Detroit church prays for automakers at altar of hybrid SUVs
Detroit's Greater Grace Church took the unusual step this weekend of having a donated Ford Escape, Chevy Tahoe, and Chrysler Aspen (all hybrid models, of course) join the Rev. Charles Ellis on the altar. "This week, lives are hanging above an abyss of uncertainty as both houses of Congress decide whether to extend a helping hand," Ellis preached to the congregation. "We have never seen as midnight an hour as we face this week," he added.
Members in attendance, including UAW Vice President General Holiefield, were asked to pray that Congress would bail out the struggling Detroit automakers. "We have done all we can do in this union, so I'm going to turn it over to the Lord," Holiefield told the congregation. Rev. Ellis isn't the first religious leader to call those employed by the auto industry to seek help from above. Other Detroit-area Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders have also urged Congress to approve an auto aid package. As of now, it's a waiting game to hear if their prayers will be answered. Thanks for the tip, H4MM3R!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Dan 2:03PM (12/08/2008)
Our very own domestic cargo cult.
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RITmusic2k 3:19PM (12/08/2008)
I spit my drink out when I read that... kudos!
nastinupe 3:28PM (12/08/2008)
I'm not religious, but this is just stupid. If there is a God (I can't prove if there is or is not) why would you have to pray for anything? If God is... well God, he's the one that caused the event to happen in the first place.
It's just like the church shooter incident. They praised God that more people didn't get killed and said that it was an act of God that that lady was able to shoot the guy. But if God didn't want it to happen, he wouldn't have let it happen in the first place.
BoxerFanatic 3:49PM (12/08/2008)
@Nastinupe...
God didn't shoot people. God doesn't pull strings on human marionettes. Free will is a real thing. Humans are sinners. EVERY human, believer or not. God saves and redeems, he doesn't cause people to sin contrary to that person's will.
It is optimism that says that it is a blessing that bad things sometimes aren't worse than they were, as they could have been.
Cash 4:18PM (12/08/2008)
Boxer, you are insane. People are not born sinners. It is your corrupted viewpoint that transforms everything good about this world into something "frail and corrupted".
Your book. Your rules. You go to hell. The world would be a better place without believing in fairytales like Christianity. Your "followers" have done enough damage.
k.m. 5:15PM (12/08/2008)
+1 Cash
BoxerFanatic 7:05PM (12/08/2008)
Cash,
Whether they are born sinners, or born innocent, we all sin. YOU included, Me included. We were once children, and born to a fallen, sinful humanity. Look around you and tell me that is not true. We aren't in Hell, but we certainly aren't in "utopia," either, utopia being a largely humanistic construction that athiests seem to tacitly believe secular humanism leads to.
Being sinners, and a fallen humanity doesn't mean either of us are incapable of goodness. It means that we commit sins. Humans are uniquely capable of great beauty, mercy, goodness and peace, and also the most vile opposites of those. The mere capacity for evil and sin is what it means to be a fallen humanity.
Your derision of people in this thread, if it causes someone distress, is a sin. You wouldn't treat your friends or family that way... or maybe you would... But you would not appreciate someone coming along and causing you distress. If you do that to others knowingly, that is a sin.
You have done something, and like all people, probably LOTS of things that have broken relationships with others, and have required forgiveness. Those are sins. Everyone who lives, and is capable of making even the most rudimentary decision, is capable of making the wrong one.
There are plenty of others. The wages of sin is death. You will die someday, maybe of natural causes, maybe not, it is just a natural fact, since the fall of humanity.
I am a sinner, and I will die, as well. I have caused trouble and pain for people. I am not blameless. I am forgiven, and I strive very hard to not cause trouble and pain. Maybe you do, too, but you seem plenty intolerant and derisive here, so I would say you have some more work to do.
Seeking forgiveness of sin is not insane, and the concept of forgiveness of sin has to come from somewhere. If it is not sin, no forgiveness is necessary, and forgiveness is baseless without an objective moral order, and a basis of truth, which generates right and wrong.
I have NEVER told you that you needed to believe. I think you need to believe, for yourself, because I believe that faith by grace is the only salvation for anyone. I am not pressing you into anything, nor even asking you to make a choice. That is your business. I am just trying to illuminate the truth, and the truth has to come from someone. God, whether you believe it or not.
Throwing insults at me, or any other believer is not going to injure us, it will only show your colors. They certainly aren't going to do any more damage to Christ than they already have, and He has already conquered all of that. You can take it up with him, if you like.
Secondly, I have no followers. I am following Christ. People who do damage either don't do it purposefully, or aren't behaving as Christians, regardless of what they call themselves.
Thirdly, it isn't my book, either. It is God's Word. Again, I follow it imperfectly, but it most certainly doesn't follow me. I am not any sort of god.
So, go on... Keep railing, and keep showing your colors. I am sure there are plenty who agree with you. Popularity and acclaim have never made wrong views right.
big j 7:56PM (12/08/2008)
BoxerFanatic:
Everyone's entitled to their beliefs, but do everyone a favor (or at least me) and keep it to yourself. Seriously to even bother writing such a ridiculously long thread about sinners or whatever (I didn't read it) on autoblog just makes you look like crazy IMO, or like a religious fanatic, not boxer.
Smegley 2:12PM (12/08/2008)
This is like a bad Southpark ep.
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Smegley 2:08PM (12/08/2008)
This is like a bad Southpark ep.
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Cash 2:37PM (12/08/2008)
The Big three and religion go well together since they're both completely retarded.
happy_penguin 2:59PM (12/08/2008)
Uh, I think you meant a "GOOD" South Park ep. ;)
Sea Urchin 2:15PM (12/08/2008)
I read about this earlier in the news paper today, i simply could not believe it.
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ronEbear 2:19PM (12/08/2008)
All that`s left for this to truly represent the archaic nature of organized religion would be the sacrifice a living being! Any suggestions?
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ronEbear 2:21PM (12/08/2008)
Edit:
"would be the sacrifice a living"
to:
"would be the sacrifice of a living"
CarbonBlack 2:23PM (12/08/2008)
Whatever makes them feel good.
Good luck fixing the situation with prayer!
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Gregg 2:35PM (12/08/2008)
The magical thinking of Detroit area parishioners is hardly any more remarkable than that of the auto executives themselves.
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ronEbear 2:44PM (12/08/2008)
Sarah Silverman said it best: Jesus is magic!
giantkiller06ss 2:36PM (12/08/2008)
I don't understand the mocking. The US auto industry is a very important issue the effects millions of people lives or careers. It says in the Bible that you can bring all concerns to him. It think this qualifies as one them, and never under estimate God's grace.
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Cash 2:43PM (12/08/2008)
Maybe you didn't get the memo. God is pretend. Christianity is a myth composed of bits and pieces of other myths. It is NOT real. Most religions that have the concept of heaven and hell ripped it off from Zoroaster and his followers. Christianity is a lot like Santa: Not real, but it feels good to pretend that it's real, and exists souly to help specific groups make a profit off of others.