A TEA Party Toast: To Consistancy

Today a large multitude gathered at the Fin, Feather and Fur outfitter for the purpose of participating in the set TEA party. After a fine introduction by Dianna Greenwood, protesters were permitted to take the the mic and speak their mind. The words that follow are are a close approximation of what I said:

Greetings,

My name is Matt Timmons, and I am a pastor here in Ashland.
I believe, as the one fellow said earlier, what the Scripture says, "Blessed is the nation who's God is the Lord."

I do believe, as many of you do, that our governing officials have overstepped their lawful authority according to the Bible and our constitution. And I would like to rant against our government, but I cannot. As a preacher I must speak to you.

You heard earlier how our forefathers bravely risked their homes, their lives, their families and their financial futures for our country and the tenets they believed in. We who are gathered here, if we really believe in our principles, must be willing to do the same.

About a week ago I wrote an article for the paper. In it I said that we conservatives need to make our protest a life-protest. It needs to go beyond this day and touch all that come after it; being consistent in all that we do.

If we really are against spreading the wealth, we must reject the handouts that are so commonly taken by conservatives. Things such as social security, public education, medicare, health care, welfare, disability and unemployment.

As a nation of individuals, we must do our individual part and fulfill our individual responsibility; taking care of ourselves and those who are our own. In speaking to the parents, I must say this: if you wish to educate your children, then do it on your own dime. Those who are children, we must remember our duty to honor our parents, and we must support them when they are elderly and infirm. We cannot leave them to rely upon Uncle Sam.

And as a pastor and church leader, I feel a special obligation to speak to churches and to their leaders. We must stop filling our young people with pizza and begin focusing on how we can care for the poor and the widow as God has called us to do. Those who are members in churches, we must consider the importance of supporting our churches to the best of our ability so that they have the money they need to do the deaconal work that God has called them to fulfill.

As a minister I can speak with the full authority of the Scripture when I say this: That when we do these things God shall indeed bless us. When we begin to fear God and keep His commandments as is outlined in his Word, we will find that as a nation He will bless us.

Thank-you.