Comments on: Resign this Sunday or else – First Baptist Church Deland

By: Clyde Fant

Clyde Fant — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:33:06 +0000

“Their aim was to change the church into some type of new age church where they could worship the trees, clouds, and mother nature in general. The flag removers knew they were doing wrong because the deed was done in the dead of night…they thought that nobody would notice. Also, the minister said that he would not recognize veterans on veterans day and if they wanted any recognition then they could go to some patriotic ceremony in the community. ”

That is 100% false. I also attended all those meetings. The sole purpose of the removal was as stated, solely theological. That “Bob” sees it as political betrays the real objection: suspicion of a Obama-type pastor. Sean was accused of visiting and colluding with Rev. Wright, etc.
NOBODY ever had any ideas as nonsensical as to “worship trees” or ‘mother nature”! In this town? You couldn’t fill a phone booth with such people. The truth is, those who were in such an uproar, making the most vicious verbal attacks and personal insults; i.e., “Does he have any Muslim blood in him?” were and are nationalistic sorts who don’t know the difference between the flag and the cross as appropriate symbols or the U.S. constitution and the Bible.
Anyone who doesn’t think a 30% minority can make life so miserable as to cause anyone to leave as a pastor is blind. I spent 16 years as a pastor, and one person who daily harasses is painful, much less 30%.

And those threats were terrorist. (Also, putting those things into a mailbox is cowardly–and a federal offense.) I challenge anyone whose wife is at home with a four year old and a few months old baby when such threats are being put in their mailbox to not feel assaulted and endangered.

This was the worse outrage I ever heard of, and I have been an ordained Southern Baptist minister since 1957.

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:07:00 +0000

Glad to report that the flags have been voted back into the church. The group that removed the flags were making a political statement that had nothing to do with advancing Christ in the community. Their aim was to change the church into some type of new age church where they could worship the trees, clouds, and mother nature in general. The flag removers knew they were doing wrong because the deed was done in the dead of night…they thought that nobody would notice. Also, the minister said that he would not recognize veterans on veterans day and if they wanted any recognition then they could go to some patriotic ceremony in the community. Glad to say this “minister” decided to leave.

By: Bene D

Bene D — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 05:56:15 +0000

Denise I honestly don’t know. There are a couple of Baptist Churches in the area, only one First Baptist I found.

I’m not familiar with the sign.
Got any more details?

I looked up FBC DeLand Florida in images, if you saw the church you might recognize it.

By: Denise

Denise — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:51:48 +0000

Is this the same First Baptist Church that has the sign about necromancers in front of it? I was not sure if there was more than one First Baptist Church in DeLand.

By: Bene Diction

Bene Diction — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 22:47:33 +0000

Stushie:

I only have what has been made public and what is written here.

Fox reported the decision as singular – ‘he’ -and nativists came out of the woodwork at a Fox blog.
http://community.myfoxorlando.com/blogs/Patrick_Pegues/2008/05/15/Pastor_Threatened

Fox News reported Long as using singular:

“Long says some members of the congregation became upset when Allen decided in October to remove the U.S. flag and the church’s Christian flag.”

AP(Daytona Beach News-Journal) quotes Long using singular:

“Sean was of the belief that because we are a church, we are a people of Christ, we should be focusing on the cross of Christ,” Long said. “So he removed the flags from the sanctuary.”

The question I have is – are the flags back now that Rev. Allen is gone?
Your question and mine can only be answered by people who go to this church.

Delores appears to indicate in her comments the October decision wasn’t unilateral.

By: Stushie

Stushie — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 03:09:14 +0000

Did he have a meeting beforehand with the congregation before taking the flag out? Was it a unilateral act? If so, it sounds like he was being pastoral to his own theology and not the congregation.

By: Jackie

Jackie — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:41:37 +0000

I am so disgusted when I read stories like this one -even after hurting the pastor so terribly and pushing him out, the church response is that it’s not their fault. They respond selfishly instead of realizing their sin. Meanwhile this pastor and his family are damaged forever. I speak from experience

Too bad churches don’t act Christian!

By: Bene Diction

Bene Diction — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:54:33 +0000

Dolores:

“but I say to you…have you prayed about this? I repeat…stop throwing stones. I am praying for everyone concerned, how about you?”

You chose to come here, you are my guest, and I’m not blind to the pain of the facts. It is your church, your anguish. Yes, this medium offers the opportunity to pray, a priviledge I could never have imagined.

You remain in my prayers.

I don’t expect any body of believers to be perfect, that is an unbiblical flawed way of thinking.

What stones are being thrown?

By: Dolores

Dolores — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:08:08 +0000

To Bene D
People ultimately believe what they choose to believe, as you are doing. As I stated, this church is not perfect, no church is because churches are only filled with imperfect people. This media exploited sad event only injurs the cause of Christ. You ask me questions, but I say to you…have you prayed about this? I repeat…stop throwing stones. I am praying for everyone concerned, how about you?

By: sesan

sesan — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:23:27 +0000

I believe the threat is not coming from the members of the church but it is likely it may be coming from there. I only hope he is safe and also members of his family. How i wish religion and christianity can be separated by people who participate in it.

I was online and i visited your blog. you are doing a good job