I grew up in a Baptist Church in Ruston although I later joined the Methodist Church. In both denominations, I was repeatedly told that Christianity was love of one another and that our faith was based on the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Christ.
Nowhere in all those Sunday School sessions and sermons have I ever heard a Christian advocate violence by man as a solution to violence. Romans 12:19 says, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord” Never have I heard someone who calls himself a Christian suggest that we “purge the land,” or call for “wholesale internment and mass incarceration,” or “re-education” of anyone in the name of “decency.”
Until now.
And of all people, it was a member of the Denham Springs City Council, a man responsible for representation of all the people – not just those with whom he agrees.
Council member Robert Poole, a staunch Methodist, posted just such a message on his Facebook page on Aug. 11 in response to a Black Lives Matter rally in support of more than 100 persons who were arrested following rioting in Chicago that caused $60 million in property damage.
Yes, rioters and looters should be arrested and prosecuted. No one questions that. Joe Biden said as much yesterday when he said “Rioting is not protesting. Looting is not protesting. Setting fires is not protesting. . . . It’s lawlessness, plain and simple, and those who do it should be prosecuted. Violence will not bring change; it’ll only bring destruction. It’s wrong in every way. I look at this violence and I see lives and communities and the dreams of small businesses being destroyed.”
That is the responsible approach by a public official to addressing anarchy and chaos.
Instead, this is what council member Robert Poole had to say about it:
Re-education?
Really, Mr. Poole?
You might wish to refer back to your history courses to determine the origin of that term.
The Soviet GULAGS, the creation of Joseph Stalin whom you might remember as a ruthless dictator. The gulag was a system of imprisonment and forced labor of anyone who even so much as uttered a critical word about the communist regime. Of course, the gulags were publicly referred to as “re-education” centers.
The XINJIANG RE-EDUCATION CAMPS were no different in communist China. Officially called vocational education and training centers by the Chinese Communist Party and the government of the People’s Republic of China, they were nothing else but internment camps operated by the Chinese Communist Party where up to three million prisoners – Muslims and Christians alike – were held for the stated purpose of countering “extremism and terrorism.” Sound familiar, Mr. Poole?
Mr. Poole wants to “purge the land for the sake of decency.” But whose definition of “decency” is he going to employ in carrying out this self-appointed mission? Like Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart’s statement on obscenity, perhaps Mr. Poole can’t define decency but he knows it when he sees it.
“Wholesale internment and mass incarceration”? Like dictators in Third World countries are wont to do? Like Castro’s Cuba in 1960? “Assimilate into peaceful society or you are GONE.” Wow. So, just shut up and agree with whatever I do, or leave. No freedom of speech, no protests of wrongdoing, and the ultimate endgame: no freedom of the press.
And finally, “God HATES those who spread strife among the brethren.” Well, it’s nice to know that Mr. Poole, who incidentally, attends the same church as I, knows so much about Proverbs 10:12, which says, “Hatred stirs up strife but love covers all sins.”
But to tell the truth, after reading Mr. Poole’s Facebook post, I have to wonder who is spreading the message of hate here?
There’s another Proverbs verse that I think is relevant: Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
I do know this: What he’s preaching isn’t the same Christianity I was taught.
Medice, cura te ipsum (Lat. “Physician, heal thyself”).
Louisiana Voice 
A cynic might say he reflects something for which Livingston parish was long known – a view that was expected from its residents 50 years ago, but less so as time passed. BLM activists often say little has changed in our country with regard to racism over the decades. This kind of post reinforces that. Presuming to know the mind of God is another matter altogether, but Mr. Poole’s words are sure to spread strife.
It amazes me that people are still surprised by anything Robert Poole says. He is a narcissist, self-righteous & arrogant. In what two positions can you find true narcissist? Politicians & Preachers. I’m not criticizing all preachers of course, but ones that constantly post bible verses on Facebook like Mr. Poole yet will lie under oath in a court of law the same day to avoid paying more child support is nothing more than a hypocrite. The fact he has 4 children by 3 different women should be hypocritical enough of his conservative & Christian views. At the very least, his own personal failures you would think should create some humility in the heart and mind of Mr. Poole, but nope sadly, his Narcissistic brain won’t allow for it. Instead, he would rather take the mothers of his children to court for custody so he doesn’t have to pay child support. A real Godly man right there. If he is a Godly man, than how do you describe Satan? Remember the devil was once an angel. Your church is filled with members like Judge Robert Morrison who will also do crooked favors for his fellow brethren which is not only an abuse of power, but would also make him a hypocrite as well, if they are so called “Christians.” The preacher himself, Mark Crosby, is closely tied to politics as being a court-appointed mediator for custody cases in Livingston Parish Family Court. Anything tied to politics in Livingston Parish is and always will be CROOKED before it should ever be called CHRISTIAN!! It’s disgusting and gives a bad name to true Christians. It should be an embarrassment, but arrogance and pride won’t allow humility in some people’s minds. They leave no room for it which makes me question, do these types of people truly have a relationship with God? The same God in which I have faith? If I were Mr. Poole, I would tread lightly on interpreting the Bible because false interpretation of God’s word is also a sin. Perhaps Mr. Poole should focus his attention on “change” to things closer to home by first looking in the mirror!