ISIS Threatens National Cathedral
BY Herschel Smith
6 years, 10 months ago
PJM:
Islamic State supporters issued a new Christmas-themed threat showing the National Cathedral in Washington in flames, with a camouflage-clad jihadist wielding a rifle standing in front of the Gothic structure.
The poster circulating among ISIS channels photoshops the photo of the church used on its Wikipedia page.
The text warning on the image is of a city just attacked this past week, though: “Wait for us: We meet at Christmas in New York… soon.”
The threat mirrors that on a poster of Santa with a case of dynamite overlooking Times Square, which was released just after Thanksgiving: “We meet at Christmas in New York… soon,” reads the text on that image.
Idiots. Santa Claus has nothing whatsoever to do with Christmas or Christianity. And the National Cathedral has nothing whatsoever to do with Christianity either. They no longer believe in anything at all, and ISIS is wasting their time assuming that an attack on the National Cathedral would deter believers in America from meeting and worshipping on the Lord’s Day Sabbath.
However, it does bring up an interesting little dilemma for the National Cathedral, yes? You see, they are leaders in the progressive community in gun control. This sermon (posted on their web site) tells us everything we need to know.
I, for one, have decided to join forces with Dean Hall at the National Cathedral and all people of faith and good will who are saying now, in response to Friday’s tragedy, that enough is enough. We have been fed enough the stale bread of violence. We have been complicit too long in a system that allows such crimes to continue. 119,079 children and teens have been killed by gun violence since 1979, according to Marian Wright Edelman of the Children’s Defense Fund, more than the number of Americans killed in any of the 20th century’s largest wars. More than 10,000 Americans were killed by gun violence last year alone.
Dean Hall and I have decided to dedicate ourselves to the work of passing national legislation to ban the sale of assault weapons and ammunition in this country and I invite you, as a congregation, to join us and others for whom something snapped inside on Friday, as if we collectively all awoke from a very bad dream. While there are legitimate reasons to own a gun for sport and self-defense, there is no reason for civilians to own weapons whose only purpose is to kill large numbers of people. And while there is far more to be done to reduce violence in our nation and to care for the mentally ill, if we don’t begin with the most obvious first steps, how will we ever progress to more difficult challenges?
So there you have it. The very people who have been threatened by ISIS believe they shouldn’t be allowed to defend themselves and should have to turn to the state for protection. The National Cathedral has never once averred that congregants should carry, any more than they believe that men walking the street should be allowed to carry weapons. Their tip of the hat to self defense is a lie.
If I was a congregant at the National Cathedral, I sure wouldn’t be attending there any more. But then again, why would anyone be a congregant at the National Cathedral? They don’t believe in anything.
On December 15, 2017 at 7:19 am, Talktome said:
So, these idiots don’t care at all about God given rights nor what’s clear in the Constitution? Is this one of those chicken come home to roost situations that racist rev wright was talking about? Does the National cathedral have services on Saturday? The article mentions the Lords day Sabbath- that runs from Friday sundown until Saturday at sundown. Constantine decided the sabbath was changed to Sunday -but he ain’t God, and Gods word clearly states when the Sabbath is. It even defines that sometimes, a Sabbath can be other days of the week, depending on what day the Biblical celebrations God commands us to keep fall on.
On December 15, 2017 at 8:38 am, Herschel Smith said:
Not Sabbath, but Lord’s Day Sabbath, which the Christian church understands to be Sunday. He is Risen!
Sorry to have confused you with that.
On December 15, 2017 at 10:37 am, fred said:
The leaders of ISIS know that Santa Claus is an idol. They don’t depict nor disparage Jesus because they are taught, falsely, that he ‘was’ ‘only’ a legitimate prophet. I think that this is on purpose. I would add that if ISIS wants to burn down the so called National Cathedral for it’s idolatry of Santa Claus and worship of a god they know not who, I’m inclined to say; “Meh, have at it.”
On December 15, 2017 at 11:33 am, Longbow said:
Nothing to do with Christmas? We differ, sir. This is where the traditions of gift giving, stockings, etc. originate. Santa Claus is a bastardization of the name of St. Nicholas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas_Day
More specifically,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas
On December 15, 2017 at 2:22 pm, Herschel Smith said:
@Longbow,
Wasn’t so in Apostolic and early Christianity, which celebration was much simpler and more focused on the birth of the Son of God. This is a very late addition, morphing or evolution. Something not uniquely Christian that was an add-on.
On December 15, 2017 at 5:15 pm, Pat Hines said:
I visited the National Cathedral a long time ago, when on a train trip to D. C. from Columbus, Georgia. I was in the 8th grade.
Now, I find the place rather disgusting, before I read the anti-self defense quote above.
The notion of a church building affiliated with government sullies it beyond redemption.
On December 15, 2017 at 7:34 pm, scott s. said:
The so-called “National Cathedral” is actually the Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Paul and not affiliated with any government same as the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
I suppose Reformed theologians and churches have little use for Christmas nor any other feast day. Certainly that was the case for the English Reformed and their American Congregational offshoots.
On December 16, 2017 at 8:07 am, Bernie said:
Just a few years ago the muslims used the Cathedral for a service so where is the islamic leader in Washington DC speak out about this stand up and condemn this threat I doubt it will happen.
On December 16, 2017 at 9:49 am, Kennymac said:
The sermon quoted was delivered/written by “Bishop” MARIANNE Edgar Budde.