Sheriff Rebuffs Atheists, Won't Remove Bible Verse from Office: 'We Need More Jesus,' He Says
By: Michael Foust
The secular progressives war on the expression of theistic belief and hope drags on. Their demand is unreasonable. It’s good that the sheriff has a backbone and is resisting the vile evil that is FFRF.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Sheriff Rebuffs Atheists, Won't Remove Bible Verse from Office: 'We Need More Jesus,' He Says
A North Carolina sheriff is rejecting calls from an atheist organization to remove a Bible verse from a sheriff's office wall, saying in a new social media post, "We need more Jesus."
At issue is a Bible verse featured prominently on an office wall of the Columbus County (N.C.) Sheriff's office. The verse Philippians 4:13, which says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me," is displayed on the wall in black letters. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, in a December 6 letter to Sheriff Jody Greene, asked him to remove the verse, arguing that it violates the U.S. Constitution.
"The Establishment Clause prohibits government sponsorship of religious messages," the letter said. "The Supreme Court has said time and again that the 'First Amendment mandates government neutrality between religion and religion, and between religion and nonreligion.'"
The Bible verse, the group asserted, "alienates" the citizens in the country who are not religious. The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) calls itself an organization of "atheists, agnostics and skeptics of any pedigree."
In a December 21 Facebook post, Greene said he will not remove the verse, which he said has helped encourage and inspire members of law enforcement.
"The verse is one of my favorite Bible verses, and it seemed fitting for all the adversity I have had to endure," Greene wrote. "It is very motivational to me and my staff. Here at the Sheriff's Office, we work hard in everything that we do. Before we execute a search warrant, or any service that puts our people in immediate harm's way, we ALWAYS go to the Lord with a group prayer. ALWAYS!"
Referencing overdoses, drugs and violence within the country, Greene added, "We need more Jesus and less politics."
"I would like to thank the folks for all the phone calls and messages of support," Greene wrote. "Five of our County Commissioners and our House of Representative Brendon Jones have also called with their support. … I will not waiver on my stance and Christian beliefs."
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Atheists .... a more angry group is tough to find.
Yes, because they so often post anti-Christian seeds and make unprovoked comments like "Christians... a more angry group is tough to find." /s
Nope, not even close but if thinking that helps you sleep at night, by all means, keep thinking it. Sleep is important
Well thanks for confirming that it's not atheists constantly posting the hateful seeds.
Indeed, and if you think I ever lose sleep over what you or any other Christian thinks then perhaps you should speak to a professional about that and other acute delusions.
Oh please, one seed about the truth behind the holiday's origins isn't an anti-Christian or anti-Christmas seed. In fact the vast majority of the posts I saw on those seeds from atheists or those on the left were admissions they celebrate the holiday in their own way and don't really care about the origins because it comes down to being whatever you make of it. And the other seed was a believer accusing non-believers of attacks on their faith they failed to be able to prove.
Pointing out where a holiday tradition started is not an attack on faith, it's simply a discussion of religious history.
Only in the minds of those desperate to be victims so they can claim they are being persecuted for their faith when in reality nothing could be further from the truth. When I was growing up Christmas held a monopoly on American society and the public squares during November and December. Now it has to share like 2% to maybe 5% of the attention with other faiths. Now in between Christmas songs at the mall you might hear a Hanukah song, oh no!
lol ..... the denial is strong in this one.
so angry, thanks for showing us more empirical evidence of the premise I was making
Not my comment, try again
see above
see above
My stance on that here has been crystal clear. I could care less what anyone else believes or doesn’t believe. Show me articles I’ve started on NT intended to bag on Atheists and I’ll be happy to apologize for them. But you won’t find Atheists making that offer because they tend to be the kings and queens judging others. Not the other way around.
The articles started by haters of faith here on NT are plentiful. Which simply reinforces the point I was making. Atheists tend to be a very angry group and I’m simply never afraid to point that out. Not ever and atheists typically don’t like that. Which is understandable considering how angry many of them are.
That is proven here on NT again and again and again and again ....... look no further than this seed for proof of that.
Depends upon the type of crowd you're hangin' with bro!
True, I don’t hang with either side of that crackpottery so I wouldn’t know mon.
You have to respect the rules a little, especially as a cop. If this sign is in his personal office, or even the station’s break room, I don’t think we even have a conversation. But if it’s in a place the public accesses a lot, then yeah, I can see where there might be a problem, legally.
I think it’s actually tough call, though, because even though Jesus is explicitly in the quote, the sheriff has also stated that proselytizing is not the point of the passage.
The point is to encourage and inspire the officers, and not to push Christianity at the public. I think there’s a real argument to be made that that doesn’t violate the Establishment Clause.
Say what now? Always? I guess I know who not to rely on in an emergency.
Dispatch: 9-1-1, what’s your emergency?
Helpless Victim: Hey I got some crazy guy trying to break into my house. Send the cops right away.
Dispatch: OK, we’ll be right there. We just need to get everyone together for group prayer, first. But when that’s done, we’ll take care of you. Good luck!
His statements are missing the nuance I believe to be there. For example, 'I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.' Paraphrased. Is a statement about fortification (of personal will) in a time of stress, strain, and upheaval. It is internal to a believer's need. Group prayer is situational in nature. That is, factors like time. . .and place are taken into account. I trust. (Anything else would be indulgent, superfluous, and as Jesus might put it: 'No time for being on your knees: Get up and go handle your 'business'!)