Atheists are upset. Again. This time The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) has sued the town of Woonsocket, RI over a cross in the parking lot of the town’s fire department. According to the Woonsocket Call Newspaper, as reported by the Huffington Post, the offending monument was unveiled in 1921 in memory of William Jolicoeur, a member of the American Expeditionary Forces who was killed in France during World War I. http://www.woonsocketcall.com/node/5107 The monument was later rededicated in May 1952 to honor three brothers killed in World War II. The original monument was dedicated by French Field Marshall Ferdinand Foch, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, who came to Woonsocket at the end of World War 1.
The FFRF says the cross is “unlawful” and wants it removed immediately from public property. Of course, this is nothing new; many other lawsuits have been filed against the cross being erected on public property. Including the famous cross from the World Trade Center rumble that was to be placed in a museum.
Isn’t it ironic that unbelievers are the ones who raised the cross on that Friday over 20 centuries ago, now it’s unbelievers who are upset by the cross? It was a mob of Jews who denied Jesus and demanded that He be nailed to the cross. They tried Him illegally. Mocked him unmercifully. Cried frantically for his execution. And accepted responsibility. “”His blood be on us and on our children.’ Unbelievers did that.
Today unbelievers try to use legal maneuvers to eliminate the cross. They ridicule Christians. They fanatically fear the cross. They are upset that the cross is a symbol of Christianity. Of Christ. Of His death. Of course, they argue that the state favors the Christian religion by allowing crosses on public property. Like those on that Friday long ago they think by removing every vestige of Christianity it will go away. Just like they thought killing Jesus would get rid of him.
But atheists don’t get it. Just like the unbelievers then didn’t understand in Jesus’s day. Sunday’s coming!
You can kill Christ on a cross. You can remove all the crosses from public buildings. Parks. Cemeteries. But you can’t keep Christians from worshiping on Sunday. From remembering. Observing. Celebrating.
You can’t blithely dismiss the empty tomb. You’ve got to deal with the resurrection accounts. Honest inquirers must investigate what happened on Sunday. The cross wasn’t the end. Jesus didn’t stay dead. He lives. He rules. He reigns. Not only over His church. But over the Kingdoms of men.
We’re not bothered by “Friday’s” atheists. By their lawsuits. Their threats. By their desire to eradicate the cross from public view. They need to know this. Today is Friday. But Sunday’s coming. And one day the risen Christ will come again “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 1:8)
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
ThePreachersWord 
Very good Ken. Enjoy reading your writings.
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Thanks, Phil. I appreciate it
Ken Weliever 12107 Wood Duck Pl Temple Terrace, FL 33617 Home Phone: 813-899-4539 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com
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I liked your comparison-it was unbelievers that first erected His cross and the same people today are afraid of what it represents for their lives.
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Thanks Phil, And thanks for reading my blog and taking the time to comment
Ken Weliever 12107 Wood Duck Pl Temple Terrace, FL 33617 Home Phone: 813-899-4539 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com
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“Today unbelievers try to use legal maneuvers to eliminate the cross. ”
Following the Constitution is now a ‘legal maneuver’?
“But atheists don’t get it. Just like the unbelievers then didn’t understand in Jesus’s day. Sunday’s coming! ”
Whatever. You can believe that all you want. Just render unto Caesar like your scripture tells you and stop going against the Constitution.
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Thanks for reading my blog and taking the time to comment. I appreciate it. Just a couple short thoughts. I do render unto “Ceasar”, just like Jesus said. And I encourage others to do the same. I’m not a constitutional scholar But it does seems strange the for 150-200 years of our history certain things that were deemed acceptable and proper under our governement have now become unacceptable and improper. But Christianity was born under the system of the Roman Empire and flourished. So, I’m not worried it. My main point was the irony that it unbelievers who nailed Jesus to cross to get rid of him and now unbelievers are upset with the display of the cross! But no problem….Sunday’s coming! Again, thanks for reading and responding.
Ken Weliever 12107 Wood Duck Pl Temple Terrace, FL 33617 Home Phone: 813-899-4539 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com
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“But it does seems strange the for 150-200 years of our history certain things that were deemed acceptable and proper under our governement have now become unacceptable and improper. ”
The thing is, they were never proper. It’s just that local governments didn’t care about following the Constitution, and until recently declaring yourself an atheist, or even a secularist, would get you hounded out of town. It doesn’t matter, however, how long the monument was there. It was unconstitutional when it went up, and it still is today.
“My main point was the irony that it unbelievers who nailed Jesus to cross to get rid of him and now unbelievers are upset with the display of the cross!”
Upset with the display of any religion by the government.
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I enjoyed reading your article.
There are different kinds/types of unbelievers. Would it be correct to say that the type of unbelievers that put Jesus to death were not modern-day atheists, or even atheists at all? Were they not Jews–God’s people–who just chose not to believe in who Jesus was? (Making them LIKE atheists, but not atheists)
Would it be correct to say that the unbelievers you are focused on in your article ARE modern-day atheists?
If the answer to these questions is “yes,” then, as appealing a comparison you make to Christians, really how valid is it?
“Unbelievers” originally raised the cross. Now “unbelievers” want to take it down.” I don’t think these two groups are the same.
Thoughts?
Thanks for your articles and the work you do in the kingdom. You are an inspiration.
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Yes, Glenn, I think you’re right. There have always been different kinds of unbelievers. It was true in Jesus. And true today. Unbelievers reside among Jews, Gentiles, false religions and pagans. And, the unblelivers today are different from those in Jesus day in several regards–one which they saw him. Heard him. Witnessed his miracles. And still rejected. So,. the unbelievers then and today and not exactly parallel.
Ken Weliever 12107 Wood Duck Pl Temple Terrace, FL 33617 Home Phone: 813-899-4539 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com
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Brother Ken, I saw this on fox news on Sunday afternoon. They were talking to the mayor i believe and the woman behind wanting to remove the cross. She said that one person who drives by this everyday going to work was offended and it needed to be removed. Well that person needs to find a different route to work or move, not only that but I believe Christians are offended by the non-Christian in the white house, who is a socialist, comunist, liar, …………………………………. I want him removed!!, Lets continue to pray daily for New Change in Nov.
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Too funny, Mike! Actually one report said that it was people from the outside that came in did the lawsuit….so not sure, if the towns people were upset or not. Thanks for reading and commenting
Ken Weliever 12107 Wood Duck Pl Temple Terrace, FL 33617 Home Phone: 813-899-4539 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com
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Mike, I might add one more thing, regarding our President….I’m not a fan or follower, but we need to pray for him and respect the office. See my post yesterday on prayer.
Ken Weliever 12107 Wood Duck Pl Temple Terrace, FL 33617 Home Phone: 813-899-4539 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com
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Yes, Sunday is coming and WOE to all the unbelievers~it is frigthening to think of a vengeful God.
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You done good for an old man. It is said that during the French Revolution as they destroyed a cathedral, one of the rioters declared they would pull down everything that reminded the people of God. One fellow cried out, “Pull down the stars then!”
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Well, I do what I can regardless of age! Thanks, Ken, for sharing that story.
Ken Weliever 12107 Wood Duck Pl Temple Terrace, FL 33617 Home Phone: 813-899-4539 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com
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Separation of Church and State is a good thing. However, teaching fiction as truth is not.
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Here’s the real history of the Woonsocket cross.
http://www.rifuture.org/the-history-of-the-woonsocket-cross.html
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Also, enough with the hate-mongering. Nobody is trying to get rid of your religion or eliminate Jesus. A secular, neutral government protects everyone’s freedom, even yours. Yes, the FFRF is largely backed by atheists, but there are plenty of religious folk (even CHRISTIANS) who value the separation of church and state. I’m sure you’d be singing another tune if someone wanted to erect a Buddhist shrine or a Muslim monument on government property.
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“Hatemongering” is a strong and innacurate word to describe this blog post. He was simply pointing out irony. He was talking solely of 1) the image of the cross and the fight to remove it, and 2) how no matter what anyone tries to do or does, truth is truth and our belief holds firm.
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