Responding to the Rev. Steven Anderson and others

An anti-violence protest group plans regular Sunday demonstrations outside the church of "Why I Hate Barack Obama [.mp3]" Pastor Steven Anderson's independent Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe, AZ.

Anderson, among whose parishioners is Chris Broughton, who recently brought an AR-15 rifle and a handgun to an Arizona Obama rally, may be seen as part of an organized politics of hate. Frederick Clarkson chronicles the mix of theology and right-wing politics of which Anderson is apparently a part. In a June, Clarkson reports, Anderson spoke at a rally of the Constitution Party, which has a focus on theocratic governance [excerpts from party platform via the Southern Poverty Law Center].

Southern Baptist pastor Paul Brewster deals with important elements of the theology involved. For example, Brewster wrote in a LifeWay Viewpoints column:

According to the pastor's church website, he prides himself on his commitment to soul-winning and on retaining a robust doctrine of hell. But of all people, soul-winners should live to see men delivered from judgment and not to condemn men to it. As one who believes I have escaped the wrath of God for my sins only because of the grace of God available by faith in Christ, I can take no delight in the thought of others who might perish. Beyond this, to think that we are in the position of pronouncing judgment over souls is to usurp authority that has not been delegated to us in this life. We are always called to warn people of the awful reality of hell, but with humility, tears, and aching hearts.

The protest group, People Against Clergy Who Preach Hate, responds to Anderson's call for Obama's death [.mp3] on its FaceBook page, saying in part:

This is the type of disgusting behavior which has destroyed and is continuing to destroy not only the democratic civilization of Arizona but of the United States of America as well. We ask that you please join us in publicly standing non-violently against these hate-mongering clergy who are liable to be the cause of the next act of American terrorism by the hateful brain washed people they are provoking to violence against our loved ones and our family.

Pastor and owner of Anderson Fire and Security Inc. Steve Anderson apparently didn't fellowship with the roughly 125 People Against Clergy Who Preach Hate protesters Sunday, according reporter Stephen Lemons of Phoenix New Times:

It was a diverse crowd, with a smattering of Christian ministers, young girls strumming guitars, a faux monk, and Code Pink's Liz Hourican offering free hugs. She wanted to offer Anderson a hug, but Anderson only briefly stuck his head out the front door of his church, declining to address the flock of press present. He did, however, reaffirm that he hated Obama, and that, "I'm not changing anything that I said."

Lemons is the reporter whom Anderson called "a jerk" during an intense discussion of Anderson's use of the same mailing address for the church [directions] and for his business, Anderson Fire and Security Incorporated, and of use of church facilities in association with that business. Anderson says in ABC15's raw video of the extended, church-door conversation with Lemons, that his business pays the church rent for space in which to store equipment for the business.

Web pages and the YouTube site of Anderson Fire and Security Incorporated have apparently been deleted since Anderson's conversation with Lemons. A screen shot of the former andfire.com credentials page with the business address is here. A screen shot of the former andyfire.com home page is here. A screen shot of the former YouTube page is here. Video of with images of the demonstration is below:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIW27p4BI_g&feature=player_embedded]

Anderson became a right-wing celebrity of sorts after being tasered by the Border Patrol in April of this year. A month ago, Yuma police said they charged Anderson with disorderly conduct after a group he was with confronted border patrol agents and a manager at a pizza restaurant. He's a confrontational attention-seeker, and that's one of the issues he raises.

Mark Silk at Spiritual Politics suggests we consider "how much attention to give, and how much significant to attach, to marginal characters like Broughton and Anderson."

Certainly Brewster was right to make clear, gentle distinctions between Anderson and other evangelicals, specifically Southern Baptists. Given the rise of the militias documented by the SPLC, ignoring the problem is unwise. Rational, secular expressions of dissent from the rhetoric of violence have an important place as the phenomenon of which Anderson is a part manifests itself.