Christian Homosexual???

Azariah Southworth, host of the popular Christian youth show The Remix (can be seen in more than 128 million homes worldwide and averages more than 200,000 viewers weekly on TBN's JC TV channel) announced yesterday that he's gay, saying:

"This has been a long time coming. I’m in a place where I’m at peace with my faith, friends, family and more importantly myself. I know this will end my career in Christian television, but I must now live my life openly and honestly with everyone. This is my reason for doing this. ... I know I will be cut off from many within the Christian community, and if so, then they didn’t get the point of the life of Christ. I believe by me living my life honestly and authentically now, I am able to be a better person and a better Christian. We all know there are so many other gay people in the Christian industry; they’re just all scared. I was scared, but now I’m no longer afraid."

Rather than deconstructing each phrase, I want to point out something I've been noticing for a while among Christians that happens to be prominent in his statement above, specifically, that in the name of honesty & authenticity we excuse our sin.

While I'm sure this has been very difficult for Mr. Southworth both in his own soul and now in public, the goal in life is NOT authenticity--especially when being authentic or honest means being sinful. Sadly, he will not be "a better person and a better Christian" because the goal of life is to please God (1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Corinthians 5:9)--something his new lifestyle cannot do no matter how authentic he is.

For the Christian, no matter what temptation you're struggling against (lying, stealing, greed, anxiety, homosexuality, cussing, laziness) it's just that, a struggle! A struggle to do what God wants and not what you want (Romans 7:14-25). He folded in his struggle, and because it's a fold that marks his entire life in rebellion against God this likely proves he was never a Christian to begin with (I John 2:19). I just pray more won't follow his example, but rather keep on advancing in their fight against their own sin (Romans 8:12-14; Galatians 5:24-25; 2 Timothy 2:22).

Which leads me to something else. I wonder, is it as easy in churches to say you're struggling with anxiety as it is that you're struggling with homosexuality? Could this guy have been honest with someone before he "came out," or did he have no where to turn? I don't know. I just know we consider it OK to talk about struggling with some sins, but not others--a phenomena in Christianity that doesn't serve people like Mr. Southworth.

Read more about this here, and if you do, make sure you read some of the comments. You get the obligatory "God loves you just how He made you," which is so deceiving, but what do you think of the "God hates you sodomite" stuff, or the obligatory quoting of Romans 1?

Specifically, I'm asking if it's a godly way to approach a sinner and if it's effective in light of passages like, say, "love your neighbor," Colossians 4:5-6, the end of 1 Peter 3:15, 2 Timothy 2:24-26, Proverbs 12:18, 15:1, 16:21 and 16:24.

Pregnant Man? Not Really!

Welcome to the brave new world! (read about him here). Regardless of how a person looks, talks, identifies oneself, the hormonal injections, sexual orientation, relationship status, etc. this does not help the cause of gender neutrality or equality (that there is no difference between genders, that all gender is is a social construction).

In fact, it proves the exact opposite of what he was hoping for and has been fighting for in his personal life--namely, identification as a man. What it does is give incontrovertible evidence that though he thinks he's a man, he really isn't!

More Anti-Christian Bigotry from Homosexuals

Every argument used against President Bush's nominee for Surgeon General, Dr. James Holsinger, for his Bible-based view of homosexuality (as seen here) can be used against the homosexuals who are against him. It may take a little thinking, but they really do.

Now, is it controversial to say that homosexuality is not "complementary" physically? Sorry for the graphics, but do the sexual "parts" complement each other in homosexual sex, or heterosexual? That's a no brainer, and it's no wonder that this will therefore lead to more injury and disease. Tell me again what's controversial about this?

The president of the Tauro University Gay Straight Alliance, Mr. Hopping said Dr. Holsinger's views offended him. Is it just me, or does living in a society where speech is free mean there will always be a risk of offending and being offended. When someone says "I'm offended" it does not mean the offender is automatically wrong! Sometimes truth and offense go together.

So, it seems to me that people need to grow some thick skin. Welcome to adulthood where people get offended and where you offend people. In fact, I'm offended by what many homosexuals say about Christians.

And, concerning Mr. Hopping saying Dr. Holsinger has to be neutral. Why? And I'm sorry, Mr. Hopping, but if doctors are good / qualified if they're neutral, I have to ask if you're neutral? I don't think so since you are the PRESIDENT of the Tauro University Gay Straight Alliance.

This paragraph is telling:

"Holsinger's role on the national Judicial Council of the Methodist Church also is proving to be a source of concern for gay rights groups. He cast a dissenting vote in 2004 in a decision on whether to retain a pastor who was lesbian. The majority agreed to maintain her position. Last year, he also favored a pastor who wanted to block a gay man from joining his congregation. "He has a pretty clear bias against gays and lesbians," said Christina Gilgor, director of the Kentucky Fairness Alliance, a gay rights group."

If this is not religious discrimination by homosexual activists I don't know what is. Her words demonstrate a pretty clear bias against Christians, especially those who disagree with her.

Finally, to demonstrate the bias of the article they end with these words of Mr. Hopping: "It's a leadership issue. It's showing that he's not even aware of the problems that we have in the United States with healthcare."

What Dr. Holsinger's views have to do with his leadership and awareness of healthcare problems in the U.S. is beyond me. In fact, I'd say it's a pretty good bet that DR. Holsinger, Kentucky's top public health official and chancellor of the University of Kentucky's medical center, knows more about healthcare in the U.S. than MR. Hopping the third-year med student. Just a guess.

Many may say what I wrote above was not loving. First, remember that it is very difficult read tone into printed material so giving the author the benefit of the doubt is a must when reading her. Second, the most loving thing a person in the right can do to another who is misled is to lovingly explain the truth and expose falsehood. Third, I've spoken / witnessed to a number of gay men, and each one has told me how refreshing it was to hear the Christian worldview from me.

I don't say that out of pride, but to say that hatred or disgust of homosexuals was not driving anything I wrote above, but actually I was driven by a desire to expose the fallacious reasoning made by the homosexuals in the article, and to defend someone who is probably going to be "tarred and feathered" in the media (I heard a pejorative news report of this good man made by a radio news reporter today).

Lesbian "Comes Out of the Closet" Again

Click here to read a very encouraging and heart-warming testimony about God's grace in the conversion of Charlene E. Cothran.

She was a very prominent gay and lesbian activist as editor-in-chief of “Venus Magazine,” a pro-homosexual publication, who has recently "come out of the closet again" (her words) by embracing Christ and renouncing homosexuality.

This was done in the pages of the very magazine she published and edited with her article entitled "Redeemed! 10 Ways to Get Out of the Gay Life, If You Want Out."

Aside from her stirring testimony, my favorite lines from the article are these: "I intend be just as ‘out’ about my transformation as I was about my lesbian life. I have given every gift I have back to God, including VENUS Magazine. The target audience will remain the same but the mission has been renewed. Our new mission is to encourage, educate and assist those in the life who want change but can’t find a way out."

This is the radical, 180 degree transformation that comes from true conversion, just like we see in the story of Zaccheus in Luke 19. This also encourages me to witness even to the more difficult because it reminds me that absolutely no one is unreachable with the gospel. Praise God!

Billy Packer Uses Gay Slur?

If you watch any college basketball on CBS you know the name Billy Packer. Well, he's in some really hot water thanks to the politically correct nazis who've infiltrated our culture's media and opinion-givers.

Due to technical difficulties, I could not upload the video from Youtube, but if you haven't seen this video already, you will. You can guarantee it. Don't be surprised if this hits the national news tomorrow (Thursday, April 5th). Jimmy Kimmel on this video is priding himself that only he has found this. Please watch it here before reading on.

I heard about this and got outraged after seeing ESPNews host Bill Pidto introduce the story by saying Packer used "a homosexual slur." I got so offended when I saw that just now that I wrote an email to ESPN. In only 500 words I said something along the lines of:

I just saw Bill Pidto on ESPNews say Billy Packer used a "homosexual slur." He did NOTHING of the sort.

This is 1st grade English. The gay slur is a noun. Packer's word was a VERB. Same spelling, different word!

Words ONLY have meaning in context. The context was Mr. Rose always saying something and never following through, not homosexuality.

After almost 20 years, I'm convinced ESPN creates the news just as much as they report it. You've ruined people doing this (e.g., Drew Bledsoe, Rex Grossman) and you're doing it again. Stop it!

Sadly, I think the news media, shows like Jimmy Kimmel's and ESPN will work tirelessly to ruin Billy Packer by twisting him into a hater of homosexuals by taking his word out of context to make him so. I'm convinced they will "sacrifice" another decent, hardworking victim for their cause.

So much for the freedom to speak words that just sound like words we don't have the freedom to speak. Ugh!!!

As an aside, I listened to a sermon yesterday that asked the question "When was the last time you got mad over something that would make God mad, something kingdom related?" Does this qualify?

I tend to think it does because God is a God of truth and justice and if Packer gets fired for this, it is anything but just because it would be for false allegations.

Pastor Commits Suicide

Please read this tragic story of another pastor who was having a homosexual affair before he killed himself after finding out the local Pittsburgh TV news was going to out him.

What's the fascination with catching pastors being hypocrites? Does it make us feel better about our own hypocritical behavior? With everything else going on in the world is a local pastor's life of shame news worthy? I can understand letting the elders or presbytery know, but the KDKA-TV news?

His "lover" is someone looking for attention, not someone who truly cares about the guy's church or family and the same is true for the TV station. They're both sick.

Also, what is with unqualified pastors being pastors in the first place. Don't get me wrong, while I think suicide is self-centered and prideful, I feel sorry for a guy who'd rather kill himself than face his family, church and presbytery.

But think about it. You've just been outed as a hypocrite on local TV, drug your name, your family and your church through the mud, totally discrediting the ministry and giving people yet another reason to reject Christianity, and on top of that, you've willfully sinned against God so you kill yourself. After all that, is there no fear of God? Rather than face the temporal consequences he kills himself so he can face God after Romans 1, 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1 and James 3:1 have meant nothing to him.

Thankfully, the Cross covers homosexual hypocrisy and the gospel brings forgiveness to the one suffering under the weight of that guilt. Jesus died so save sinners, even pastors who are proven hypocrites, from the guilt and penalty for their sins. I hope his family and the church are hearing a lot about the healing found in the gospel.

Another Gay Pastor Scandal

Click here to read an article about another pastor stepping down because of homosexual affairs, Paul Barnes of Grace Chapel in Colorado.

I am conflicted between sadness and anger, going back and forth from "How could you dishonor God, your wife, your daughters, your church and your office like that?" to "Is that me without the grace of God?"

The most disturbing part of the article: "Barnes expressed hope for a future where one can 'be who you are' and be accepted and loved in the Christian community and also spoke about 'separating some of the teachings from Scripture' from Jesus Christ."

The "I want to be like that" part of the article: "Church elder Russ Pilcher said the reaction at services Sunday was largely concern for the couple. 'I thought, "Where did I fall short in making myself so unapproachable that he couldn't come to me?"' Pilcher said."

Applying Ted Haggard to Me

I want to publically thank Tim Challies for reminding me that "there is really no difference between you and Haggard or between myself and Haggard. We are all totally depraved with our sin extending to every aspect of our being. There but for the grace of God go I. There but for the grace of God go you. While I would not expect a reporter to approach me if I were to fall into similar sin, I can only imagine the pain of having to sit in front of my children, my wife, and answer questions about whether or not I have had sex with a man or admitting that I purchased illegal drugs. It's horrible. It's terrifying."

While some write, "I'm sick and tired of being associated with a 'Christianity' that does not seem to care one whit about holiness or obedience to God's Word. Let me say this as perfectly clear as I can: I believe that 'Christianity' in America is nearly totally apostate. Why? We have abandoned the vision of the Holiness and Fear of God. We've built a false god that will cater to our flesh and meet our 'felt needs'. Our real need? Repentance. But we don't want to go there. We live in Laodicea. No apologies. Cut and dried. Stuff like this can only happen because contemporary Christianity is rotten to the core."

However, remember it's not because Christianity is rotten to the core, but because we are, I am, rotten to the core, and I pray that God will keep me from falling.

Thank you Tim. You can read the totally of his very good post on the Haggard scandal here.

Haggard Gay-Sex Scandal Conclusion

Mike Jones' allegations were true, and Ted Haggard publicly admitted it this morning when his letter was read to New Life Church. You can read his statement here.

His confession and apology was so refreshing to read. Here is a man who admitted to and owned his sin, which is so much different than the politicians and celebrities (has anyone of these home-wrecking celebs publicly apologized, or just live like they ate a sandwich and not ruined lives). I hope someone far more clever than me contrasts his apology with John Kerry's.

Please analyze this statement my Jones: "It made me angry that here's someone preaching about gay marriage and going behind the scenes having gay sex." Many gay people oppose gay marriage! What does the one (gay affair) have to do with the other (gay marriage)? Jones' motivation was PURELY political, and he freely admits it. I bet he gets a book and/or movie deal out of this.

I hope everyone who reads Ted's statement realizes that rebelling against a position you hold to be true (i.e., homosexuality is a sin) doesn't mean (1) he really supports the position (as his statement clearly shows), or (2) the position is false. His actions say nothing about the morality of homosexuality or same-sex marriage. They are morally wrong regardless of Ted Haggard, or anyone else. If same-sex marriage should be legal because Ted Haggard was having a gay affair, should it be illegal if he wasn't? When did Ted Haggard's private life dictate public policy? Am I missing something here?

In his statement, the part that impressed me most was this: "Please forgive my accuser. He is revealing the deception and sensuality that was in my life. Those sins, and others, need to be dealt with harshly. So, forgive him and, actually, thank God for him. I am trusting that his actions will make me, my wife and family, and ultimately all of you, stronger. He didn’t violate you; I did." Amazing! That anyone would say that, I think, shows the work of God on their heart.

However, I am most impressed with Gayle Haggard's, Ted's wife's, statement. It is clearly heart-felt and Christ-centered. You can tell she has a real relationship with God. Please read it here. What an impressive woman!!!

It's obvious from his statement that he was living a secret life of sin that consumed him. Unlike Mike Jones who flaunts his "lifestyle," Haggard was clearly conflicted and deeply hated the "repulsive and dark" things he's been "warring against" it all his adult life. There is a lot that needs to be fixed in his heart, so he still needs our prayers, as does his family and New Life Church.

The best line to end this series of posts on is the last line of Mrs. Haggard's statement: Ted "is now the visible and public evidence that every man (woman and child) needs a Savior."

Haggard Gay-Sex Scandal Update

The overseer board of New Life Church has concluded that Ted Haggard is guilty of "sexually immoral conduct," and have removed him as pastor, a move Mr. Haggard and his wife agreed with. Read their statement for yourself here.

I am confused as Haggard flatly denied having any kind of sexual relationship with Jones, but agreed to being removed for "sexually immoral conduct." What's the truth here? Will we ever know? Do we deserve to know?

Tragically, all the news agencies I've read (Breitbart, Rocky Mountain News, CBS 4 Denver) leave out the fact that they will "explore the depth of Pastor Haggard’s offense so that a plan of healing and restoration can begin" (I skimmed these sites, so I may have missed it).

Notice, the world ends with "he's been removed," but the Christians should pray for these things for some time. Though this will be out of the public eye after tomorrow (when a statement by Haggard will be read to the church), we need to be praying for him for some time.

Also, remember it's only by the grace of God that this story isn't about me or about you; "let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall." (1 Cor 10:12).

Finally, though the cause of Christ in our culture has taken a severe hit remember that Christianity is not ultimately judged by its followers, but by its Founder.

Haggard Gay-Sex Scandal Update

Now, Ted Haggard is admitting to buying the meth, but never taking it (because he was tempted), and receiving a massage from Mike Jones, but not having gay-sex. See the article here.

This is a downward spiral that's not looking good for Haggard. Continue to pray for him, his family, the overseers, the church, and the NAE.

Also, I just heard Mike Jones interviewed on KFI 640's John & Ken Show. I'll link their show downloads here, so that you can hear it for yourself (you'll have to sign up for a free KFI Press Pass to listen to it once it's posted). He reiterated his accusations, and said he has evidence (phone records and identifying body marks on Haggard) that what he's accusing is true. Also, he reaffirmed that Haggard's hypocrisy is proof against traditional marriage and for same-sex marriage and/or domestic partnership.

Can someone please explain that logic? A hypocrite is someone, NOT who says one thing but does another, but who says something is wrong but does it and affirms that it's right. In other words, a person can have gay-sex, think it's wrong and think gay marriage is wrong. If the accusations are true, all it proves is that Haggard's a sinner, not that same-sex marriage is morally right and should be promoted by the government.

Haggard Gay-Sex Scandal Update

Mike Jones, the gay male prostitute accusing the Rev. Ted Haggard of a 3 year affair in order to sway voters against a ban on same-sex marriage (see story below), has failed a lie detector test. Click here to read an article about it.

However, lie detectors are known for false positives, and the stress he's caused himself over all this, according to the test administrator, may have skewed the results.

Haggard Gay-Sex Scandal

According to multiple news sources, Rev. Ted Haggard the president of the National Association of Evangelicals, senior pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs and one of Time Magazine's Top 25 Most Influential Evangelicals has "resigned Thursday after being accused of paying for sex with a man in monthly trysts over the past three years."

Read articles here, here, with the most in depth article I've seen so far here.

Haggard said the escort, who made the accusation today on Denver talk radio, was lying.

I pray it's not true--a family and church destroyed is never good. So, for those of you out there that are happy about this (I've read a couple blogs like this), you should be ashamed of yourself. However, if it is true, I pray that he'll confess and repent of his sins, and I pray for healing, wisdom and forgiveness for him, his family (he has wife and 5 kids), the church and the organizations he's involved with.

I have three things to say about this:

First, Mike Jones, the man making the allegations of gay sex and drug use, does seem fishy. According to the CBS article, he came forward because of the political fight in Colorado over same-sex marriage, saying "I just want people to step back and take a look and say, 'Look, we're all sinners, we all have faults, but if two people want to get married, just let them, and let them have a happy life'" (though this has nothing to do with Haggard's guilt or innocence, what a bad argument for same-sex marriage). In other words, it's fishy because the "coming out" with this was politically motivated.

Second, Ted Haggard stepping down from New Life & the NAE and seeking spiritual counsel doesn't look good either, but I'm not sure what the logistics are for investigating the matter, although New Life Church explained some of it here.

Third, though as far as the truth of the allegation goes this means nothing, but in an online poll many more people believe Mike Jones (65% to 35%), which means Mr. Haggard's image, for now, is severely tarnished.

***UPDATE: I just read in the FoxNews.com article that "The acting senior pastor at New Life, Ross Parsley, told KKTV-TV of Colorado Springs that Haggard admitted that some of the accusations were true, but Parsley did not elaborate. A telephone number for Parsley could not be found late Thursday." Agh!

***ADDITION: Let me get this straight, Mike Jones' argument is "Ted Haggard, an opponent of same-sex marriage, has been having an affair with a man. Therefore, everyone should vote against the ban on same-sex marriage in Colorado next week." I think that's the definition of a non-sequitur--the conclusion does not follow from the premise.