In Hood River, Oregon, the Belmont Drive Missionary Baptist Church has sent a message out to everybody about Islamic ideology.
Even though local officials are uncomfortable with the church’s message board, the church pastor remains unapologetic.
(Pastor Harrington photo below)
It took only a few days before word spread to Muslim groups and about a dozen protesters showed up at the church with signs saying “take down this sign.”
“There may be, on a good day, 30 cars go by and see our sign,” said Pastor Harrington. “My intent was anybody who agrees with that come on in, and anyone who disagrees with it, come in and we’ll talk about it.”
Freedom to express what you believe with reprisals isn't always so simple. (ask a Pagan)
The signs proved to be too “controversial” for some and the locals including the city paper, the Oregonian in Portland.
They published a report chastising the pastor on what is “appropriate Christian behavior.”
Even the mayor got involved making comments that made matters worse.
“I was really annoyed and sad. I am annoyed that in this political season there’s a solid case of ugly going on,” Mayor Paul Blackburn said, adding, “I think it norms up this kind of behavior like ‘oh, it’s okay to be a bigot now.'”
The pastor was forced to defend himself in the local and yes, the national media.
“I’m not politically correct. I’ve never been politically correct, but I think I’m biblically correct, and that’s what matters to me, it isn’t against any particular denomination. It’s just the fact that I have taught and will continue to teach that I have one God, one way of salvation and one Bible that’s holy.”
Freedom of religion and from religion isn't as free as we pretend it is.
