Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
Louie Giglio is pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta. He's shied away from hot-button Biblical topics that get evangelicals in trouble and works hard on combating human trafficking around the world. He runs these huge Passion events around the world. One in Atlanta last week attracted some 60,000 young evangelicals.
This week, he was invited to give the benediction at President Obama's inaugural.
But that was before it was revealed that he had preached about homosexuality 20 years ago.
Audio was dug up by a liberal attack group. In the audio, Giglio calls unrepentant homosexuality a sin and adds:
That’s God’s voice. If you want to hear God’s voice, that is his voice to this issue of homosexuality. It is not ambiguous and unclear. It is very clear. If you look at the counsel of the word of God, Old Testament, New Testament, you come quickly to the conclusion that homosexuality is not an alternate lifestyle. . . . homosexuality is not just a sexual preference, homosexuality is not gay, but homosexuality is sin. It is sin in the eyes of God, and it is sin according to the word of God.
[. . .]
The only way out of a homosexual lifestyle, the only way out of a relationship that has been ingrained over years of time, is through the healing power of Jesus. . . . We’ve got to say the homosexuals, the same thing that I say to you and that you would say to me . . . it’s not easy to change, but it is possible to change.
The media called this "vehemently anti-gay" or just "anti-gay." That Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel had been outed for supposedly anti-gay comments (they weren't, as I explain here) isn't as big deal to the media because they like him much, much more than an evangelical pastor.
He was quickly removed from the program.
The Orwellian comments from the White House's inauguration committee:
Choosing an affirming and fair-minded voice as his replacement would be in keeping with the tone the president wants to set for his inaugural ...
As we now work to select someone to deliver the benediction, we will ensure their beliefs reflect this administration's vision of inclusion and acceptance for all Americans.
The new tolerance requires that you affirm homosexuality or be a pariah. It's as simple as that.
Our society doesn't recognize terribly many sins outside of various environmental ones (unless you're Al Gore or a Hollywood celebrity for whom the normal exemptions apply). But it's definitely a sin to call homosexuality a sin (and, to a lesser degree, to call any sex outside of marriage a sin). Basically, it's a sin to teach what Christians have taught for thousands of years about sex. And, it turns out, it's an unforgivable sin.
See, Giglio did everything that the forces opposed to treating homosexuality as a sin would desire. He apparently stopped talking about homosexuality decades ago. That wasn't sufficient.
At this point, all those Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans, evangelicals and others who teach the traditional Christian view about sex and marriage are going to have to either cover up any past allegiance to these doctrines or get ready to be denounced as a bigot.
Obviously no Christian outside of the Episcopal Church (or other shrinking mainline churches who have recently changed their doctrine on these matters) will be invited to give prayers in the public square.
As Joe Carter (from whom I got most of the information for this post) puts it:
The message of religious intolerance being delivered by President Obama, his staff, and many of his supporters is unmistakable: If you do not affirm homosexuality then you cannot be fair-minded. Affirmation of homosexual behavior is now a litmus test for President Obama and his political party. As Russell Moore notes, “by the standards of this controversy, no Muslim imam or Orthodox Jewish rabbi alive can pray at a presidential inauguration.”
Russell Moore went on to note that this means, in effect, that we have a "de facto established state church":
As citizens, we ought to insist that the President stand up to his “base” and articulate a vision of a healthy pluralism in the public square. Notice that the problem is not that this evangelical wants to “impose his religion” on the rest of society. The problem is not that he wants to exclude homosexuals or others from the public square or of their civil rights. The problem is that he won’t say that they can go to heaven without repentance. That’s not a civil issue, but a religious test of orthodoxy.
Affirmation of homosexuality is already required among elites. But it's coming to everyone. If you're someone who affirms homosexuality and always has, congratulations. You should be fine.
I don't think anyone who has given two seconds of thought about the conflict between gay rights, same-sex marriage and religious freedom is surprised by this. But it is happening pretty quickly.
For those of us that hold to the traditional Biblical teachings on sexuality, how do you plan to respond to being treated as a pariah?
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Comments:
Jul '10
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
I'll feel Right at Home.
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
Via Ben Domenech, I came across this quote:
"We will ensure that whoever delivers the benediction rejects the same parts of the Bible that President Obama rejects."
It's from Lawrence O'Donnell, of all people, saying it's ridiculous that presidents take oaths on Bibles that they don't believe.
Dec '10
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
Jesus only promised us two things between his ascension and return: the Holy Spirit and persecution.
Apr '12
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
I worry about this a lot, especially since we butter our bread on university salaries. My husband doesn't teach anything about sexual ethics, and I touch on it a little in my ethics class but stay away from homosexuality per se. But as you note, not actively addressing the topic in class may not be enough in the end. I've met someone who effectively lost an academic job over an outspoken position on this subject. I have no doubt that more (and more discreet) people will lose jobs over this; it's just a question of how many and when.
Sep '10
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
I will be at the Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast. The pastor from my church will be the keynote speaker. I have a feeling he won't be invited to speak at the inauguration itself though.
Dec '10
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
It may seem odd, but my response is to be angry at SSM supporting libertarians and right wingers. I've been saying for years that SSM is an attack on freedom of conscience -- shouting it from the roof tops! But, the anti-socons on our side refused to believe that licensing gay couples was really about the establishment of secular humanism as the state religion. Well, now we know. Thanks fellas.
Yes, I'm bitter. I've taken to calling myself an American born resident alien. I may have to change my handle.
Edited on January 11, 2013 at 4:10pmMay '10
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
I have long believed that I am treated as a pariah already. I believe in God and believe the Jesus died on the cross for my sin. I do believe homosexual behavior is a sin, but I do not believe that this marks those who engage in that behavior as special in any way. After all, all sin is an abomination to God, and I am guilty. I believe the only solution to sin is to believe and repent.
I do not believe in a significant human contribution to global warming. I do not believe that human kind, outside their own stupidity, will experience a significant energy shortage, and I do not believe in overpopulation.
I have been treated like I have some part of my brain missing, either by an acquaintance or a coworker for expressing one or more of the above in the last year.
According to them: I had been "brainwashed". I am just "ignoring" the problem. I am "listening to the wrong people." I already am a pariah.
For me, it will not change anything, and I do not plan to nack down but will deal with the world as it is with grace, Lord willing.
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
I know. And it's funny how I'm being reminded of what I said at my confirmation into the Lutheran church -- that I'd suffer death rather than renounce the faith.
And I remember sort of romantically imagining such persecution. Now, I just find myself praying more and more that I'll stay strong and think about how best to support inculcating strong faith in my children.
It's not really an option for me to renounce my faith. I pray I remain as steadfast. But are we really a people willing to give up fame and fortune under threat? I don't imagine many will be able to. In fact, I imagine most Christians will give up without much of a fight. Again, my prayer is that I and my family remain steadfast.
May '10
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
If you are Christian and are not being persecuted, you are not doing it right....
Sep '10
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
As the Crown's good servant, but God's first. Since my conversion, I've never not been the pariah, so I've been practicing for the role for quite some time.
Apr '12
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
What else do you think bullies are going to do?
Aug '11
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
Good post. It not only sums up a lot of what I was thinking, but it also puts words to some ideas I'd been trying to put word to.
As far as being a pariah... I don't know if we'll be pariahs, but it will force my arguments to become better.
Sep '12
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
I have always taken the attitude that God will be the judge. I don't know why some people are given sexual urges toward the same sex. I can certainly understand why many would act on them, but it is clear to me that the Bible condemns the practice. Of course, there are a lot of things in the Bible that are clearly intended for the particular Biblical time, but I don't think this is true of injunctions about sexual behavior. If I had those urges, I would hope that as a Christian I would not act on them. I certainly see why the Bible proscribes same sex attraction. It does not multiply and replenish the earth, and in spite of protestations to the contrary, people can be socialized to just about anything, attracton toward the same sex among them. Not true for everybody--true for some people. Religious belief aside, no society can tolerate too many people who do not do the normal thing--get married and have some kids. Especially now, with falling birth rates, we need people to multiply and replenish the earth. That being true, some tolerance toward people who do that will be needed.
Sep '12
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
The great thing about Christian belief is that it allows us to BE tolerant because we know that God will be the judge. Secularism makes itself the judge and therefore cannot be tolerant, to the detriment of everyone. They are, however, unable to see their own intolerance.
Nov '11
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
I'm going to be extremely contrarian and say three things:
1. I would no more want a preacher who said those things at an inauguration than I would a preacher who preached about blacks being racially inferior.
You can claim that its apples to oranges. We've gone around in this circle before.
2. Can we please chill on the Christians-are-victims thing?
More than 75% of Americans identify as Christians. Your holidays are major holidays. Christians control every governmental and non-governmental power structure in the United States.
I'm not complaining about the utter domination of Christianity, I don't care what god people choose to worship. Just please stop claiming you are victims.
3. We get to argue about who is the preacher only because there is a benediction.
Consider the optics: By including a benediction in our inauguration ceremony, the optics are that of the government endorsing that preacher's viewpoint.
No preacher, no argument about it.
Note: I'm not saying we should ban benedictions, I'm just pointing out how it makes us more divisive.
[Edited for CoC]
Edited on January 11, 2013 at 6:20pmSep '12
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
Fred, he was not going to say those things at the inauguration. He had just said them WAY long ago in the past. Also, if Christian belief as found in the Bible is going to get people fired from positions and prevented from saying a prayer at an inauguration because of what they said 20 years ago, then Christians are persecuted. They just are. I live in CA. During prop 8 the persecution of people who donated in support was astonishing. Many church buildings were spray painted with hateful words. Mormon Temples were attacked. Not just Christians, but anyone who supported marriage was persecuted. Optics, schmoptics. Does government endorse everything anyone who speaks for it on one issue ever said? That is ridiculous on its face.
Dec '11
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
Mollie,
I think this is a misdirection. The problem is not homosexuality being a sin but that anything is a sin. How could anybody be so judgmental to say something is wrong? Actually they are holding back the most explosive video of this pastor. You won't believe it but this fundamentalist wingnut actually thinks lying is bad. He considers it a sin and for this reason alone could not have many good words for the Obama Administration or should I have said benediction for.
sarcasm off
Dec '12
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
So the left has created a new orthodoxy that stifles reasoned thought but only will tolerate a narrow band of thinking. It is condescending and a bit frightening that our government is pushing the thought control of pop-culture. What a superficial anti-intellectual bunch of hypocrites. I guess this is an accurate description of the times we live in:2 Timoth 3:1-51 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Jun '10
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
If we don't want a preacher who preaches that practicing homosexuality is a sin then I suppose we wouldn't want a prayer that attempts to turn God into the arbiter of identity politics.
Here are a few excerpts from Reverend Lowery's 2009 benediction:
Preachers who go for laugh lines aren't praying in humility.
Nov '11
Re: Make Your Choice: Affirm Homosexuality Or Be Gone
Okay. So?
People are responsible for the things they say, are they not?
You use the phrase "Christian belief as found in the Bible," but which Bible? And which interpretation?
And see, none of this would matter if we didn't have benedictions.
I'm against vandalism, obviously. But if those churches opposed interracial marriage instead of gay marriage and got the same treatment, would you cry persecution?