Thursday, March 24, 2005

Courage in Clearwater

The St. Petersburg Times is reporting that Judge George Greer's pastor, William Rice, has asked Greer to leave his church. In a letter, Rice tells Greer, "it might be easier for all of us" if he were to leave the Calvalry Baptist Church in Clearwater.

It's a good start.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ah, here come the blog commenters with their facile understanding of Christian precepts to lecture the faithful on their failure to adhere to the caricatures they've created in their heads about what it means to belong to a community of believers. Where would we be without these latter-day Martin Luthers?

Judge Greer is no more a sinner than the rest of us, but he can hardly expect to enjoy the fellowship of a community whose basic precepts he continues to deny.

Besides, anyone adventurous to actually follow the link might have learned that the schism between Judge Greer and his (former) church appears to extend well beyond his latest set of judicial blunders.

Anonymous said...

It is very Christian of the pastor. Christ recommends this practice in Matthew 18:15-17.

Duane said...

Yes, yes, the bible can be used to rationalize many things. Of course if you read just one sentence down in Matthew 18-20-22 you see:

21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventyseven times."

I don't see any "Courage in Clearwater" here. I see a Baptist minister kicking out an "undesireable" member of the church. Sadly many see belonging to the "right" church as akin to getting in to the right country club.

This pastor is simply trying to keep up appearances for the other members of the congregation.

Anonymous said...

Sinners can only be forgiven when they are sorrowful for their sins. Judge Greer is not. I am sure if he truely believes he based his decision on the law of man and not the law of god, and therefore he was in error, that his church will invite him back.

Anonymous said...

Speak for yourself, Sean. Yes, we are all sinners but the very great majority of us would never commit murder. Do you equate your short-comings with killers?

Though we all sin, Bizirro Jack, we have the obligation to overcome, rid ourselves of sin. We have to work on it.

Judge George Greer has refused to see beyond the very suspicious testimony of an adulterous husband.
No alternative evidence has been any credence by him. For years!

Terri must die. Don't give that woman any food or water by mouth.
(Those are just a drop in the bucket of everything he has chosen to discard as evidence that Michael Schiavo is not a fit guardian for Terri. Nor should Greer insist on being her guardian ad litem, while ruling consistently in favor of a husband who has lied.)

Find his statement on video that Terri made CASUAL comment(s). Then see a video of his brother Scott, telling us Terri and Michael PROMISED EACH OTHER they wouldn't want to live "that way".

Catholics can be excommunicated from their Church under some circumstances. Why not? If one insists upon choosing to go against the teachings of their Church, THEY have made the decision!

So also, Judge Greer.

As for Greer's pastor "keeping up appearances", anonymous must be a mind-reader. This opinion has no more validity that those who believe that Pastor William Rice is an honorable man who believes in the right to life.