Comments on: Couple walks out during anti-gay sermon

By: Steven LOWE

Steven LOWE — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 20:21:15 +0000

This is why all homosexuals should just leave Christianity all together. Until they redact the Bible and remove references to the sin of gays, etc. Chriatianity will NEVER really be a safe, welcoming place for gays and lesbians. Consider Humanism. a non-theistic replacement for religion. A very liberal and progreessive and modern philosophy.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:58:25 +0000

Several previous comments have said that they did not feel that the preacher was homophobic or bigoted. But the author, the couple, and the majority of gay people interpreted that same sermon as such.

Fifty years ago, when a white preacher said that God made black people to be servants, and that black people should know their place in society — The white people did not interpret that as being racist or bigoted, but the black people in the same audience did.

This is the same thing. Most of the straight people in the audience were mostly nodding in agreement, and did not interpret those comments as being bigoted. But, the gay people in the audience did.

The straight people should do a Bible study on homosexuality. It won’t take long, as the topic really isn’t mentioned in the Bible at all. There are just a few verses that are sometimes misinterpreted by preachers who have not actually studied the subject. I recommend a text — (Helminiak, “What the Bible really says about homosexuality”, 2000, Alamo Square Press, New Mexico. IBSN 1-886360-09-X)

By: aaron

aaron — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:33:00 +0000

shorter responses actually get read. footnote.

By: A Different view

A Different view — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:15:52 +0000

No where in the sermon in question did the pastor says he hates gay men or lesbian women he has never encouraged his members to hate anyone. Many members of the church are convicted during the sermons because the word finds you and makes you consider your lifestyle and whether how you are living measures up with Christ’s expectations of Christians. That is what the word is supposed to do. It isn’t supposed to adjust to you; you have to adjust to it. He simply stated that male/male and female/female sex can not physically create a child and that God put Adam and Eve together to procreate and be a family. How is that hate? Everyone isn’t homophobic and everyone doesn’t have to condone the way a person chooses to live gay or straight. That doesn’t make someone a hatemonger. Anyone that has attended this church knows the pastor speaks against ALL sexual SINS not the people. Whether you are straight or gay he talks about the wages of sin he discourages fornication, adultery, drug use, witchcraft, stealing, lying, gossiping, hating etc. So you these guys aren’t the first or the last that will get their feelings hurt. The Word has cut me many times but in that same word I have gotten the tools to make things right with God. These men made the right choice by leaving the church if they want a crowd pleasing message every week. Everyone wants salvation but salvation requires some personal sacrifices just read the New Testament if you aren’t sure. It’s not about hate or doctrine it’s about learning to keep the commandments set forth in the Bible. Bishop Owens is a loving, truthful and straight-forward leader and I admire his courage in the face of many nay-sayers. A true minister has to preach the word and look out for the soul not preach to appease the massses. I can only pray that one day the men that left will understand that the sermon wasn’t a personal attack but a minister has to be accountable to God for not telling the truth to his people.

By: Truth Wins Out - What Lord’s Work?

Truth Wins Out - What Lord’s Work? — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:22:27 +0000

[...] A couple weeks ago in the D.C. Agenda (what was once the Washington Blade), I read an article about two young gay black men who walked out of their church during a sermon that turned into a homophobic rant… [...]

By: It took a ENTIRE year for them to get Convicted?!?! « The EX Times

It took a ENTIRE year for them to get Convicted?!?! « The EX Times — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:56:58 +0000

[...] Couple walks out during anti-gay sermon [...]

By: Tiya

Tiya — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 02:18:01 +0000

Why do you all expect ANY church to change their religious doctrine? Most devout Christians believe homosexuality is a sin! No one would expect Mormons, Jews, Muslims, or any other religion to change their beliefs for one sect of society. And all of you wishing hate on this man and his church are just as bad as the people you are condemning.

By: Shane

Shane — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:47:20 +0000

Michael I typed your name by mistake while I was writing down a response to your defense of burning down black churches.

If a bunch of drag queens showed up the disrupt GMCHC, they would be trespassing, could be charged with a hate crime, would be provoking other members who wouldn’t be as diplomatic as others, and would probably end up getting their collective asses beaten by the 6-8 thousand members who attend there. It would make national news alright… and it would give the religious right and homophobes more reason to continue bashing gays.

The other thing it does is reinforces that hypocrisy I talked about earlier. How would you react to Fred Phelps and an army of like-minded people coming into a gay establishment where you were to disrupt things? Church are private entities, entitled to freedom of association. If you don’t like what the church has to say, just don’t go.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:04:20 +0000

To Michael…or Shane…or, well, which ever of you is speaking at the moment…

Why does dramatic, in their face action have to be violent? I think 50 or 100 drag queens — and I do mean drag queens — in everything from gutter drag to full grand ball attire showing up for church week after week with escorts would do nicely. THAT would be dramatic, cause quite a scene, totally disrupt their little shurch service, and be sure to make the national news.

By: LOV

LOV — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:20:32 +0000

Ok, I’ve read a lot of these comments and love all people just the same, but can we meet in the middle on such topics. I am a Christian and have attended such various churches and it is a tradition in the Black church for most people to be involved in the word and the service. In fact it is very common for preachers to ‘visit your block’ so to speak when addressing most issues that deal with people’s everyday circumstances.

I, like various others sit there every Sunday and listen to messages of change and courage for that change and to build upon awareness and admitting our present circumstance. The one day out of many that a preacher touches on homosexuality should not be the day that YOU should feel singled out. We all go through this thing called life and if we are speaking from the points of the bible WE as followers of Christ should not be doing alot of things that we still do and then ask for God’s blessing over our lives. When we ALL as believers struggle on a daily basis to follow the right path.

I was not there but I cannot believe that those shouts were shouts of hatred towards others. If you took a glimpse into the lives of the various members that attended that day…How do yo know that they were spewing fire on all homosexuals? For all we know this could be the very thing that they overcame in their life’s path and the preacher could’ve very well been speaking a testament to their own past or present circumstance. Life is ALL ABOUT DECISIONS. Noone makes you act or react in a certain way.

What is your Truth? Are WE also judging? Just because someone doesn’t look the part doesn’t mean that they have never played the role. Just food for thought.