Posted by Hemant Mehta in Dr. Wiley S. Drake, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in California, did something wrong. He wrote on church letterhead that he was endorsing Republican Mike Huckabee for president. Then he said the same thing on a church-affiliated radio show.
That’s illegal. Churches cannot endorse political candidates. So Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) is asking the IRS to investigate (PDF).
“Although Drake may express his personal views on political candidates,” [AU's Executive Director Barry] Lynn wrote to the IRS, “federal tax law prohibits such endorsements by religious leaders acting in their capacities as officials of non-profit religious organizations. The IRS has repeatedly warned non-profits not to use organizational resources to intervene in elections.
Drake immediately put out a press release. He’s calling for Christians to use Imprecatory Prayer against AU… In other words, to literally curse them:
“In light of the recent attack from the ememies (sic) of God,” he wrote, “I ask the children of God to go into action with Imprecatory Prayer.” An imprecatory prayer is one that asks God to curse, injure or kill one’s adversaries.
AU explains a little more about their fate:
In a section of his press release called “How To Pray,” Drake includes a long list of biblical citations that call on God to smite enemies. For example, the alleged enemies of God “shall be judged,” “condemned,” and “his days be few….” Additionally, supporters should pray that the enemy’s “children be fatherless, and his wife a widow,” and “his children be continually vagabonds, and beg; let them seek bread also out of their desolate places.”
Lauren Smith, AU’s Communications Assistant, responded with this gem:
Drake singled out my boss, Joe Conn, and colleague Jeremy Leaming, for “they are those who lead the attack.” I had the misfortune of listening to “The Wiley Drake Show” all week, but was otherwise spared Drake’s vengeance.
Good thing, too, because losing my teeth, having my bones turn to oil, and seeing my “fatherless” children wander for eternity in “desolate places” sounds terribly unpleasant.
Crazy pastors always bring a smile to my face. Especially when they are going to get the smackdown from the IRS.
(via The Visitor’s Card)
[tags]atheist, atheism, Wiley S. Drake, First Southern Baptist Church, Mike Huckabee, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Barry Lynn, Imprecatory Prayer, Lauren Smith, Joe Conn, Jeremy Leaming[/tags]
That gives me chills in a bad way…bleeccchhh
It’s not that often that I get to think/say this: “GO FOR IT, IRS!!!”
A Baptist fatwa against the AU. The AU is in good company.
Reverend Drake orders a hit! “Sick ‘em, God.”
He puts the “God” in “Godfather.”
It gets even better:
Prayer Wars!!
A Baptist jihad. Maybe they can use the Unitarian Jihad Name Generator.
LOL! PrimateIR, You’re cracking me up on every thread! That link is hilarious. I get a better name each time.
That made me laugh
That dude is an asshole. I’m sorry, but I think it’s both stupid and sacreligious to pray to God to “smite your enemies.” And that prayer he offered is atrocious–why would you want to punish someone’s children for an act you blame upon that person?
That’s one of my longest-held quarrels with Christianity–the idea that one’s offspring, no matter how many steps removed or how far down the bloodline, are somehow responsible for the mistakes of their ancestors/elders.
By that logic, you’d think that Christians would support abortions that come about as a result of rape–because of the father’s horrible act of rape, the child would be condemned by abortion. But in this case, they defend the child as “innocent.” So which is it?
I hope Joe Conn and Jeremy Leaming aren’t bald. If so, I guess they can expect to get a visit from some angry bears pretty soon.
But will the IRS really lay the smack down? Or will they just get a slap on the wrist? I usually try not to be too pessimistic, but I suspect it will be the latter. Please keep us updated with how this turns out.
Also, I know prayer is useless, but something just feels wrong about a guy telling a bunch of people to, essentially, ‘wish’ for another man’s death:
What will it then take for someone to act on that in the name of “God”?
Pity poor God: he’s gonna have to field opposing prayers and decide whether or not to smite.
Also, I notice all those imprecations are from the O.T. Isn’t the pastor a Christian? I believe it is the teaching of Jesus that you are to bless those that curse you, and do good to those that spitefully use you, etc., etc. Ah, the pickers-and-choosers–that’s what I love most about my religious whackos–they’re the most patent liars and hypocrites. They can’t avoid it. The more zealous they are, the more violations they make. This is why they will continue to provide an inexhaustible supply of amusement for us. God, I wish I was as funny as Bill Maher, because with my knowledge of these yahoos I’d be rich!
I just realized this article is titled “Ememies of Christ.” Isn’t that “ememies” supposed to have an “n” in it somewhere?
Tim — The original press release had this and other misspellings all over the place. It looks like they’ve since been corrected.
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Imprecatory Prayer is also called Black Magic.
I always knew the Southern Baptists were closet devil worshippers, or is that Demiurge Worshippers.
I agree. I hope they get them good. This pastor is a moron. but look at this way-maybe they’ll waste all their time praying for their enemies to be “smited” and will forget to vote???
I agree. Some sects of Judiasm hold this belief as well. Everyone got it from the OT.
Guess what? Seperation of Church and State is to prevent the goverment from persecuting religion, not the other way around. Research and study your history!