Trinity's Daniel Davis criticizes Jax churches.

This article was posted over a month before election day. Trinity's Daniel Davis, former president of Jacksonville's city council, and deacon at TBC, began slinging barbs at other churches. He is no longer president of the city council, but still a member.

Daniel Davis speaks the truth about some churches.

Excerpts:

The subject being debated was whether it's a proper use of taxpayer money to provide scholarships for low-income children attending the Don Brewer Early Learning Center.

The back-and-forth had been going on for a long time when Davis spoke for the first time. In a voice tinged with emotion, he described his upbringing and his political philosophy.

Davis said he was fortunate to have been born into a middle-class family that provided for him and cared about education.

Trinity cared so much about education that, on some occasions, a few teachers had to go without pay. If they complained, their dedication would be called into question. Teaching's a calling, you know. Not a job! Yeah, they cared.

He said that when he came to the council, he didn't believe it was government's job to make sure children had a decent meal at night or to provide early learning opportunities for children who weren't as fortunate as he had been.

Where did he ever get that idea? Hmmmm. . .

But during his time on the council, he said, he has seen those children who don't get that meal and who don't get an equal shot at an education.

Government has to step up and help, Davis said.

Reality does have a way of poking holes in political fantasy, doesn't it?

Why?

Because "Jacksonville has a bunch of sorry churches" that aren't fulfilling their mission, he said.

Like the church whose leaders taught him it wasn't government's responsibility to provide 'early learning opportunities for children who weren't as fortunate as he had been'?

Churches are building magnificent structures and they trip all over themselves to witness in foreign countries, he said, but they aren't doing what they should at home.

If they were, Davis said, government wouldn't have to take on a role that shouldn't belong to it.

That's a clumsy walk on the tightrope! After Gray left for Germany, Trinity FINALLY got around to building their new sanctuary. Once the sanctuary was complete, they eventually built a new mission. First thing's first.

Davis said that after he finished talking at the council meeting, he thought, "Man, did I just say that?"