Jay pastor opens Maine Senate with prayer

1 min read
Pastor Chris Grimbilas, Amanda Grimbilas, Sen. Russell Black.

AUGUSTA – Pastor Chris Grimbilas and daughter Amanda Grimbilas met with Senator Russell Black (R-Franklin) during their visit to the State House on Tuesday, March 26. Pastor Grimbilas, who serves the congregation at New Life Baptist Church in Jay, served as Pastor of the Day in the Maine Senate.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

12 Comments

  1. Isn’t there supposed to be a separation of church and state? I think in light of the white nationalism that’s rampant in Black’s region….What we need is less “opium of the masses” and more meaningful critical thinking, less of the symbols that divide the state.

  2. More crit…I was thinking the same thing and wonder if all religious groups in ME would be welcome to open prayer at the Sate house? But “separation of church and state” is the concept under the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and is applied to States under the fourteenth Amendment. I believe it’s also the backing behind why Religious group owned properties and incomes are Tax exempt since they cannot be influenced or preferences by Governing groups. So essentially, (I think but not 100% sure) saying prayer at the State house is not totally unconstitutional but if they only favor one religious group to do so then, yes that is unconstitutional. But, whenever a politician endorses a religion they are doing what is referred to as an “attachment technique” in the bigger picture of propaganda and self promotion. If someone seeking or in public office says or endorses a particular religion then they are attaching themselves to a very large voter base. Politicians do it all the time with religion, famous people, and ideas. Personally, I would love to see a day at the State house or White House that allows representatives from all religious groups in the U.S. to be recognized since all religion essentially leads to the same place.

  3. What is it called when someone says “I don’t think they should be allowed an opinion, but let me tell you what to do”…

    What’s that called?

    We need a less of that.

  4. @ the first commenter please refrain from your opiate use. Where is your evidence of white nationalism in Senator Blacks area ? Also I thought the bd had a policy about not putting up uncomprehensive comments?

  5. More crit, There is a huge misconception about that. The first amendment, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” This is the first clause, it prevents the government from establishing a religion, and prevents them from passing laws against one. This is clause two, “Or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”, it prevents the government from forcing you to practice the religion established by the government,(goes back to Catholicism and the the Church of England where King George wanted everybody to be Catholic and King Henry the VIII wanted the Catholics to stay out of his business in the 1500’s. It also gives you the freedom to practice the religion of your choosing. Since the Government didn’t “establish” Christianity, there is no law preventing them from embracing it. Now the other part of the separation thing, taxes. The church, its employees, and the property of the church, don’t pay any taxes, property or income, but they don’t receive any tax money(money from the government is 100% tax money) either nor are they eligible for social security or any other government funded programs. The whole “Government can’t put up crosses on public land”, or whatever, is a 100% social construct it has no legal standing in the constitution or federal law. So if Farmington for example, wanted to put up a 50ft cross to honor the war dead, right in the middle town and use tax money to pay for it, the town can do it. Can the town pay for a 50ft cross on church property? No because the church can’t have anything to do with government tax money. Now if the town manager lets say buys his church a 50ft cross with his own money, that is perfectly legal. If a teacher wants to read the Bible in school, that’s legal as well, can the school teach a religious class, yes, can the school buy Bibles for the class, yes. Bibles are often printed by non religion affiliated printers. Can the school pay a minister to give it, no. This is also why ALL religious schools are private schools and don’t rely on the government to fund them.

    That sums up the separation of church and state.

  6. What a wonderful gesture of love and concern for our senators and Maine citizens (including all naysayers)! We need the help of God humbly requested in these troubling times! PLEASE, LOVING GOD HELP US ALL!

  7. None of us like to be told we are wrong or doing something wrong. We are born with this nature. We have the free will to believe whatever we choose. That’s what makes our choices so powerful.
    A negative reaction to the gospel should be expected.
    Who among us leaped for joy when our parents corrected us?
    But they did it out of love.
    I appreciate the fact that God loves all of us enough to deliver guidance, often thru the spoken word.
    When the shoe fits, I often don’t want to wear it because I am offended.
    The gospel is offensive, quick and sharp.
    But it is the truth that will set us free.
    Thanks to those that deliver that message.
    God is merciful and faithful.
    God is Love.

  8. Greetings … I am so sorry to see how people respond to a Pastor opening a government meeting with prayer. Prayer has been taken out of our schools and it absolutely amazes me how many children today do not know who God is … and don’t have an opportunity to go to Sunday School to learn about Him and to learn respect for their fellow human beings. Their parents are too busy with unimportant “stuff” than to be concerned about where theirs and their children’s souls will end up.

    AMERICA & MAINE need all the help we can get from God. This country was founded on Christian principles and if you don’t believe it just look up the NATIONAL MONUMENT TO THE FOREFATHERS. If you have never seen it you should … it is far more impressive than Plymouth Rock. And the entire story of what this country was founded on is recorded in granite. I wish our congressional leaders would take the time to visit it in Massachusetts. You should see Kirk Cameron’s documentary “MONUMENTAL” to fully understand what is behind this impressive monument. We all need to be giving thanks to God every day that we live in America. Yes, there are some bad things, but would you want to live anywhere else? If so,
    GO!

  9. This enormous Monument piece is hewn from Solid Granite sent from the quarry in Hallowell Maine.
    Nice!!
    Thanks for mentioning it Mame..

  10. Thank you for bringing that up … I had forgotten the granite came from Maine. All the more reason for
    families to take a trip down there to see it. The pictures DO NOT do it justice … you have to see it in person in order to appreciate the scope. And, when you realize the original plan was cut in half because of the cost
    during the war. But it really makes you appreciate the fundamental principles this country was built on.

  11. Separation of church and state simply means that the government cannot declare any one church “the church”. They cannot require us as Americans (or Mainers) to belong to or support a certain church. Freedom of religion allows all religions to practice openly. I’m quite sure that the tradition of opening the Maine Senate with prayer has included many different sects. I’m also sure that they would not require anyone offended by prayer to bow their heads. Those of us who live in Sen. Black’s region are offended that we are being declared “white nationalists”. I’m sure there are a few, as there are everywhere, but certainly the majority of us are NOT!

  12. Thank you Rosie for pointing that out as I did. Evidently the first commenter more crit can’t prove their statement. I myself have no desire to be categorized just because of where I live. Their comment is feeding the problem with today’s society being divided by pot stirrers.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.