Comments on: Disciple leaders issue statement on Iran

By: Ben Moore

Ben Moore — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 20:31:08 +0000

Thank you for your perspective and clarity.
Looking at the Mainline Protestantism stats
reveal we are being transformed by the world
rather than vice versa.
General Social Survey chart shows those who profess “no religion” in 1970 was prox.5%.
Today the number is over 20%.
Mainline Protestantism was over 20% of population in 1970. Today it is 11%.
Very sad to see the current schism our Methodist
friends are enduring. Divisive issues break
hearts,families and congregations.
Karl Barth said the most profound truth known
to man is “Jesus Loves me this I know for the
Bible tells me so”. Let’s love one another despite
our various opinions.
Ben Moore

By: Debra Nugent

Debra Nugent — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 17:13:08 +0000

I think it is a bold idea to allow everyone the opportunity to state their own opinions. And this is what these Pastors have done. To limit them on what they can say is to limit everyone on what they can say. Thus there is no conversation and there can be no resolution. What I get from their communications is a concern for the world and all of us that live on it. What I am saying may sound stupid or uninformed to some of you but it is my opinion and you can have yours.

By: Guy Hulen

Guy Hulen — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 22:47:36 +0000

I have been a Disciple of Christ member for 50 plus years and I am extremely disturbed and frustrated that someone in Senior leadership thought posting this public announcement was needed / warranted. I have trusted and supported Disciples of Christ as I have moved around this great nation over five decades so this publicly posted blatant support certain politics does grab my attention but in a negative light . I don’t believe it’s in the churches best interest to get involved in areas like politics and alienate fifty percent or more of your congregation/church members. I think you should or would have taken the more middle of the ground prayer for peace verses getting political, thus alienating many by making a formal statement that was just not required or needed.
I like many other Disciples of Christ members suggest that we as Christians focus on the good news of Jesus Christ and avoid taking political stances that about half love and cheer and make the other half choose to distribute their resources to local charities without a political agenda.

Just my two cents

By: Nancy fasolino

Nancy fasolino — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 15:22:13 +0000

As also long time and generational disciple. I do appreciate our ability to dialogue and listen to one another. We can learn from one another’s experiences as searching Christians. May the love Christ taught us lead our searching. Realizing we have very complex situations.

By: Robert Lyons

Robert Lyons — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 20:29:34 +0000

The JPCOA was not an agreement. Treaties must be ratified by the Senate, not unilaterally imposed by a President who then sends $100M of currency on a secret flight to Iran. Instead, maybe we should travel to
Iran and speak “truth to power” about the persecution of Christians or women there. Or, maybe devote our efforts to our pending denominational demise.

By: Kenneth Kennon (ordained retired)

Kenneth Kennon (ordained retired) — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 19:21:29 +0000

Thank you for this discussion. It is essential to our discipleship that we talk to and listen to one another, especially on matters of life and death. Diversity of opinion is good. Consensus is good, but won’t come within talking and listening to one another. I try to understand any difference between my opinion, my way, my truth and the life of Jesus and make a serious attempt to follow Jesus. I’m sometimes fail. But I continue to question my opinion and hold it up to the higher standard. I encourage other Disciples to do the same. My sisters and brothers, let’s avoid war and pursue peace walking as close as we can with the Prince of Peace. Our children and grandchildren depend on our best decisions.

By: Steven A. Haage

Steven A. Haage — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 17:19:36 +0000

I’m in total agreement with Ben Moore. I’m a 73 year old lifelong Disciple, and my family goes back 5 generations.The statement had a number of errors in it first of all. It failed to recognize that Iran’s objective is the total elimination of Israel from the face of the earth and anyone that supports them. When the nuclear deal was made 7/14/2015 it was for a short period of time 15 years, and it was estimated that Iran was 5 years from having a Nuclear Weapon. They currently estimate that they are within 18 months from having one. How did they get there?

By: Bradley Burt

Bradley Burt — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 04:09:19 +0000

Your discussion is really more of a safe space for people who agree with you. More of an echo chamber than anything else, but nice try. Hope I didn’t hurt anyone’s feelings by pointing that out.

By: Gerald W Roberson

Gerald W Roberson — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 03:30:08 +0000

It seems to me that your comments are perpetuating a fragmented society. Your verbage is over the edge somewhere and I do not agree nor do I appreciate it. I’m more interested in a Church that follows “The Word”, than a Church leadership that presents words as representing our membership, but only represent a portion of the members. Are you helping our denomination unify and grow or are you helping to splinter and reduce it?

By: Sally Minter

Sally Minter — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 22:17:45 +0000

In reply to Ben Moore.

Thank you for your response to Rev Hord’s statement. I agree with you.

By: Cherilyn Williams

Cherilyn Williams — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 19:08:18 +0000

In reply to Dottie Bachtell.

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a congregationally-governed denonmination. Statements such as this speak for the undersigned only and are not binding on any other expression of the Church.

By: Dottie Bachtell

Dottie Bachtell — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 19:00:00 +0000

I disagree with the stand you are taking and signing it with all of our Disciples! I am a fairly new Disciple of Christ, being a Follower of Christ and born again Christian for over 50 years. In fact, my husband, both sons and their entire families are Disciples of Christ now. We cherish our home church, our church family, and our Pastor and Pastor’s wife! I disagree strongly with this very political statement here. I know our entire family disagrees as well. I won’t state my political leanings here, but I will say that during this very volatile time, we should bind together and pray for our President and other world leaders. As Followers of Jesus Christ and Disciples of Him, we must do what we do best…connect with our Father God Creator as we walk on this earth ie PRAY. As Christians, our statement should be Prayer, our Document should be the truth found in God’s Word (not selected verses to back up a specific political voice), and our motivation should be to Stand the ground on what’s right in God’s eyes (in this case united with our country and it’s leader). Jesus was bold about turning over the tables of the evil-minded money changers in the Temple. Likewise our church should stand strong with this country that provides freedom and liberty so we may be in our churches every Sunday. The countries we are up against at the moment do not enjoy that freedom. I pray for the people of Iran and Iraq that one day they too will know this freedom. One day maybe they will come to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Let’s stand together and profess unity with other Christians and stand for good over evil. Life over death. Blessing over cursing. Stand together and fight against the enemies of our liberties and the enemies of the liberties of their own people in Iran and Iraq! Like those who have gone before us and fought for our liberties.
Thank you for your time.

By: Rebecca Peterson

Rebecca Peterson — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 17:07:33 +0000

While I fully agree with the spirit of this statement and wish the Trump administration’s so-called Christian advisors would be led by such spirit, I have to question why the only two other leaders mentioned were Benjamin Netanyahu and Sadam Hussein. Having recently been in Israel and experiencing the regular rain of rockets from Gaza, I’d like to point out that Netanyahu’s relationship with Iran might be more complex than the slighted reference to the JCPOA. Bringing the Israeli leader into this statement felt a little like a gratuitous nod to the anti-Israel left.

By: Don Hammond

Don Hammond — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 14:16:31 +0000

Thank you for your statement. Pastors, though you may not preach it from the pulpit, it is important to let others know where your Christian life stands. Prayers are good, but what is needed beyond prayers are voices demanding peace, justice, accountability and responsibility by those in seats of power. Be bold with your following, this is the time for it. Do not be quiet about the destructive events unfolding in front of us. This is the time we have been called, and perhaps even born, to serve. Don’t miss it!

By: Pam Arnold

Pam Arnold — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 10:55:19 +0000

I’m sorry but I disagree. I don’t think criminals should go unpunished! I don’t believe Iran was true to the agreement.

By: DeAnne Wilmoth

DeAnne Wilmoth — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 01:09:41 +0000

I grew up Disciples of Christ and thank God I was able to understand the teachings of Jesus, “No creed but Christ”. I became a United Methodist when I moved to Atlanta and no Disciples church was near. I so appreciate these wise words because most churches in the South are silent. The rational analysis of this chaos we are in as a country is truly powerful and as followers of Christ we need our faith leaders to speak truth to power. The churches were silent during the Holocaust and history must not repeat. Thank you for your wise counsel. God bless Discipline of Christ…….

By: Ben Moore

Ben Moore — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 00:40:45 +0000

As a 60 year plus Disciple, I continue to be terribly
perturbed with strong statements like this which has
alienated most conservatives who are well read and
know the facts of issues such as the JCPOA which
assured the Iranians a nuclear device by running out the clock.
God gave the Israelis a homeland in 1948 and
and without the resolve you criticize would have been
exterminated long ago.
Suggest we focus on the Good News of Jesus Christ and avoid taking political stances that about half love and cheer and make the other half choose to distribute their resources to local charities without a political agenda.
Ben Moore

By: Max E Glenn (The Rev. Dr. retired)

Max E Glenn (The Rev. Dr. retired) — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 19:36:45 +0000

Thank you for this carefully researched and written statement. I am proud to be able to distribute such a statement from “My Church!”

By: Rev. Bruce Baker-Rooks

Rev. Bruce Baker-Rooks — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 19:22:57 +0000

Thank you President Hord Owens and Rev. Dr. Brown Karimu for these words of wisdom rooted scripture, common sense, and peace. May the peace of God prevail.