TEXAS: Megachurch Pastor Screams Oppression Over Removal Of His “America Is A Christian Nation” Billboard

June 19, 2018 Christianists, Crackpots

Todd Starnes wails in standard fashion:

Billboards promoting a celebration of faith and freedom at the First Baptist Church in Dallas were removed after complaints from Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and the Dallas Morning News. The patriotic billboard campaign included the title of the sermon Dr. Robert Jeffress planned to deliver on June 24 – “America is a Christian Nation.”

“We were told by the billboard company that the message was divisive,” Jeffress told the Todd Starnes Radio Show. The church offered to revise the sermon title, “Is America a Christian Nation?” but that, too, was rejected by the billboard company.

Columnist Robert Wilonsky started the controversy with a scathing column on June 7 titled, “First Baptist pastor Robert Jeffress’ gospel of division does not represent my Dallas.” Wilonsky was apparently triggered by the patriotic billboard while stuck in traffic and suffered a massive microaggression.

From Wilonsky’s column:

Consider this your semi-regular reminder that Jeffress, Fox News’ go-to religious authority, is among this city’s most divisive voices. Nothing he says shocks me anymore. I mean, this is a preacher — a follower of Christ — who actually said, “America is not a church where everyone should be welcomed regardless of race and background.” Which is the opposite of Hebrews 13:1. And, I think, the rest of the Bible.

Still, the billboard caught me off-guard. I took a picture while in standstill traffic, then tweeted it when I got home. Sent to a friend who used to attend First Baptist — used to. Even dispatched to some city leaders, among them Mayor Mike Rawlings, whose grandfathers were Nazarene ministers, and who speaks often of being a follower of Christ.

“I don’t mind someone being proud of the Christian tradition in America — it’s obviously there,” said Rawlings. “But one of the strengths of Dallas is our faith-based community [and] it’s the strength that makes us a city of love versus a city of hate.”

Jeffress has been outrage-touring right wing outlets ever since the billboard came down. A second billboard company has reportedly offered to post his message in 20 locations versus the original two purchased by Jeffress.




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