It is unclear to me if what he means is that there should be a cut off for everyone, or just those that aren't Christians.

This is a sticky question that goes to the heart of Haitian culture. It's been said that Haiti is 70% Catholic, 30% Protestant and 100% Voodoo.

Voodoo holds that spirits, called Lia, control everything and that the most effective thing a person can do is keep his Lia content. Sacrifices are made to this end. It's been a defining element of Haiti since slaves were brought from Africa along with their religion. The French tried to stamp it out without success and once they were overthrown voodoo thrived for the next two centuries, up to today.

Voodoo hasn't worked in Haiti, and as Christians show love and the improvements in life that can come from using free will (as opposed to dependence on spirits) and a work ethic provided by Christian faith, minds may be opened to our faith. My guess is it'll be a long process.

I write a weekly blog at www.triadpress.blogspot.com Next week's topic, which will be posted on 3/3 is titled "Crippled by Voodoo"
and discusses this further.

Hope to see you there!

John 4:37 -- "For in this case the saying is true, '(A)One sows and another reaps."

--Why can't Amedia trust God's word? His "full story" is no better than the sound bite. Cutting off food, water, or shelter because someone refuses to embrace the gospel is a form of coercion. That hardly measures up to the lesson of the Good Samaritan. It's absolutely shameful.

It is missionaries such as this that perpetuate the problem of folk Christianity in Haiti. Syncretism is rampant, because individuals convert in order to receive increased aid, favor with the missionaries, or possibly opportunities to advance economically and socially. Being a pastor is one of the only professions in rural Haiti. Transformation doesn't take place. That is why we have pastors that bring their children to clinic with voodoo charms on. Voodoo is a religion of conflict and resolution. Too often missionaries assume Haitians understand the essence of the Gospel when really, they are simply trying to get more tools to persuade the spirits and also receive humanitarian aid. That is not to say there are not true conversions. I know many Haitians who genuine cherish Christ and live as though God is their strength in this life and portion forever. Those believers have taught me lessons I will never forget.

The Word of God instructs us to give to those who ask. Therefore, we should give as we are able to those who request help. I have seen that the gifts of God benefit those whose hearts are turned toward Him, and pass through the hands of those, like water through a sieve, whose hearts are closed to Him.

As we are giving, we should use every opportunity to preach the gospel and demonstrate the love of God. However, there is a time when, if they are unworthy, the peace the Christian has brought shall return to him or her and the Christian disciple must brush the dust off of their feet as they depart because the Word was not received. That is according to Matthew 10:5-15.

Since the Words of Jesus guide us in the example of His sending of the twelve, why should we argue amongst ourselves about what we should do, and for how long? Are there no longer any wise amongst us?

Rather than looking at the world for their approval, and trying to construct arguments that will please, let us simply point to the Word of God, and let Him take responsibility.

Adam Shields: Haiti is not crippled by voodoo. Haiti is crippled by economic embargoes and international meddling. It does you no favors to rewrite history.

Amen, Holloway.

"using free will (as opposed to dependence on spirits)"? Uh, what exactly is the difference between voodoo dependence on spirits and christian dependence on spirits? One sacrifices offerings to appease the spirits and the other offers prayer (or penance) to do the same thing. Superstition is superstition.

The God of the Bible doesn't want or accept "appeasement". This is what Jesus said when asked what is the greatest commandment in the law. Matt 22:37 "Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

They asked Jesus this question of Jesus "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." John 6:28-29

It has always been a revolutionary teaching. If one truly believes in God and that Jesus died for their sins, God wants our love and for us to worship Him. There is nothing we can "do" that can in any way atone for our own sins, Jesus died for our sins in our place.

For the people who think of God as nothing but love and peace, etc, Jesus said this in Luke 12: 51Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

Hebrews 4:12 explains why all the division among those who call themselves Christian, but some are not. 12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

Many want to make the God of the Bible nothing but a God of love, and ignore or even wipe out all the verses about His wrath, which is coming. That is the same as making an idol. You're making God into your image, instead of accepting Him as how He tells us He is.

For those who say Jesus didn't talk about hell, etc, it also says in Luke 12: 4"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

Jesus is the one that will someday judge all, and He is telling us that those who do not believe have something to fear, because they will be separated from the believers and thrown into hell. Jesus didn't worry about the harshness of His words. And for those who will accuse me of things, fine, the Bible says that will happen too. I am merely saying what Jesus said. They are not my own words, but His. Take it up with Him.

Nearly all Voodoo practitioners in Haiti are already Christian--specifically, Roman Catholic. Most Haitians see no conflict between honoring ancestral Loa spirits and worshiping Christ. Some Christians in Haiti do see a conflict.

However, bear in mind that some Christians also view movies and television (in general), certain board games, women in pants, and other innocuous things as contrary to Christianity, whereas most Christians see these things as harmless. Not all Christians have the exact same opinions of every little thing, and to pretend otherwise is downright blasphemous.

Also, remember that when Jesus was asked "Who is my neigbhbor?" the hero of the parable wasn't a respected member of the community, but a despised Samaritan. Love your neighbor--even if he/she is a little bit different from you. Feed the hungry--even if they don't call God by the same name, or they pray in unusual ways. What you do to the lowliest, you do unto Him.

God does NOT accept any other gods, period. That is entirely different than drivel like whether women wear pants or not. The first commandment says God is our only God, there shall be no other gods beside Him. It's the first and most important commandment.

The L- I would suggest that you educate yourself before commenting. In the Vodou religion- there is only one God and that is the God that you speak of in the bible. They call him, "Bon Dieu"/Good God. The spirits are lesser entities- like angels Gabriel, Raphael, ect-they are messangers-that is the Vodou spirit-messengers. Instead of angels, vodou added spirits. So, in the Vodou religion...There is only ONE God and there is NO OTHER god before "him". So, I still do not see what is your point or anyone else for that matter? When you call upon the angels are you "sinning"?

Actually, Christianity is based on human sacrifice. Or did everyone forget about Jesus?

@Minerva: My point is that those who condemn Voodoo practitioners for being "anti-Christian" are completely uneducated about Haitian culture in general, and syncretic religions in particular.

More specifically, my point is that personal prejudices do not Christianity make. What one person views as a threat, is harmless fun to others. If we're going to base our behavior on the absolute strictest interpretations of Godliness, then we'll all have to do without modern conveniences and live like the Amish. On the other hand, if we're not going to let the straitlaced opinions of a few represent Christianity as a whole, we need to speak out, loudly and clearly, every time things like this happen. Otherwise, America will become Iran without the headscarves.

The people behaving most disgracefully in the Haiti situation are the same sort of people who think "Allah" is a totally different deity, rather than an Arabic translation of the word "God." "Bondye" is a "weird" name that isn't spelled G-O-D, so in some people's eyes, it must be a demon. This is exactly the sort of mindless xenophobia expressed by Frank Amedia and Pat Robertson in response to recent events in Haiti. They equate Christianity with American culture, therefore all other cultures, and by default their expressions of Christianity within their culture, are wrong to them, because that's not how we're doing it.

Christians are all the same Evil hateful wast of flesh. The world is colapsing because of their evil doings.

Vodou hasn't failed Haiti. Under Christianity, they were all slaves, owned by evil men.

Are people down there to help or to convert? If you want to help people, fantastic. But you will win more over to your side by not preaching at them, not telling them that the spiritual beliefs of their fathers and father's fathers is to blame for their situation, or that it is evil.

If you were victim of a natural disaster, would you want someone to come and offer you aid and try to convert you at the same time, maybe to a non-Christian faith, telling you that Christianity is evil and the source of your troubles? I doubt it. This is where treating others as you would wish to be treated comes in.

Barbara says:"I am merely saying what Jesus said. They are not my own words, but His. Take it up with Him." Really? how do you know what Jesus said? Did his biographers ever change it up or contribute their own "sayings"? What about the stuff jesus said that contradicts the other stuff. Like Luke 11:23 “Anyone who is not for me is really against me; anyone who does not help me gather is really scattering”Mk 9:40 “For whoever is not against us is for us”Well, which is it? Which version of the resurrection is the correct one? Which ending version of Mark, the first written gospel, is correct. the original one that ends with the women fleeing the tomb, or the version added later with a resurrected jesus? Maybe you need to "take it up" with the actual authorS.

Christians are the greatest perpetrators and purveyors of evil in the world. They instituted and maitained slavery for centuries. The good ship Jesus comes to mind. Christians lack the moral authority to tell Haitins who are the victims of christians's malice and terror what religion they should practice. As we all know it was a christian nation who slautered millions of Jews leaving no part of their bodies unused. Before missionaries go on conversion binges in poor countries they should convert themselves. They should give up child trafficking and the like. Please!

Really? You think Christians are? Stalin, an atheist, killed at least 60 millions people, 10 times the number that Hitler did. The vast majority of Germans in WW2 were fighting in the trenches against the Russians, Amercans, etc and the percentage actually working to kill Jews and running the camps was miniscule compared to the number of soldiers in ordinary combat. They were recruited from the farms and cities, just like the men here. Hitler was not Christian or Catholic, he was into the occult. Hitler killed pastors such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer and priests too. He hated Christians and killed them. Pol Pot, another athiest, killed over two million people from 1975 to 1979. The numbers are probably far greater thn the 2 million. Overall, the number of people killed by atheists is far greater than the number killed by Christians.

How many hospitals, orphanages, and charities are set up by atheists? It's the Christians who go out to serve the poor and those wounded by earthquakes, hurricanes, etc., you don't see groups of atheists helping anyone but themselves. And then, you have to use their helpfulness to target your hatred against them with lies.

We Chritians just dont have the love like Jesus does. we get tired. We get impatient. We get fustrated. We get angry. We give up on people. we abandon others. we give cut off points and ultimatums.

Jesus said that "while we were yet sinner Christ Jesus died for us". Do we get that? Do we grasp this? We were still wallowing in sin. With little or no indication that we would abandon our sins anytime soon. There was no cut off point. Christ didn't say "if these human dont stop sinning by a certain time i will not die for them, or I will not allow them to have access to by grace." Some humans may never even accept His grace and salavation, but Christ doesn't consider His death to have been in vain.

Oh that some Haitian can one day say, "while I was a Voodoo worshiper these Christians fed and clothe me and never gave up on me. Never stopped loving me"

Oh that the haity

Haiti, is full of spirits. Our battles are not with flesh and blood.Not the time for the representatives of the Lord of Heaven's Armies, to get out of dodge.A word of warning to my fellow soldiers. Those spirits know your thoughts about VooDoo symbols. They are also aware that the Icthus is only a fish to Christians. To them , it is Atlantean in origin. It symbolizes two overlapping spheres or universes: thus creating a brand new time space value. It can be seen as new age, or it may also be seen as a graphic of just what Christ meant by . Alpha and Omega. Or, "no man comes to the Father but through Me" {Christ}. So, you can see for yourself. As we approach the fish's tail, those lives not centered on Christ will have tribulation. In short, a squeeze play. Or a great and terrible day. Your call on that. So, lose the symbols first. Then know it will only be by Spirit.

Regardless of the food-aid situation, the clear take-home lesson of Pastor Amedia's story is that secular media outlets like the Associated Press CANNOT always be trusted to tell the whole story, especially when they are reporting about Christians and Christian organizations.

If you are one of those foolish people who sent hate-mail to Amedia based only on the incomplete and misleading AP story, you need to repent and send Amedia an apology. Period. What are you waiting for?