Pastor Accused of Denying Communion to Churchgoers Who Didn't Give Tax Refunds

[Thousand Hills]

Here is another group giving Baptist a bad name.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/1...or-denied-communion-refused-hand-tax-refunds/

If you watch the video, the reporting is a bit dramatic, I love how the anchor at the end says "So there's nothing illegal about this?"

 

[Arbo]

Something here doesn't pass the smell test. If I were a member of the congregation, I'd want an audit of the books done.

 

[Joseph M. Smith]

Pastor there for 35 years and there are only 30 people in the congregation? Sounds like frustration all around.

 

[matt wade]

Shame on that entire church. Why in the world would church members air their dirty laundry in public? Obviously if something illegal is going on, then it must be brought to the proper authorities, but in a case like this you either deal with it as a church or find a new church.

 

[annsni]

I agree Matt. Honestly, this seems to be a pastor who is beyond frustrated with a congregation that is either not being taught well or who are all hardened unsaved people. I don't know what it is but it's not healthy and to have it go to the media? OY!

 

[go2church]

With the economy the way it is, I imagine there are folks needing those tax refunds, seems out of line to be asking in the first place. Pretty easy to tie your church members walk to giving and then cry foul when they don't. I would tell the pastor it's none of his business what my tax refund is and what I do with it, that's between me and the Lord.

The giving at church is usually indicative of how much the people believe in and support what is going on at the church.

 

[Crucified in Christ]

I sense that the problem here might be with a pastor that would like to see a church that outreaches to its community. The key that makes me think this is that he said they had a history of being less than cheerful givers (read stingy).

All of these issues over the years seems to have come to a head over the current debate over paving a parking lot. It sounds as if the the report is saying the land was donated to the church on the condition that they pave it within a certain time. That time is almost up and he is suprised at the lack of concern in the church. They will literally lose this property. Could be members like things the way they are and do not want to spen money on a parking lot...even if it does mean forfeiting a piece of property.

Such problems are certainly not new. Pastors wanting to spend money in order to prepare the church for the future... while members are just happy with the way things are. I could be wrong, but I am thinking that the problem lies somewhere very close to this. The Pastor did not seem like a thief...he did seem very angry.

By the way, what kind of Christian goes on TV to complain and does so incognito. That certainly tells me that he is not trust worthy.

 

[Aaron]

... and why did FOX think this was newsworthy?

 

[Salty]

... and why did FOX think this was newsworthy?

HMM -because how often do you hear of a
non-Catholic church refusing communion?

its the old "dog bites man -not news;
man bites dog - big news"

 

[pinoybaptist]

Pastor there for 35 years and there are only 30 people in the congregation? Sounds like frustration all around.

so, the yardstick now is quantity ? (not talking about the subject church).
well, Jesus is God, the Father was pleased with Him, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, yet at the end, He only had 120 of what we would call "charter members" today, didn't He ?

 

[pinoybaptist]

... and why did FOX think this was newsworthy?

maybe it was so they could impress Christian bashers that they also bash Christians when they think the situation is right ?

 

[JohnDeereFan]

Something here doesn't pass the smell test. If I were a member of the congregation, I'd want an audit of the books done.

You mean like the fact that the guy wants an acre parking lot for 30 people, half of whom probably ride with family members?