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Family Stories: Jesse and the Pacifist Preacher
Following World War II, Jesse came back to visit his home in Sweetwater, Texas. While he was there, he attended a service of the Second Baptist Church of Sweetwater (later renamed Lamar Street Baptist Church). The minister was speaking about love and the need to do away with war by letting love conquer the evils of the world. In the middle of the sermon, Jesse interrupted with a loud, "No! It was that sort of thinking that let the Germans and the Japanese take over most of the world in the first place."
The church service quickly broke up and the deacons came up to confront Jesse about his outburst. Instead of backing down or apologizing, he was adamant that the Bible does not teach the sort of governmental pacifism that was being preached from the pulpit. By the time the deacons were finished, they had decided to fire the pastor. In good Texan tradition, he was given until sundown to vacate the manse.