By Becky Gaylord
Religion News Service
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — Voters should oust congressional Republican leaders because U.S. foreign policy is delaying the second coming of Jesus Christ, according to a evangelical Houston-based preacher.
K.A. Paul railed against the war in Iraq on Sunday (Oct. 8) before a crowd of 1,000 at the New Spirit Revival Center here, his first stop on what he hopes is a 30-city campaign.
Paul said he believes the Bush administration has delayed the second coming because U.S. foreign policy has blocked Christian missionaries from working in Iraq, Iran and Syria.
"Somebody needs to say enough is enough," he said as worshippers stood, waved and called out in support.
Paul, who claimed to support conservative political leaders in the past, is launching "a crusade to save America from the wrath of God and Republicans abusing their power," according to his press materials.
His focus Sunday was on national races. "God is mad at this country," Paul told the congregation. He described the war in Iraq as "unnecessary genocide."
But his own tactics have also drawn criticism. Paul runs a group called Global Peace Initiative, based in Houston, and a ministry outgrowth called Gospel to the Unreached Millions.
Critics accuse the group of sinking cash into refurbishing and operating a Boeing 747 he calls Global Peace One.
"Paul flies around the globe using Jesus to pull in worldwide donations– unfortunately spending more money on jet fuel than orphans," according to a June article in the weekly Houston Press.
The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, which monitors charitable, religious and other nonprofit groups, severed its ties with Paul's group last year when Paul's office failed to provide information about its board of directors and the use of its resources.
It's also unclear how far this tour will go. Paul on Sunday didn't have a firm list of the cities he'll visit before Nov. 7.
More at www.theapostates.org
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Comments: 13
And this phony preacher has it all wrong. There are scores of other countries and places that have not heard about God or Jesus, not just the ones he is hollering about. Besides, Christianity has made it into those countries. It is dangerous for both the people there and the missionaries but they are continuing to spread God's Word. I agree that they are not allowed to practice their beliefs openly or to try to covert others, but the churches are there. ("Where two or three are gathered in My Name, there I will be, also"). The Christians may not have magnificent churches or temples, but any gathering place can be called a Church. It doesn't have to have a steeple.
Essentially, worthless words. While Congress doesn't neccesarily legislate against Christianity the Supreme Court certainly litigates against us. I am not free to so much as call myself a Christian in my workplace. I work for the Superior Court in Mohave County, Arizona, and am forbidden by church and state restriction from expressing my faith in any form. I am required to defend and protect the rights of Wiccan detainees to howl. I am required to defend and protect the rights of Satan worshippers to draw their symbols and perform their chants. I am required to defend and protect the rights of Muslim and Nation of Islam detainees to speak their blasphemy against God and their hatred toward my country. Yet I can neither express my faith or protect and defend the rights of Christian detainees to openly share their views. Christians are being harmed in this country by being deprived of very basic rights and the First Amendment does little, if anything, to even attempt to secure those lost rights because any effort Congress may dare to make to protect Christianity will be nullified in the presence of the judiciary which runs this country.
I am amazed by your post. You have the nerve to state that X-tianity is not "protected" by the first amaendment while putting other religions down. That is so typical of X-Tians. None of us are allowed to talk about our religious convictions at work. What are you crying for. It is fair.
Oh, that's right, your way is the only way. I almost forgot.
Let me remind you and everyone again that the United States of America was NOT founded by X-tians.
"Of all the systems of religion that ever were invented, there is no more derogatory to the Almighty, more unedifying to man, more repugnant to reason, and more contradictory to itself than this thing called Christianity" - Thomas Paine
"Is it not a species of blasphemy to call the New Testament revealed religion, when we see in it such contradictions and absurdities" - Thomas Paine
I had just taken a sip of coffee when I read your post. Thank GOD(s) I turned away from my computer screen when I spit it out! Too funny!