The Rap Sheet

Before he was sacked by his congregation, Bryan Fischer reportedly ruled the Community Church of the Valley (CCV) with an iron fist. The CCV’s bylaws were among the strictest in the Boise-area, and Pastor Fischer rarely hesitated to ridicule publicly the rule-breakers and sinners in his flock.

Fischer has never made secret his views on the expected conduct of true, God-fearing Christians and their leaders. On the public conduct of clergy, he writes recently,

The minimum the Christian church should expect from its spiritual leaders is clear and unapologetic adherence to … biblical standard[s], especially from pastors who tell us that the Bible is the “rule of faith and practice.”

Seems pretty unambiguous. So does Bryan practice what he preaches? Let's have a look:

State of Idaho vs. Bryan J Fischer 12/27/1994
CR-IN-1994-0042484 I49-654(1)
Basic Rule Violation - Too Fast For Conditions
Finding: Guilty
Fines/fees: $47.00

State of Idaho vs. Bryan J Fischer 11/20/2004
CR-2004-0001518-C I49-654(2)
Speeding
Finding: Guilty
Fines/fees: $53.00

State of Idaho vs. Bryan J Fischer 6/13/2006
CR-IN-20060027500 I49-654(2)
Speeding
Finding: Guilty
Fines/fees: $62.00

State of Idaho vs. Bryan J Fischer 3/03/2008
CR-2008-0000703 I49-654(2)
Speeding
Finding: Guilty
Fines/fees: $75.00

Far be it from us to judge. After all, perhaps Fischer was rushing off to a rally protesting gay sex, or to make a speech about gay sex. But to measure him by his own much-abused yardstick, the editors draw his attention to Romans 13:1-5:

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves ... Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.

We also draw his attention to 1 Peter 2:13-6:

... submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme ... or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

About those who would defy the scripture, Fischer writes,

Where are the voices of truth in the pulpits of America to stand against this rapid descent into the darkness? Where? God help us, and God help the United States of America. We’re in deeper trouble than we know.

We here at IVC feel that, given his relationship to the law, perhaps Bryan should be more reluctant to cast the first stone.