Maybe everyone should read once again how Jesus loved His enemies and how we who claim to have Christ living in us are to love our enemies, too. (Thanks for the link, BrotherTom. The behaviour of those "Christians" is an affront to Christ's love for His enemies). How can anyone hear the Gospel when they see a pig's head being waved? Jesus did not assert his rights because He gave them up and we are called to walk as He walked. We really have no rights that we fight "flesh and blood" over. We do have the God-given right to preach the gospel, the right to be persecuted and hated, the right to love our enemies in return, the right to speak the truth, the right to suffer for His sake, the right to be killed, the right to be robbed and mugged the right to overcome evil with good, the right to leave place for wrath, the right to not take vengeance out on anyone the right to NOT repay evil with evil, the right to do good to our enemies and even feed them, etc, etc. These are many of our rights from the Lord and I wonder how Christians like these right?I think they prefer the U.S. Constitution's rights over the right (commandment) to walk as He walked, in being reviled He did not return reviling remarks to His persecutors. I can see what is shaping up in this country. People that elevate the U.S. Constitution to the same level as God's Word or even higher are going to lean on the arm of the flesh and FIGHT for their RIGHTS, (even physical fights) because the U.S. Constitution gives them this liberty (not the liberty of Christ), even thought the Lord does not.What ever happened to our warfare being spiritual and not with flesh and blood?The U.S. Constitution gives us many rights that God does not give us. We don't have the right to pursuit open-ended happiness which to most Americans means abortions, divorce, etc. We don't have freedom of speech. God does not let us speak evil of this nation's leaders, but the Constitutional right of freedom of speech and freedom of the press allows us to gossip, backbite, lie and revile people. Pilgrim
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There is an official statement on the city of Dearborn site, This is a partial clipping from that page, the link is below for the full statement."The Background of “Acts 17 Apologetics” and the Dearborn Arab International FestivalA group called Acts 17 Apologetics, a Christian organization, became well-known following the 2009 Dearborn Arab International Festival because of videos it posted on “YouTube”. The videos show, from their point of view, some members’ impassioned discussion with a Muslim group and an incident with festival security guards, as well as other scenes at the festival.The City of Dearborn believes the 2009 Acts 17 Apologetics videos are a distortion of the group’s experience and a misrepresentation of the Dearborn Arab International Festival.In response, Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. hosted a meeting with the Dearborn Area Ministerial Association in September of 2009 to talk about the experience of Christian groups at the 2009 Arab Festival. Following that meeting, some pastors of Dearborn’s evangelical Christian community tried repeatedly to contact members from Acts 17 Apologetics and never received a response. These Dearborn evangelical pastors later issued a lengthy statement stating they believe in the right to spread the message of Christianity, but criticized the tactics and behavior of members of Acts 17 Apologetics, saying they did not reflect a Christian spirit. http://www.fairlanealliance.org/downloads/letter_concerning_acts_17.pdfWorld renowned Christian minister, author, and speaker Josh McDowell, who has spoken to more than 10 million people in 84 countries, attended the 2009 Dearborn Arab International Festival and posted a video on “YouTube” on January 12, 2010 reflecting his experience at the Dearborn event.At the 2009 festival, Josh McDowell also spent time filming, interviewing, and speaking to event attendees regarding Christianity. The video posting by Josh McDowell showed quite a contrasting view from the video posting of Acts 17 Apologetics.source: http://www.cityofdearborn.org/news-and-events/press-releases/413-arab-fest-response
The group under discussion reminds me of Westboro Baptist Church and the so called Florida pastor who wanted to burn a copy if the Koran. These groups simply portray Christians as hate mongers. This message will not bring the Moslems to Christ.Also for these Christians who are belly aching about being persecuted for Christ at this Moslem festival. Let them go to a restricted country and see what true persecution is.Persecution will come to America. But let it be that we are persecuted as lovers of Jesus. Not because we are acting like jerks.Bearmaster.
Yes, "Westboro" is what's being said of them but it's reflecting on us all.This whole thing is dreadfully sad because of the blow-back that this will have on the Good guys out there that are a true witness to Christ.The 'pig head' video is out there and we all know how easy it is for human beings to sterotype classes of people.Christians are being seen now as being like this crew.The video on youtube is titled "Christian Extremists invade Dearborn Arab and Muslim Festival with a Pig's Head to harass families"The reason there were eggs there to be thrown in the first place is because someone was ready for these guys because they went through this before at these Arab festivals.The man holding that disgusting pig's head was obviously filled with hate - if you can read the body language expressed on his face. I'm concerned for our brothers in MI now - very much. I almost want to tell them to move away from Detroit and Dearborn. Actually, I wish everyone near a city could move away from the cities - and not only because of these men but because of the trouble that's coming. I'm sorry to say these things in public - but the cities are dangerous when things break-down financially or otherwise.I'd only feel better if we made a major agreement to fast and pray for our brothers and sisters that live in or near certain towns or cities.With the passing of this health care by the SCOTUS - we need to gird ourselves for the direction this country is going in and be ready to help others get through. We need to have our own houses in order and be strong for those that are not yet.His Shalom to His Saints that Trust in our GOD of Glory - The LORD of hosts!
I dont have an opinion one way or the other about the ministries in question or whether they are right in what they are doing... I dont live there and dont know all of the facts.This much I know, however... Paul had no problem exercising his rights as a citizen of Rome in the book of Acts. He exercised his Roman rights when he was in prison. So much so that when the jailers realized he was a Roman citizen their behavior toward him changed immediately. He also exercised his rights to gain an audience with King Agrippa.When Paul saw that he was not receiving justice at the hands of these governors, he appealed AS A ROMAN CITIZEN to Caesar Nero for an opportunity to defend himself in the court of Caesar. In Acts 25 we read that King Agrippa II and his sister Queen Bernice came to pay the new governor, Festus, a visit in Caesarea. While they were there, Festus consulted with King Agrippa II as to what he should write on the charge sheet to be sent to Rome with Paul. When Agrippa heard that Paul was there, he requested Paul be brought before him to make his case.Who got to hear Paul preach the gospel that day? King, queen, governor, the leading citizens of the city and leading Roman officials. That's who!All because Paul knew his rights as a citizen and exercised those rights for the express purpose of furthering the gospel.So please stop with all this "we have no rights" stuff. There is definitely Biblical precedence for exercising our rights in whatever country we are citizens of.Krispy
It probably would be good to meditate through Acts 19 when Paul was in Ephesus. This was a city that was demonic and worshipped Artemis. Yet Paul did not act like a jerk. He preached the truth in power and love. The town clerk who quieted the rioting stirred up by Demetrius, said these men who have neither blasphemed our goddess nor robbed temples. Do we see some wisdom hee?Even missionaries who go to foreign countries need to se common sense in respect for ones culture when presenting the gospel. If one goes to a religious culture and acts like a jerk in preaching Jesus. They will be persecuted. But it will be for being obnoxious. Not for following Christ.Bearmaster
Bear... I agree. Mark your calendar!Krispy
When Paul saw that he was not receiving justice at the hands of these governors, he appealed AS A ROMAN CITIZEN to Caesar Nero for an opportunity to defend himself in the court of Caesar.
Bro I am amazed. You agree with ne. Ok I am marking my calendar. Blessings.Bresux Besr.
I believe that this fellow on the link below is the same fellow who was pelted by bottles and such by the Muslim crowd. Do you think it could have had something to do with the swine's head....[ a literal decapitated, real pig's head he preached through....] he held as he preached[condemned] the crowd. He is on my [friend]list over on Facebook and calls himself a street preacher. Rueben Israel is his name.
_________________SermonIndex.net Moderator - Brother Greg"I am so deeply concerned that we should rise and shake of the grave clothes of dead denominational Christianity that lives on a dead tradition and runs like a track with the engine off while the momentum carries it on. I am concerned that we should enter the Christian life that we should be a people indwelt with the Holy Spirit, recognize ourselves as a minority group living in a world that hated our Lord and hates us for our Lord’s sake." - A.W. Tozer
