Don't sully Christianity with golf

It is writers such as the Rt. Rev. that would force those that are not of his faith, or those that are agnostic or atheistic, to give up their own private or public activities so that those that may be weak in the Christian faith do not stray from the church due to the enticement of special events in the real world. Thank whatever power you may wish to believe in that these folks are not in a position to legislate the activities of those of us that prefer to live, engage in commerce, or to recreate in a secular world. Open the doors of your church on Easter Sunday (or any other Sunday) Rt. Rev. Owen Loftus and invite the faithful to attend. The "choice" to worship, or to sin, should be on the shoulders of your parishioners; not on mine. GGpap

GGpap - I rarely agree with your comments, but this is one of those times. Nicely stated.

Does anyone know of any churches that were forced to close on Easter? I didn't think so.... So, if attendance was slack- then perhaps their faith is as well. Since this is a semi-free society- most everyone had the power in themselves to attend services. If they did not, then it can NOT be blamed on the Masters.

Christians just aren't hungry for the word like they used to be...That's why Islam is on the rise and Christianity is on the decline globally; Christians don't have the hunger anymore...That's why Rev. your church pews had big gaps, not the Masters...

Actually, Motorman Christianity is on the rise in third world countries

It's called R-E-S-P-E-C-T. The letter writer was only seeking that for Holy Week - nothing else. If our armed forces can be instructed not to eat in front on Muslims during Ramadan, then, by golly, the Masters men could reschedule a simple golf tournament.

GGpap, I knew if you posted long enough you'd write something I agree with. It's not choice if everyone doesn't get to choose.

JIC, respect and diplomacy are easily confused.

JesusIsComing, if I believed that Lucifer should be honored with an Unholy Week following the Easter Holy Week would you be willing to close the doors of your church out of R-E-S-P-E-C-T for my choice of an omnipotent figure I chose to worship? GGpap

Well, Rt. Reverend, that may be saying something about your sermons!

Most people that say, "I am a Christian" really are not Christians. How can one tell? Well, watch what those so-called Christians do in their lives and it obvious that these people will never be Saved. The Church is nothing more than a business, but Rev. Wright said it best, "chickens are coming home to roost" which describes the point of the article.

I wish they would hold another tournament on Christmas, so I wouldn't have to sit through that either.

The rather self-aggrandizing and presumptious Mr Owen Loftus is completely out of touch with the Scripture he claims to promote. First is the title owned only by God that he has used to describe himself. Second he should remember that the most holy occurance Christians are to commemorate and celebrate is to be done each first day of the week rather than some trumped up man created observance once each year. Third, everyone here should know that the first full week in April every year is Masters week. So much ignorance and self-importance. I, for one, spent three hours in an assembly of saints yesterday. The first full hour was devoted to remembering what the Jewish Messiah did for all of us who will trust in Him. And, if He is willing, I shall do the same again the coming Sunday. So, you who choose to use a title reserved for our Creator ---- leave "the little green men of the Augusta National" alone, and try to understand that God's day runs from sundown to sundown (His design, not mine) thus allowing you to spend the first part of your day with Him, even after spending the latter part of a day watching golf.

Well done GPAP. BTW Jesusiscomming, back in the early 70s we were inundated with the same type crap you espoused except it was smoking on airlines. Remember the, "we only want a small section of the caboin set aside for non-smokers" or better yet how about "we need to set aside one or two parking spaces for people on crutches" and where have we gone from there?

Well, Jesusiscoming, I want them to have respect for me by not forcing those who are not religious to recognize a Christian week.

Wow. If something as simple as a golf tournament offends you and your faith...what does that say about your faith? Also, I know of a faith that has everything completely stop during its holy time. Islam. The thing that most people say they are totally against yet they seem to always go towards that extremist view.

There are simple solutions to this if Masters ever falls on Easter week- hold Saturday night mass and then Sunday morning mass- whoever shows-shows. To blame an event as to why people don't attend mass that day- is really a stretch and those people that are using the Masters as an excuse, it could have been ANY excuse.

We had a wonderful attendance at out church on Easter Sunday irregardless of the Masters golf tournement. I think I understand what the Rev. was saying, that you can't substitute church attendance by golf attendance, but I disagree with him about rescheduling the tournement. A true Christian will desire to spend time in worship with fellow Christians and can attend the tournement afterwards if he / she so desires after they have given God the "first fruits" of their love and dedication - put God first personally and then your own desires.

Jesusiscoming is exactly right. .Easter is a set date and much more important than the masters.Masters is only a sporting event which can be scheduled any week. But unless a person is a Christian he will not be saved.Holy week is the most important week of the year for Christians as it revolves around the central truth of Christianity-Jesus died for our sins so that we will be saved.That is a fact whether you believe it or not.The Rev.is only asking for respect.To say that Satan or some other god (could Masters be one too?)deserves the same respect is ludicrous. Satan is happy to hear you say that. He'll be seeing you in hell unless you change. The Rev. is not forcing athiests etc to miss the Masters. He is only saying it should be rescheduled a week.
What title is Geistlich saying the Rev. gives himself that belongs to God? I sure cannot find it .

Doubt it are you referring to Christmas or the tournament?

I agree with ponytailfnp...the tournament does not need to be rescheduled. If a Christian desires to be in the Lord's house on Easter Sunday then they would be there. There are a number of Christian golfers who played in this tournament and no where does it say you have to be in a church building to worship our Lord. I'm only guessing but I'll bet several met before the tournament started to have a word of prayer and praise on this glorious day.

Actually, Blue, Easter is a different date each year and the Master's tournament is permanently the first full week of April.

Dear Pastor
I gave two sermons on Easter sunday, praise His name , and still went to the Masters. Today they want a baseball game cancelled in Ny as it begins one of their holidays(Jewish).
When I was a Catholic we almost had a holiday for every week of the year. Shall we cancel all sporting events, or all events so we don't offend anyone.
No, the answer is left to the conscience.
Gods blessings and peace to everyone.

Uh-oh, another preacher has his holy britches in a holy tangle. That collection plate must have been a little light --- so, the true believers must enforce their will on the heathen -- "Augusta, cut out that unholy golfing thing. Sky Daddy told me to tell you so!" ---- "“My own view on religion is that of Lucretius. I regard it as a disease born of fear and as a source of untold misery to the human race.” (Bertrand Russell)

I have nothing against the Masters and Christianity mixing. There have been plenty of times that i've worked on Sundays. The article is a nice one; All seem to be men of faith. There's nothing wrong with practicing your faith anywhere and not just in church. The Masters didn't keep anyone from service. Matter of fact it was reported that TV viewing was down due to it being on Easter this year.
However I think the cross was a bit much.

Just how many of his folks have master tickets? We might need an audit at that church.

Respect is optional - it would be a decent thing for the Masters to do. To simply respect the culture of the area. That's all the letter writer seemed to be saying and that was my point too. Believers don't demand anything - whether you believe or not or whether you respect another's belief or not are choices. There is no force, no law, no legal sanctions, no boycott. It is a matter of the heart.

Go back to school and learn to read. Nowhere did it say his church was lacking in attendance

What a stupid article... This is the problem with the majority of christians...

I am anti-ANGC and I am proud. But it is not because of religion, as I wrote on April 11. it is because women are shut out as members of the ANGC.