On Facebook, I had never even heard of this Dr. Adrian Rogers, the guy sounds like a complete asshole. So a Facebook friend, one of those old high school chums who seemed pretty cool back then but unbeknown to you, has become a complete asshole later in life, throws out these quotes from this Dr Adrian Rogers, who I had never heard of, which is surprising because I thought I had heard of all the Christian right political tools. Here are the quotes:
"... When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it." Dr. Adrian Rodgers
"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else...." DR. Adrian Rodgers
So, here is this Adrian Rogers character, like I've said, I've never heard of him and surprisingly, I've never heard of him mentioned on DU. This "pastor" gives insight into the Rights sick, selfish, warped minds though. His quotes seem to be making the rounds on the internet. Have you heard of him?
On politics and social issues
Like many influential conservative pastors, Rogers participated in the advancement of a conservative political agenda in the United States. He stated that Christians have a duty to be involved in government, and that it is a sin for a Christian to abstain from voting in an election. He often spoke in opposition to the legality of abortion.
Familial dynamics was a recurrent issue for Rogers. He focused most closely on fathers that he labeled "drop-out dads." According to Rogers, since the Bible emphasizes the paternal role in a family, the father should be the primary source of teaching in the home. He was critical of fathers who do not fulfill this role: "We have dads today that are interested in sports, business, and sex. They've forgotten their God-given assignments to teach the Ten Commandments <2>." He went on to say that social problems, such as gun violence, are the consequences of fathers avoiding this responsibility.
On the topic of pastoral endorsement of political candidates, he wrote that it is a pastor's duty to influence the political decisions of the members of the pastor's congregation. A pastor need not, however, endorse a specific candidate (and, under Internal Revenue Service regulations, a church cannot do so without losing its tax-exempt status). He wrote that "f has done his job his members will prayerfully and correctly use the standard of God's Word to select the right candidate."<3>
In May 2003, Rogers, along with twenty-four other religious leaders and persons of influence, signed a letter sent from Gary Bauer's conservative organization American Values to President George W. Bush. The letter criticizes President Bush's proposed Road Map for Peace initiative as being too lax toward the Palestinians. The letter states in part, "Mr. President, it would be morally reprehensible for the United States to be 'evenhanded' between democratic Israel . . . and the terrorist infested Palestinian infrastructure." <4>
Rogers was an adamant supporter of the pro-life movement, had stated that the institution of capital punishment is spiritually ordained, and (along with other Southern Baptists) supported a boycott of Disney because of the company's alleged promotion of homosexuality.<5>.
As a traditional Baptist, he opposed the use of alcohol and tobacco, frequently telling stories to warn of their dangers. One particular story tells of a father who learned that his daughter had died while driving drunk, vowed revenge toward whoever had sold her the alcohol, only to discover that she had taken the bottle from his own liquor cabinet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Rogers
Seriously, why do churches receive tax exempt status in this country when they are clearly political vehicles?
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