by James Muñoz / KENS 5
VICTORIA, Tx. -- The Secret Service is looking into a sign posted in Victoria, Texas.
The sign says "Pray for Obama", but it's the scripture quoted below those words that is raising eyebrows: Psalms 109:8.
Milton Neitsch Jr., who has lived in Victoria since 1961, says he didn't intend for people to pick up on the hateful wishes of death and pain surrounding the tiny verse.But some people say it is hateful and inappropriate. They say it misuses the holy scripture and it must come down.
Neitsch recently received an email from a friend and decided to post it on his advertising billboard along North Navarro Street. He had no idea the firestorm of controversy it would create.
When asked what the sign means, Neitsch responded, "Exactly what it says. Hope he's gone soon and somebody different takes his place."
Reverend Amy Danchik started a petition demanding Neitsch take down the sign. They've since met and Neitsch and agreed to replace the billboard.
"He shared with me a little about some of the threats that have come at his family, which is incredibly inappropriate, and in no way helpful and in no way how we're called to react when we disagree with somebody," said Danchik. "So I hope that those stop. I hope that people will react with the graciousness that he has reacted with and leave his family alone."
Neitsch says he is also getting plenty of support. He said he might replace the sign with something like, "Vote for the American", a sign that would no doubt stir emotion, while leaving the word of God to the experts.
Code enforcement in the City of Victoria says they don't review the content of signs. They said they would only get involved if the sign affected traffic.
STORY: http://www.kens5.com/news/Secret-Service-looks-into-So-Texas-Pray-for-Obama-sign--168045356.html
Number 1: This is a 1st Amendment issue.
ReplyDeleteNumber 2: In context this verse is does not call for violence, per se, but does call for intense justice of the "wicked". Let's look at the context:
1 My God, whom I praise, do not remain silent,
2 for people who are wicked and deceitful have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues.
3 With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause.
(sounds accurate so far)
4 In return for my friendship they accuse me,
but I am a man of prayer.
5 They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship.
(This is King David's narrative)
6 Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy; let an accuser stand at his right hand.
7 When he is tried, let him be found guilty,
and may his prayers condemn him.
(Amen and Amen!)
8 May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership.
(Yep, that's the verse, now here is where it gets "hateful")
9 May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.
10 May his children be wandering beggars; may they be driven from their ruined homes.
11 May a creditor seize all he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.
12 May no one extend kindness to him or take pity on his fatherless children.
13 May his descendants be cut off, their names blotted out from the next generation.
14 May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord; may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.
15 May their sins always remain before the Lord,
that he may blot out their name from the earth. (NIV)
So, if the billboard included versus 9 through 15, I could see how some might think that the reference goes beyond what is "appropriate".
Remember; this is the Word of God. It is sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12), and always produces fruit (Isaiah 55:11).
In the end, we as Christians are called to pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2) and those who persecute us(Matthew 5:44), even if they are one in the same.