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FBI examinies Baptist Ministers Sermons in Illinois USA

Discussion in '2005 Archive' started by Ben W, Feb 4, 2005.

  1. Ben W

    Ben W Active Member
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    MOUNT VERNON, Ill. (BP)--Nov. 23, 2004, started out like any other normal morning for Randy Steele, senior pastor at Southwest Christian Church in Mount Vernon, Ill., a town about 80 miles southeast of St. Louis. One of the longtime members of his church was on her deathbed and he planned to spend the day consoling her family. Then the phone rang.

    It was the FBI. Steele said they wanted to meet with him personally. After agreeing to a time later that same afternoon, he said his first thoughts turned to his congregation.

    “I was wondering what somebody in my church might have done,” Steele said. “So I was in a lot of prayer asking God to give me the right words to say.”

    When two FBI agents arrived at the church, Steele said they traded small talk for a few minutes before the suspense got to him and he asked about the nature of their visit.

    Their answer stunned him.

    “One guy opened a file,” Steele said. “And he said, ‘This is pertaining to a sermon that you preached on Memorial Day.’”

    http://snipurl.com/cj9b
     
  2. 2Timothy4:1-5

    2Timothy4:1-5 New Member

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    quoted from the source article...

    Well, he's right about one thing; we are in a war, although not the type fought with guns and bombs (despite what a few kooks do). No, our war is a spiritual war..."For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12).

    Kenneth
     
  3. blackbird

    blackbird Active Member

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    I wouldn't be as "miffed off" at the FBI as I would be "totally ticked" at the inonomous(igno-ray-moose)who turned me in. If I were in my office face to face with the FBI---I'd sit comfortably---offer them coffee, doughnuts, or a cold drink---just thinkin' about where "Mister Igno-ray-moose" may be at the moment enjoyin' his glory while I sweat it out with these two agents!!

    I find out with my preaching---that I have nothing to hide---I won't hide my name nor my sermon content----but you would be surprised at the amount of listeners who would defame the preacher's character for a little bit of glory for their own.

    I read of a Catholic priest back in WW2---who someone "turned him in" to the Gestapo for hiding Jews and Gypses. The Gestapo came, arrested him, and threw him in jail.

    By and by a minister friend who was also a priest came to visit the priest who was in jail. The conversation went like this

    "What are you doing in this jail?"

    "Friend! The real question is not what I'm doing in jail---but the real question is----why are you not in here with me??"

    My bet is that the person listening to this preacher's Memorial Day message had a "personal vendetta" against him and was looking for some fuel to throw on his revenge fire!!! And if you don't think you have anybody in church that would do that---you've got another thing coming!!!

    Blackbird
     
  4. av1611jim

    av1611jim New Member

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    I wouldn't be so ticked at the "ignoramus" who turned be in. He/she was probably just doing what comes naturally. Misunderstanding the content and the intent of the sermon. Happens all the time. Usually, but not always, by the "tares" in the "wheat field". :D

    And why should we be so surpirsed that our sermons come under scrutiny by the "authorities"? It has been going on for centuries. I might add however, that we americans have made a god of our liberty, so we feel immune to scrutiny. Don't place your eggs in THAT basket. I would suggest that we should rather rejoice! as we see the DAY approaching!

    In HIS service;
    Jim

    (edited for additional comment)
    Shouldn't we "count it all joy" if we "suffer" for HIM?
     
  5. Plain ol' Ralph

    Plain ol' Ralph New Member

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    I will have to say that I would be ECSTATIC! Just think of the publicity God and what is Right, and what is WRONG, got!
     
  6. av1611jim

    av1611jim New Member

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    AMEN RALPH BROTHER PREACH IT!!!

    In HIS service;
    Jim
     
  7. blackbird

    blackbird Active Member

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    I won't be lookin' "between the bars" at Jim and Ralph!!! Go ahead---turn me in too---just may be a chance to witness to a lost FBI agent or two!!
     
  8. askM

    askM New Member

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    About whoever it was that turned him in....makes me think. The religious people are the ones who are always causing the most trouble. Notice I didn't say saved or believers, I said "religious". The Sanhedrin plotted Jesus death. The Pharisees and all the people walking around with OT scrolls under their arms are the ones who raised such a roucous. We are always able to self destruct before an outsider can do major damage. Isn't that just sad?

    I hope he keeps on preaching it! I suppose the FBI never heard of "freedom of speech". Where was the ACLU screaming for separation of church and state on that one? hmph......

    It just ain't right.
     
  9. Soulman

    Soulman New Member

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    The fact that we have nothing to hide isn't the point. A pastor is not obligated to pull up an old sermon unless there is a warrant. If the F.B.I. wants to scrutinize the content of a sermon let them come to church where they can experience it's full flavor.

    It was good though that the pastor took the high road and accommodated.

    However! Why arent they scrutinizing the content of the sermons in mosques? Mabey because the muslims excercise their rights.

    If the government is going to take away our rights then mabey they should start with them.
     
  10. Ben W

    Ben W Active Member
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    It can happen here in Australia, the difference being that it is ASIO rather than the FBI.

    What happened to freedom of speech? I think we are going to see alot more of this in our post modern world. :(
     
  11. James_Newman

    James_Newman New Member

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    God said it, you can count on it.

    John 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
     
  12. av1611jim

    av1611jim New Member

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    AMEN BROTHER JAMES! PREACH IT!

    EVEN SO, LORD JESUS, COME!!!

    In HIS service;
    Jim
     
  13. blackbird

    blackbird Active Member

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    Soulman--if you look at the bpnews article---the FBI wasn't in the service the fella was preaching---rather someone "tipped" them off that was there---if you don't think anyone IN the church(as in church member---and not a visitor) has a "personal vendeta" against the preacher---think again! You would be surprised! But isn't is a crying shame---we still have modern day "Alexander the Coppersmith's"????

    You would be surprised---Preacher says in his sermon

    "You better burn those bridges behind you!"

    Somebody hears or "interprets"

    "Preacher says he's gonna blow up a bridge behind him!"
     
  14. Plain ol' Ralph

    Plain ol' Ralph New Member

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    I won't be lookin' "between the bars" at Jim and Ralph!!! Go ahead---turn me in too---just may be a chance to witness to a lost FBI agent or two!! </font>[/QUOTE]Blackbird or black crow?

    Paul thought it worthy of imprisonment for the cause of Christ,why don't you?
     
  15. Joshua Rhodes

    Joshua Rhodes <img src=/jrhodes.jpg>

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    Ralph,

    I didn't read blackbird's response to mean what you took it to mean... did I read it wrong? He said to turn him too, for it may be a chance to witness. How is this not the same thing you said? Just asking.

    In His Grip,
    joshua
     
  16. av1611jim

    av1611jim New Member

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    Ummm...what Joshua said.
    Ralph, blackbird was saying he would NOT be on the other side of the bars. If you have NEVER visited a fellow in jail then I understand your confusion. When you visit someone in jail you have to look at them through the bars, in a sense. So, you being free, when see the inmate "between the bars". Of course, these days it is through bullet proof plexi-glass, but that is besides the point. The point is that blackbird was saying he would join us in jail and witness to the FBI.
    Get it now?

    In HIS service;
    Jim
     
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