Following the deadliest shooting in U.S. history, a Baptist preacher stood at his pulpit Sunday night in Northern California and delivered an impassioned sermon praising the brutal massacre at a gay nightclub in Florida.
Pastor Roger Jimenez from Verity Baptist Church in Sacramento told his congregation that Christians “shouldn’t be mourning the death of 50 sodomites.”
“People say, like: Well, aren’t you sad that 50 sodomites died?” Jimenez said, referencing the initial death toll in Orlando, which authorities later clarified included 49 victims plus the gunman. “Here’s the problem with that. It’s like the equivalent of asking me — what if you asked me: Hey, are you sad that 50 pedophiles were killed today?’
“Um, no, I think that’s great. I think that helps society. You know, I think Orlando, Fla., is a little safer tonight.”
He added: “The tragedy is that more of them didn’t die. The tragedy is — I’m kind of upset that he didn’t finish the job!”
These clowns obviously do not represent Christianity any more than the Orlando shooter represents Islam. Encouraging and supporting this heinous act is getting darn close to what I would call Christian terrorism.
Pat Robertson also got in the act according to Mediaite.com:
Televangelist Pat Robertson seem to say that gay people are getting what they deserved with the Orlando Shooting on Sunday, but he seemed delighted that it puts defenders of Islam and LGBT rights in a quagmire.
The 700 Club host used his show last night to blast President Obama and Hillary Clinton for their reluctance to say “radical Islamic terrorism” when “this is just what this great religion preaches.” Robertson continued to say that the horribleness in Florida is sure to fly in the face of the liberal “narrative” that both Muslims and the LGBT community must be respected.
What kind of Christianity is this? Certainly nothing I have ever been taught or practiced. Robertson also suggested that Christians should sit back and let the gays and the Muslims fight it out and kill each other. It is scary to think that Robertson also ran for president and was somewhat of a mentor to former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell.
It is a shame that a limiting viewpoint would get any traction. As much outpouring of support is currently happening, that should, and I believe is, overshadowing the ignorance that this religious “leader” has.
I am not sure if it has gotten traction or not but why would anyone say such a horrible thing?
There are small minorities of people claiming all religions that act in diametric opposition to the teachings of that main stream.
@MoonHowler
Like all religions, you have the mainstream and the extreme.
I see these pastors as representing the exception, not the norm, which is exactly why the press is covering them.
This is not at all like the message I heard at my church, this Sunday. The message we heard was evil visited Orlando, and we needed to pray for the victims and their families.
And that is how it should be, at least in my mind.
I see the preachers as exceptions also. I believe they get coverage mainly because they are saying such heinous things. Also, Pat Robertson is nationally know. I have never heard of the other two jokers.
I posted this story to remind us that every religion has its outliers. I think they should be shunned by Christians and non-Christians alike.
@MoonHowler
Yes, all religions have these “outliers”. Some religious outliers are actually killing people, including fellow adherents.
No doubt Mr. Trump, on the force of the clip you posted and several other incidents like this that I saw on the news, will promptly call for a ban on Christians entering the United States as well as routine police surveillance of churches. These Christians are obviously advocating murder, extreme violence against citizens of the United States.
We’ve got to be smart folks. We can’t be soft. These people will eat our country alive if we don’t take action.
Do you think Trump really believes the crap he spouts?
@MoonHowler
No. I think, however, that he senses, with an almost animal, predator sense, that there are elements in the electorate that are very vulnerable to and manipulable by fear. And to stir those elements worked well for him in the GOP primary contests when he had to pull away from a large pack of competitors.
My hope is that he has mined that vein as about as much as he can mine it. Now that he is in the general election context, I think perhaps it begins to fizzle a bit. He has the frightened vote, but it isn’t much larger that the GOP primary vote. That may be wishful thinking on my part, however.
I believe I would find a vote for Trump a vote for many things I simply deem immoral. It isn’t just about opposing policy, its core decency. I don’t think he has any. I could never vote for anyone who simply has bad manners.
I came along after WWII. I have always been curious how someone like Hitler got elected. What were the German people thinking? Perhaps I am watching it unfold as we speak.
@MoonHowler
The parallel (or non-parallels) between late 20s, early 30s Germany and our situation are interesting, but probably overblown. Germany in those days was in shambles, as a result of war, abdication of the Kaiser, global depression, and ridiculous reparations demands of France and England. The United States today, but any measurable data, is in pretty good shape, both in absolute terms based on data from the last 8 years, and relative to the rest of the world.
The fact that demagogues can get such traction even in relatively good times, however, says a lot about the human condition, and the absolute necessity of leaders who will teach, persuade and refrain from taking the easy route to power by playing on uninformed fear.
Isn’t that what President Obama said?
Sickening and disgusting.
What kind of sick, depraved person says stuff like that?
@MoonHowler
Someone who needs a deeper understanding of who Jesus is, and why he came to save us.
Look at Chick Fil-A. They believe in traditional marriage, but have a non-discrimination policy. They have a corporate policy of being closed on Sundays. Yet, they opened on Sunday to provide free food to the LEO’s working the crime scene, and to anyone who donated blood for the victims.
A Pastor who celebrates evil being visited upon those with a lifestyle he finds sinful, needs to get his face in a Bible. If he read it, he’d realize that Jesus didn’t come for the righteous. Jesus came for the sinners. He’d also learn that all sins are equal in the eyes of God, and ALL have sinned an fallen short of the glory of God…including this Pastor.
This evil man, who killed these people, could have just as easily chosen a Church full of spirit-filled Christians. He could have chosen a homeless shelter, or a kids little-league game…. This isn’t “God’s Wrath”. This was an evil man, engaging in evil acts. Thall Shalt Not Murder. Vengence is mine, so says the Lord.
My guess, if you looked into this “Pastor’s” background, you wouldn’t see any formal theology training or deep scriptural instruction.
Thanks for your insight, Steve.
Also thanks for sharing about Chick-fil-A. I have a lot of respect for that organization. I know many don’t but people can feel how they want. They just can’t discriminate. I am very impressed that they pitched in on Sunday! Hat’s off to them.
PS they also insist on having polite employees. I wish everyone did.
Some pastors I think confuse themselves with God.
@Steve Thomas
Lovely, thoughtful comment, Steve.
@Steve Thomas
Very well said. Thank you!
A question worth pondering: Is the popular anti-gay rhetoric that is deeply rooted in conservative religious circles and built upon theological pillars responsible for the radicalization of the Orlando terrorist? There seemed to be hints that he might have been struggling with his sexual identity amidst a family with strong opinions about the evil of homosexuality.