Saturday, February 25, 2012

Here's "What Jesus Would Do", Ms. Irene...


Editor's note: In a recent letter to the editor, Ms. Irene Smith tries to make the case that Jesus would object to the "withholding of contraceptives, etc" by our Christian organizations. 

Part of her letter is below (Read more: Sanford Herald - LETTER What would Jesus do  - must register):

".....Our Constitution gives us the right to freely practice what we believe. It does not give us the right to force others to share those beliefs. Christian institutions and congregations are obliged to follow the example and the words of Jesus Christ to minister to the sick and the needy. They do an extraordinary job of it, as Mr. Gerson has been careful to point out. Withholding reproductive care and information from women who want and/or need it crosses over the line into coercion.

Are the institutions who are balking at the requirement to cover the costs of such things as contraception and sterilization respecting the rights and the views of their employees who may disagree? Are they justified in threatening to cease their ministry to the poor over this issue? What would Jesus do?..."


Editor: The Herald does not allow candidates to send in letters to the editor.  But we allow them here.  Our very own Kirk Smith who has filed for a Board of Commissioner's seat wrote this as a response:


Thank you Irene Smith for the thought provoking question, what would Jesus Do?
Today we live in a human secularist society that condones sexual promiscuity that unfortunately leads to the debasement of our youth, teenage pregnancies, unwed mothers, venereal diseases, all of which attribute to the so called “reproductive rights” debate.   To demand an institution of faith, violate their teachings and tenets so to accommodate immoral behavior, clearly violates First Amendment right to religious freedom!  We of faith can conscientiously object to the dictates of a federal government that is definitely out of control!
Where in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights is it written that we should subsidize sinful behavior?  Where in the Constitution can anyone violate one’s personal right to conscientiously object?  Please enlighten us!  Let me be the first to suggest to Ms. Irene that we promote abstinence in order to save us from the financial risk of those who embrace a licentious, demeaning, and unhealthy lifestyle.
As for what would Jesus do?  Read the Gospel of John 8:3-11:
“The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.  Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such.  What do you say about her?  . . . And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” . . .  But when they heard it, they went away, one by one . . . and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.  Jesus looked up and said to her, “Woman, where are they?  Has no one condemned you?”  She said, “No one Lord.”  And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again.” 
There you have, Jesus would tell us to “go and do not sin again!”
As always, I shall remain . . . In Search of Our GOD Given Liberties!
Kirk Smith

11 comments:

Nancy Gale said...

Excellent, Kirk!

James Madison said...

But Kirk, you've missed Miss Irene's central point-- it's a sin to deny or even complicate a woman's right to choose free contraception (or abortion). Government-funded contraceptives are essential in the Irene Smith and Barack Obama progressive society that has fashioned new definitions of sin from their more worldly frame of reference. Those of us who cling to our guns and the Holy Bible are dated and no longer relevant. From the Irene Smith world view, even Jesus would have adapted his consel to be more hip and relevant in today's world. Instead of scribbling in the sand, Irene's Jesus would doodle on an Ipad and send the woman to the local pharmacy for free condoms.

Randall Lee Yow said...

"How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman. Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies."

That is clearly the type of super sexually filth that we need to ban isn't it Kirk and Jim, but wait? That comes from the Bible! Oh no! I would like to apologize for just blowing your minds.

I do have a question though, is the banning of contraception in the Catholic Church religiously based or is it something made up by the church? You know like the difference between "Thou shall not kill" or we are doing all are preaching in Latin?

I know from my historically studies that Pope Innocent II once found scripture to justify the banning of the Crossbow and of course Pope Clement VIII almost banned coffee as being Satanic. It seems like the Catholic Church has a long history of banning things and then finally coming around to modern thinking.

-Randall Lee Yow
(Birth Control and Condoms are not the same thing as abortion by the way.)

Anonymous said...

Randal, as usual you muddle the waters. What is in question is does the government have the ability to force someone to act against its conscience.

You know kinda like you liberals ,saying that the government doesnt have a right to tell a woman what to do with her body.

You know full well a woman can go anywhere in this country,free clinics included and get contraceptives. You liberals just want to force others to participate in your behaviors. For people that put themselves forth as so intelligent, and tolerant You guys sure are a walking contradiction, when it comes to others views.

Are you so unsure of your beliefs, and positions that you need others to approve of them to give you validation??
Remember those words you mocked. I am certain you will hear them again someday. And I dont need your confirmation, to know that. Dale Marks

Randall Lee Yow said...

Mr Marks,

I am not sure how I muddled the waters by asking questions. I normally find that the people who are afraid of questions are the people who are the weakest in their beliefs. As to the matter of me being so unsure of my beliefs that I need validation, what blog have you been reading? I am commenting on my own on Mrs Barber's blog. The echo chamber effect belongs to the conservative right wingers.

I also do not know what "words" you think I mocked. If you think I am mocking the Song of Solomon you are very much mistaken. The Song Of Solomon regardless of the risque language, and it was risque when translated, is one of the most beautiful and poetic things in the Bible. I hope you do not think that anyone who quotes something from the Bible that you do not understand is mocking it? I was trying to make the point that the Bible contains everything in the human condition and nature including violence, anger, love, joy, hope, life, death, and even sexuality. I did not make it up nor did I place it in the Bible.

As to the matter of forcing someone's conscience. We already have laws on the books that limited religious freedom. For example many Southern States have laws on the books prohibiting using poisonous snakes in worship services. These were passed after many snake handling Christian Churches had members (including children) die of snake bite. Many States have also passed laws trying to limit the Westboro Baptist Church from picketing soldiers funerals. They claim that their devotion to Christianity causes them to protest funerals to spread the word of God. Most people would not agree with their doctrine.

The thing I find most ludicrous about what you wrote though is the concept that contraceptives somehow cause what you think of as amoral behavior. Beyond the fact that Married couples might use both birth control or condoms in a exclusive relationship, no one is making anyone use anything it is simple there if you want it. That and no Church is going to have to provide it. It will be provided by the insurance companies, if you want it. Reducing unwanted pregnancies also reduces the desire for women to have abortions, and surely you do not believe every time two people, married or not have sex, that they should get pregnant.

I am glad we could have this free exchange of ideas Mr Marks. I hope you have a blessed day.

-Randall Lee Yow
(My first name has two L's by the way. It is the proper English spelling. Just remember learned and lovable as a reminder. Also I am not a liberal, I am a moderate. I even have certain beliefs that some people would consider Conservative.)

Anonymous said...

To coin a phrase, for someone who labels himself a moderate, you sure wear a lot of lipstick! Dale Marks

Randall Lee Yow said...

Mr Marks I have no idea what that means, short of you trying to besmirch my manliness, so am going to just say:

ROMANS 12:14

-Randall Lee Yow

Anonymous said...

Na, thats not it. No personal attack intended. Lipstick as in you can put it on a.............,but its still a ..........!

Anonymous said...

As a woman and a mom who relies on birth control because while happily married and gainfully employed, I have no wish to increase my household. Nor do I wish to incur the medical risks that pregnancy would impose on my body - and they would be significant. I rely on affordable, appropriate, and accessible birth control.

I don't understand why the "pro-life" party insists on making it harder for women to get birth control. There's no logic in that. Birth control PREVENTS abortions.

Anonymous said...

So youre telling me that if the church doesnt give you contraceptives you cant get them???????? Who is stopping you from getting contraceptives?????? Why in heavens name do you have to force a religious institution to give them to you?????? I like watching college basketball.I think that my local church should set up a room for me to watch march madness. If not that at least buy me the march madness package. In fact I insist on it!

Anonymous said...

I dont see the logic in how a person cant see that a government that will force a nurse to hold an aborted fetus till it dies. Wont someday hold that persons life in so low esteem it may require its destruction also.

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