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Maybe I'm reading this wrong, but I don't think saying this sign is bullshit makes us hypocrites, unless we're going to his church and telling this nut and his followers that they should go to New Orleans so they can marry voodoo women and live in sin.

Anyone who "feels" for these "poor people who had to read this sign" but don't feel for the church members who have to view scenes and hear stories from NO, which is equally offensive to them, is a hypocrite. Those people have made a decision about who they care about being offended and who they don't based on who-knows-what criteria.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Are we going to turn into salt for watching it on TV?!?

I'd lick myself. Although I guess my tongue would be salt, too. Mmm, salt.

[kepp]

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.

I agree completely. The message of the sign is not, IMO, incorrect. But a sign is not the way to get the message across and his timing shows lack of judgement and respect. Of course, when you read the Bible, God's prophets and preachers didn't sugarcoat His message for fear of it not being received well...

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by Phobia

I thought there was some sarcasm there, but I could be wrong. I think it's best that I just leave this thread alone because I'm a real dumbass.

Good point.

About the thread, not you being a dumbass.

[luv]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

That is interesting. What else could one put on a sign? Nudity? Swearing? Sex-acts?

I've seen several trucks that have the outlines of naked women on them, people pissing, and you've never seen a bumper sticker that had a cuss word on it?

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Simplex3

Anyone who "feels" for these "poor people who had to read this sign" but don't feel for the church members who have to view scenes and hear stories from NO, which is equally offensive to them, is a hypocrite. Those people have made a decision about who they care about being offended and who they don't based on who-knows-what criteria.

What's this "offended" shit? Why the hell don't people get a clue. If you don't like something, here's a new idea...don't fucking do it. Lead by example.

As for "viewing scenes and hearing stories from NO", uh, well, if you don't approve...quit viewing the scenes and listening to the stories. If you're "offended", it's your own fucking fault, unless you're strapped into a chair with your eyes taped open being force fed scenes of debauchery. Turn it off, close the book, find something good to experience. Stop being a voyeur and live your own life.

[Rain Man]

I wonder if the preacher would've put this sign up if his mother or sibling had died in the flood.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

What's this "offended" shit? Why the hell don't people get a clue. If you don't like something, here's a new idea...don't fucking do it. Lead by example.

As for "viewing scenes and hearing stories from NO", uh, well, if you don't approve...quit viewing the scenes and listening to the stories. If you're "offended", it's your own fucking fault, unless you're strapped into a chair with your eyes taped open being force fed scenes of debauchery.
Stop being a voyeur and live your own life.

They're "offended" by knowledge of its existence, or something.

[Simplex3]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

What's this "offended" shit? Why the hell don't people get a clue. If you don't like something, here's a new idea...don't fucking do it. Lead by example.

As for "viewing scenes and hearing stories from NO", uh, well, if you don't approve...quit viewing the scenes and listening to the stories. If you're "offended", it's your own fucking fault, unless you're strapped into a chair with your eyes taped open being force fed scenes of debauchery. Turn it off, close the book, find something good to experience. Stop being a voyeur and live your own life.

My point was that these two boobs from NO should have done the same thing when they saw this sign.

[jspchief]

I wonder if part of their Baptist belief includes disrespecting the dead. Or maybe they just preach general poor taste.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Simplex3

This is what I hate about BOTH sides of this coin. He posted it and you act like it's something.

The guy and his church believe a fairly strict set of rules. NO is a city that prides itself on breaking those rules. I didn't hear you guys crying about the fact that these church members were being offended every day that NO did it's thing.

Now the roles are reversed and the church is doing their thing and you guys are all bent out of shape. Hypocrites.

Like a wise comedian once said: "Don't kick a man while he's down? What better time is there to kick a man?"

ah ... but the people in NO weren't going around telling this church how to live/feel/act.


the difference is who is try to shove their beliefs onto other people.


one side is just living

the other side is trying to judge/condemn how everyone else lives

[Adept Havelock]

Originally Posted by Boozer

You go ahead and climb up there, I'll go grab some nails....

Beautiful comment.

[Pennywise]

That sign shoud read 'Welcome to Tyler! The asshole of Texas.'