This is such a sad commentary on the state of our country. From The Christian Post:
A Texas megachurch pastor recently claimed that President Barack Obama’s re-election victory would lead to the rise of the Antichrist.
Robert Jeffress, senior pastor at the First Baptist Church in Dallas, made remarks on Sunday before the election that should Obama win, his victory would lead to the reign of the Antichrist.
“I want you to hear me tonight, I am not saying that President Obama is the Antichrist, I am not saying that at all. One reason I know he’s not the Antichrist is the Antichrist is going to have much higher poll numbers when he comes,” said Jeffress.
“President Obama is not the Antichrist. But what I am saying is this: the course he is choosing to lead our nation is paving the way for the future reign of the Antichrist.”
Jeffress would go on to say that “it is time for Christians to stand up and to push back against this evil that is overtaking our nation” and to do so via “the ballot box.”
This is not the first time that Jeffress has garnered controversy for his remarks regarding major political figures. During the Family Research Council’s “Values Voters Summit” in October of last year, Jeffress called Mormonism a cult.
“Mitt Romney is a Mormon, and don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. Even though he talks about Jesus as his Lord and savior, he is not a Christian. Mormonism is not Christianity. Mormonism is a cult,” said Jeffress, who was supporting Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s bid to become the GOP presidential nominee. [Note: according to The Deseret News, Jeffress did a 180° and endorsed Romney in April.]
“It’s a little hypocritical for the last eight years to be talking about how important it is for us to elect a Christian president and then turn around and endorse a non-Christian.”
When push came to shove, however, hypocrisy suddenly became expedience, for after Rick Perry dropped out of the race, Jeffress found that he shared “Biblical principles” with Mittens.
More important, isn’t it against U.S. law for preachers to engage in political endorsements? Someone should remove the First Baptist Church’s tax exemption.
h/t: Matthew Cobb
What a complete whack job. Doesn’t he know the Anti-Christ is going to come from the European Union? I thought everyone knew that.
😉
The Pope is the antichrist according to the Wisconsin Lutherans and a lot of fundies.
Which means he timeshares with Obama or something.
Is this like the Antipasta? Can I get my antichrist with extra pepperchinis?..
If I remember my eschatology right, there are supposed be legions of anti-Christs. Which there are and have been, ever since there were Christians.
Similarly, Lord Voldemort also has his spies everywhere, and the Vulcans have observational outposts in this sector watching for Warp activity, so I don’t understand what the fuss is from Christians. They sure take this fandom thing to a whole new level — and a rather unhealthy one, at that.
b&
Don’t forget Sauron. As long as the one ring exists, we are in peril. srsly.
Yeah, but that’s only for Middle Earth, which must be next to Central America. All we have to do is build a fence.
There you go, relying on the Bible instead of horror movies. True Christians™ base their theology on Hollywood movies and “Left Behind” novels.
Isn’t the rise of the antichrist a desirable outcome? Does he have a SuperPac yet? Perhaps we should start one, and encourage him to make his presence known.
Not just desirable, but inevitable. The Antichrist will come no matter what you do.
Which makes the whole thing about voting superfluous, I’d think. Are they working instead on the idea that the rise of the Antichrist is foreordained but that one can negotiate a little bit on the timing — like you know you’re going to die but when it happens isn’t fixed? Postpone the inevitable?
It’s all confused. The only real consistent message is Bad Guys vs. Good Guys.
C’mon now, THINK about it. OF COURSE, you can’t stop the Antichrist from coming. OF COURSE, you can’t negotiate with the Antichrist. But God does know how you voted. The reason you oppose the Antichrist in the ballot box and elsewhere is to be counted amongst those who will be saved – those who will be raptured! It isn’t about preventing Judgement Day, it’s about getting a favorable verdict on Judgement Day! You dumb atheists just can’t get that through your thick skulls. 😃
Anti-Christ! Can’t anyone see the cat’s tongue is in her cheek?
Preach it!
FBC Dallas again.
Recently went to an interesting seminar on the topic of Obama/Antichrist and Jeffress is pretty much preaching the evangelical line that Obama is just paving the way for the one who is to come. It’s interesting that a whole chunk of fundamentalist prophesies had to be re-directed when the Soviet Union dispanded.
http://dougandrhonda.wordpress.com/2012/10/20/is-obama-the-antichrist/
My parents church is without a doubt evangelical but they took baptist out of their name because they were embarrassed at what baptist churches were doing and did not want to be affiliated with them.
So I don’t know if this really is the evangelical line, but it certainly is not the first time I heard this.
When I was growing up, we were often taught that the Anti-Christ probably would be from Europe because Daniel said the “people of the prince to come” would destroy Jerusalem and the temple and in 70 AD that was done by Rome, which disbanded into the various European countries we have today.
Many see the EU as the rebirth of the Roman Empire, and cite that Revelation of John specifies a beast with many horns, indicating many nations.
Some go on to say that America will likely have fallen when this happens, which might be what some are referring to when they say re-electing Obama will bring the Anti-Christ, that he is hastening the fall of America.
Anyway, don’t mean to bore y’all, just what I was taught when I was inside evangelical circles. And there is much debate within evangelicals.
I’m sure that’ll be adequate grounds for the Hosts of Gilead to “purify” them all come the Glorious Day.
I find this an amusing indication of abysmal knowledge of history. If any one nation is in the driving seat in Europe, it’s Germany. And the Germans were the region who put a stop to Roman expansionism (at least until the Romans outflanked them by “pacifying” the Balkans.
Then again, abysmal levels of knowledge in any factual basis amongst people of religion … is absolutely unsurprising.
Just thank your lucky stars this guy isn’t on the House Science & Technology Committee, that’s all I can say.
He isn’t on the Tech Committee. Yet.
Bwahahaha!
There are so many Texans who just blow my mind.
These morons just keep giving!
They are professional “entertainers” for people with bad taste, and should be taxed.
Amen to that!!
Note: “Amen”, translated, means “Make it so”.
Maybe it wasn’t clear but I was agreeing that the church should have its tax exempt status revoked.
All of these businesses should pay all taxes, federal, state and local. No exemptions other than those that apply to all citizens.
Glad in a way that this came up.
Brad DeLong, an economics professor in the same philosophical orbit as Paul Krugman, wrote this piece (note, link has comments) today:
http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2012/11/somehow-i-think-that-they-are-still-in-kansas-toto.html#comments
Please read it. It is very enlightening…sure, Professor DeLong has some insights, but the best is the comment from the Kansan attorney. Read it. Must read!
Substitute Brownback with Perry and everything the Kansan attorney said would fit Texas perfectly, from the pervasive cronyism to the lunatic religion.
Thanks for posting this link. Worth reading, also very good comments.
No church can be prohibited from exercising free speech rights or the free exercise of religion. In fact, the tax-exempt status of a church has been revoked by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) only once for engaging in overtly political activity (and that revocation was merely temporary). Churches and non-profits are free to be involved in political issues as long as no candidate or party is endorsed.
Since many churches and religious organizations fear to speak and to act boldly on the important political issues of the day for fear that the IRS will revoke their tax-exempt status, AdvanceUSA has posted this information in order to help pastors and other religious leaders better understand the types of political involvement in which they can safely and legally participate.
How churches are categorized by the IRS?
Churches are classified as organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Of the two types of 501(c)(3) organizations, most churches and schools are classified as public charities rather than “mutual benefit organizations.” These organizations are described as:
Organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national or international sports competition… or for the prevention of cruelty to animals, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided in subsection (h)), and which does not participate in. or intervene in (including or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.
What Political Activities by Churches are Permitted?
The Congressional Research Service findings on the political activities of tax-exempt organizations state the following.
Clearly, IRC § 501(c)(3) organizations may not do such things as make statements that endorse or oppose a candidate, publish or distribute campaign literature, or make any type of contribution, monetary or otherwise, to a political campaign. On the other hand, IRC § 501(c)(3) organizations are allowed to conduct activities that are not related to elections, such as issue advocacy, lobbying for or against legislation, and supporting or opposing the appointment of individuals to non-elective offices.
http://www.advanceusa.org/church_involvement.asp
What Political Activities by Churches are NOT Permitted?
Official Endorsements — Churches may not officially endorse or oppose any political candidate and maintain tax-exempt status. Pastors or other church officials may not endorse or oppose candidates from the pulpit or in church publications such as bulletins, websites, or broadcasts during an election campaign season. (p. 8*).
Campaign Contributions — Churches may not contribute financially to a political party, political action committee, or candidate and maintain tax-exempt status. (p. 8*).
Bias — Churches may not show favorable or unfavorable bias toward a candidate or political party. For example, churches may not distribute biased voter guides or show favoritism to a political candidate. Furthermore, churches may not invite a candidate to speak in his/her capacity as a political candidate unless the other candidate(s) is(are) given equal opportunity. (p. 8*).
http://www.advanceusa.org/church_involvement.asp
It never fails that fundamentalists name their organizations for the exact opposite for what they stand for.
Examples are:
– “Pro Life”.
— Wants to stop abortions that promote future happy life of families with unwanted pregnancies, rape victims or the life itself of mothers at risk.
— Devalues “life” for cells under development, or possibly now any cells since we can take them through stem cells to germ cells.
– “Pro Family”.
— Wants to put religion instead of family planning in the center.
— Wants to hinder non-heterosexual and/or non-monogamous families.
– “Pro Morality”.
— Wants to replace morality with religion.
– “Pro Religious Freedom”.
— Wants to suppress religious freedom by protecting religion from criticism of other or non belief, to “protect the church from the state”.
– “AdvanceUSA”.
— Wants to return US to medieval religious ideals. Idealizes religion, which ironically is a warning sign of a dysfunctional society. (See this blog owner’s recent papers for references.)
You are not infringing on their freedom of speech. Churches are more than welcome to engage in poliyical activities so long as they do not receive special tax exemptions.
This is correct.
A church may talk about moral issues during an election campaign but to keep their tax exempt status, they (and non religious groups under same exemption) may not take a position on a candidate or ballot measure.
Many churches violate this law, which is hypocritical. Either don’t use the tax exemption or don’t get involved in politics.
Why doesn’t some organisation actually call these religious institutions out on their tax exemption status?
Surely there is an organisation willing to do this?
The only organization with the power to do so is the IRS. And, no, they don’t seem willing.
Can’t they be sued? What are all those lawyers in America for, if not suing the government?
The Freedom from Religion Foundation does exactly this. However, it’s very hard to get traction in a country where religion is indeed a sacred cow.
Here’s how Christians have been trained to recognize the anti-Christ: Is the person a beloved secular leader who ushers in an unprecedented era of peace, prosperity, and rationality to the world? Then kill him with fire, because he is pure evil.
…and it helps if he is a person of color.
…so Obama should be quite safe.
Maybe the ACLU will push to end this near illiterate babbling. I think that is doubtful, in this crazy climate that even those not religious will gladly speak up for a church over individual rights.
What about the possibility that this Mr. Robert Jeffress himself is the antichrist in disguise? Or one of the antichrists trailblazers or quartermasters? And then: this man has a red tie – so he must be a communist as well!
Up until not that long ago, religion in the UK was pretty much the rather scary Catholics and the rather moderate CofE and other assorted Protestants. You could rely on the former to scare the bejesus out of you and the latter to make pies, scones and cakes and run jumble sales. We were aware of Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims etc but they were very much in the background.
Somehow the religion that went west to the US, transformed almost beyond recognition and has become as rabid as it was in Europe up until probably the 18th or 19th Century.
That we can be living in this wonderful age of medical and technological breakthroughs and still have people foretelling the coming of the Anti-Christ is completely beyond me.
I grew up in a Irish-Catholic family with all the Hells and Purgatories that went with it but it wasn’t until the unholy coupling of Bush and Blair that I ever heard mention of the Rapture (which apparently has come and gone several times so far to very little effect).
That these vile, greasy, smarmy, self-righteous and self-styled pastors and evangelists keep crawling out of the woodwork and are given airtime and news print is deeply disturbing. That they enjoy the respect and in many cases the devotion and adoration of their “flocks” is even more so.
“You could rely on the former to scare the bejesus out of you and the latter to make pies, scones and cakes and run jumble sales”
Which lot does better harvest festivals?
(For those elsewhere, this is the set of pagan rituals that got relabeled ‘Thanksgiving’ in North America)
Former Christian (evangelical even) here. I remember back in the 70’s when Hal Lindsey was prophesying about the Soviet Union and its invasion of Israel. The final battle of Armageddon was to be fought in the Middle East by the Antichrist whose government was situated in Rome against the Soviet and Chinese armies with the U.S. sitting it out. I guess it’s back to the old drawing board…
Wasn’t it God’s will that Obama was reelected? (It must have been God’s will, because he has a plan for all of us, right? And humans can not override God’s will, right?) So who is this guy to go against God’s will? Blasphemer!!!!!!
Yep, it is god’s will that *every* authority in the world is put in place( Romans 13). No exceptions made for people that some christians don’t like.
a god that wills everything makes any prayer totally useless.
“a god that wills everything makes any prayer totally useless.”
As does an absent god.
A simple solution – get rid of the tax exemption and let them politick away. And protect the rights of nonbelievers in the process.
as usual, the poor theocrats can’t even agree on who is the anti-christ. Golly, some say Obama *is* the anti-christ. However are we to know which Christian to believe?
Jeffries is (or was) an anti-Catholic and anti-Mormon bigot.
Although, as pointed out, he suddenly decided Mormons were OK when Romney was nominated and picked a Catholic VP.
All those sacred core beliefs of the religious get tossed whenever it is necessary and they never miss them.
AFAICT, Jeffries only real belief is that he needs more power and money. He’s just a conman.
If I may offer an outsider’s view, the cause and effect of religion and right wing ideology is often confused.
These American church leaders are not supporting Republicans because they are evangelical Christians. They are evangelical Christians because they support the Republicans.
If it were only the secular philosophies of Ayn Rand, the Republican party would have already withered away or reformed into something decent. For the Republicans to have any political power, a huge percentage of the American electorate has to be coaxed to vote grossly against its own interest. This clever manipulation has been achieved by the bizarre marriage of religion and extreme right wing ideology.
How this trick has been done in the US, I don’t know. Conservative social values and religion I can understand. But how were these fiscally right wing values sold? I my part of the world, the religious people usually support taxes, free health care, gun control, social justice, income equality and demand that government take a role as a care taker.
If Christ and anti-Christ met, would they vanish in an enormous burst of radiation?
That might be cheaper way to find the Higgs boson.
LOL. Then we really could call it “the god particle”.
If we could just get rid of the south, the ranting lunatic population would go way down.
Many southern states, including Texas, have started petitions to secede. The Texas petition has enough signatures that the White House will respond (unless tehy determine that responding may bias legal proceedings). I hope the WH response will be ‘Good riddance!”
Only if they take Oklahoma with them…
Please, please, please don’t let the red states secede!
As a longtime resident of Arizona, I can assure you that we are not all Tea Party nutjobs. Sane people are actually a very large minority of the state, and there are a significant number of majority-sane communities.
And Arizona is getting steadily more purple and less red every year. Both Romney and Flake (the Republican candidate running for Jon Kyl’s open Senate seat) won, yes, but the races were close, with both being (barely) within in the margin of error before polling day.
If you write us off, then you’re conceding a very winnable victory, and you’re consigning millions of people just like you to lives in Talibama.
What did we do to deserve this, and why are you so eager to cut us loose when victory is within reach?
b&
There might be some hope for AZ – seems like they were actually blue n 1996, but have relapsed since then. Google Jesusland and the United States of Canada for a great map.
god, if it were only true.
Wait. I thought they *wanted* the apocalypse to happen as soon as possible. Shouldn’t they rejoice that Obama got re-elected?
Yes, I find this profoundly confusing. There are plenty of fundamentalists who support Israel solely because of its role in promoting the supposed coming apocalypse.
But just as with abortion, where one would think guaranteeing heaven for babies would be a good thing, I’ve long given up on fundies being consistent with their beliefs.
Mormanism is indeed a Cult.
So, a wave of the wand creation, a magic tree and talking snake placed by somebody who raped a teenage married virgin who was married to someone else so as to give birth to himself and then later to kill himself as a sacrifice to himself in order to atone for someone eating from the magic tree is not a cult?
I recently read (here, maybe) that the only difference between a religion and a cult is spelling.
Jeffress found that he shared “Biblical principles” with Mittens
This is a sad commentary on the state of the country: calling candidate Romney, “Mittens”. Why do you consider that to be appropriate?
What if the pastor called Barack an “Obamanation”? Would that raise him to your level?
Thank you for your concern, tone troll. We’ve been through this “Mittens” stuff before. And your comment is simply rude to the host. I suggest you frequent another site.
Why, I agree totally! “Mittens” is entirely two cavalier for the former failed candidate Romney. I much prefer the approach of the great and talented Jon Stewart, Esquire, who would refer the former liberal east coast governor as
Willard Mittenford von Romneystein-Humplesworth Smythe the XV, or “Mitters” for short.
Prior to the election, I had thought Mittens too cuddly a designation and had suggested Vladimitt as an alternative. Now that he has been declawed, however, I rather like Mittens. Besides, Mittens had been on the web even prior to the 2008 election.
I totally agree. It is not appropriate to call someone “mittens” when he gives 47% of the population “the finger”.
Once again, “Mittens” isn’t a term of endearment. It’s a Mob nickname, like “Tiny” (for the guy who bench presses linebackers) or “Softie” (for the torture expert).
And, no. I will not tell you what he did to get the nickname….
b&
Seem surprising the Antichrist would need a second invitation.
The pastor waiting for the Antichrist says he’s “going to have much higher poll numbers when he comes.” So if a candidate won with, say, 12,666,000 votes, would that be “the sign?” Why doesn’t anyone (really) use 666 anymore?
Interesting photo. He and his whole street leans right.
Wow. I guess it’s better to have a greedy “cult” leader as president than someone who believes in equality & free will. How this puts President Obama in the position of bringing on the Antichrist, I don’t know. Christians should act more like, er, Christ for once.
Theist and Atheist alike can be both rational and wrong. Human being are often duplicitous and not only can say crazy things but can actually hold in our minds mutually exclusive and contradictory ideas. I don’t think this proves why Evolution is true as much as it proves people can be ridiculous and say things that can make faith look ridiculous.
If “the antichrist” is someone who will finally rid the world of bigoted, misogynistic, moralistic-yet-immoral, controlling, irrational myth-belief… then bring him(her) on!!! Hopefully he/she will double as the “antiMohammed” at the same time.
Tax this ash-hole’s fake church.
Typical right wing Dallas douchenozzle. If God is in charge, why would God let Obama win? This makes Fox News look less stupid, even. Keep it coming, churches. There is a rising sentiment that you need your tax breaks removed, especially if you are going to politic from the pulpit.