New Ala. gov: Just Christians are his family

[Ahlevah]

New Alabama Governor: Only Christians Are My Brothers And Sisters

I almost choked on my glazed peanuts when I read this:

Speaking on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the very church where Dr. King once pastored, new Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley gave a speech in which he said that those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior are not his "brothers."

Bentley spoke at the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in Montgomery just minutes after taking the oath of office on Monday. The new governor, who has been a deacon at First Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, first said that though he ran as a Republican, once he took office he "became the governor of all the people."

"I am color blind," Bentley said, according to The Birmingham News.

But Bentley then said that only those who are Christians and "saved" like he is are his brothers and sisters.

"There may be some people here today who do not have living within them the Holy Spirit," Bentley said. ''But if you have been adopted in God's family like I have, and like you have if you're a Christian and if you're saved, and the Holy Spirit lives within you just like the Holy Spirit lives within me, then you know what that makes? It makes you and me brothers. And it makes you and me brother and sister."

New Alabama Governor: Only Christians Are My Brothers And Sisters | TPMMuckraker

 

[roguenuke]

Re: New Alabama Governor: Only Christians Are My Brothers And Sisters

This is just "ugh".

How very un-Christian of him to judge those others who live in Alabama who don't practice his religion.

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

Re: New Alabama Governor: Only Christians Are My Brothers And Sisters

He's since apologized for those comments and promised to act as governor for people of all faiths. In the context of where he was speaking and whom he was speaking to, I wouldn't say his comments were that unreasonable.

 

[digsbe]

Re: New Alabama Governor: Only Christians Are My Brothers And Sisters

There is already a thread about this, but I'll respond here. People are spinning this to mean something it's not. In Christianity, those who are not Christians are not adopted into the family of God. They are not our brothers and sisters, but we are to still love them. Biblically, only Christians are saved. All he is is sharing his religious beliefs which I agree with. I can't believe people are spinning this...

 

[disneydude]

Re: New Alabama Governor: Only Christians Are My Brothers And Sisters

What an idiot. Everytime the South tries to convince us that they are no longer the bigoted region that their history reflects....along comes another idiot like this guy

 

[Dr_Patrick]

Re: New Alabama Governor: Only Christians Are My Brothers And Sisters

He's since apologized for those comments and promised to act as governor for people of all faiths. In the context of where he was speaking and whom he was speaking to, I wouldn't say his comments were that unreasonable.

He apologized for the comments because he got criticized for them, just as anyone in the public eye would. I fail to see what his personal religious beliefs have to do with his politics or how he governs. In fact, in his apology, as you noted, he said he would act as a governor for people of all faiths. Why even make these comments to begin with if that is his plan? The comments just seemed completely unnecessary.

 

[rathi]

Re: New Alabama Governor: Only Christians Are My Brothers And Sisters

This is unacceptable. He can believe what he wants in private, but those kind of statements are unacceptable in public. State office is not a platform used for converting others, nor it is okay to marginalize citizens on religious grounds. If he can't put the requirements of public service above his religious convictions, he should find a different job.

 

[Ikari]

Re: New Alabama Governor: Only Christians Are My Brothers And Sisters

That's fine. Only non-crazy people are my family.

 

[winston53660]

Re: New Alabama Governor: Only Christians Are My Brothers And Sisters

That's fine. Only non-crazy people are my family.

Yeah I bet there is a skeleton or two in that closet, Mr Bates.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Re: New Alabama Governor: Only Christians Are My Brothers And Sisters

That's fine. Only non-crazy people are my family.

I thought everyone had at least one crazy uncle or aunt.

 

[Ikari]

Re: New Alabama Governor: Only Christians Are My Brothers And Sisters

I thought everyone had at least one crazy uncle or aunt.

They were excommunicated for being crazy.

 

[liblady]

Re: New Alabama Governor: Only Christians Are My Brothers And Sisters

He's since apologized for those comments and promised to act as governor for people of all faiths. In the context of where he was speaking and whom he was speaking to, I wouldn't say his comments were that unreasonable.

i would say his comments were unreasonable and hateful. he spoke his mind, and i hope people remember that.

 

[liblady]

Re: New Alabama Governor: Only Christians Are My Brothers And Sisters

There is already a thread about this, but I'll respond here. People are spinning this to mean something it's not. In Christianity, those who are not Christians are not adopted into the family of God. They are not our brothers and sisters, but we are to still love them. Biblically, only Christians are saved. All he is is sharing his religious beliefs which I agree with. I can't believe people are spinning this...

no spin here...he said it, he lives with it.

 

[digsbe]

Re: New Alabama Governor: Only Christians Are My Brothers And Sisters

no spin here...he said it, he lives with it.

He said it, but it isn't hateful. It's just Christian theology. The truth of Christianity is that those who are not Christians are not saved and are not part of the family of God. That doesn't mean he hated non-Christians.

 

[liblady]

Re: New Alabama Governor: Only Christians Are My Brothers And Sisters

He said it, but it isn't hateful. It's just Christian theology. The truth of Christianity is that those who are not Christians are not saved and are not part of the family of God. That doesn't mean he hated non-Christians.

it's hateful to me, dig. and no legislator should separate his constituents in that manner. YOUR truth is but one idea among many, and has no place in governing.