Tonight begins an all out effort by homosexual activists to get Black churches to be more accepting of homosexuals in their congregation. Al Sharpton and Bishop Yvette Flunder of San Francisco will be hosting a meeting in Atlanta between Black pastors and Black homosexual activist.
The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting:
The gathering, at the First Iconium Baptist Church near downtown Atlanta, will feature films, discussions on acceptance and a look at how homophobia in churches is promoting the "down-low" phenomenon -- men having sex with other men while maintaining a heterosexual identity.
In San Francisco, a city known for its acceptance of gay and lesbian people, a coalition of African American pastors condemned same-sex marriage during the 2004 presidential election. They said it would advance the decline of marriage and family values in the African American community. That sentiment is shared in a number of churches across the country by clergy of all races.
I wonder if it ever occurred to author of this piece that the reason these pastors opposed same-sex marriage had nothing to do with the presidential election? Their vocal opposition was prompted by the fact that San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom violated California law and the will of the voters by issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. And thus, these pastors were morally obligated to speak out against this action which would have given government sanction to a lifestyle that, according to their faith is a sin.
It is so disheartening because African Americans have had strong social connections to their churches but have not been allowed to talk about AIDS or homosexuality, and (gays) are publicly ostracized by their ministers," said Keith Boykin, president of the coalition and author of the book "Beyond the Down Low." "It is especially profound for black folks because the church has been a place of refuge, to get salvation and redemption, not condemnation."
What Mr. Boykin doesn’t get is that you cannot obtain salvation or redemption when you knowingly defy the word and the will of God. Just as I cannot knowingly live my life as a thief in direct contradiction to God’s word “Thou shalt not steal.”
Whether one looks in the Old Testament or the New Testament, God calls homosexuality an abomination. Furthermore, he lumps it in with other sexual sins such as adultery and fornication … No better and no worse. Thus, just as a pastor would be remiss in giving his blessing to congregants to practice these sinful behaviors, he/she would be equally remiss in allowing them to live the homosexual lifestyle without advising them that it would be in direct contradiction to God’s word.
"Almost everyone I know who is black and gay has an issue rooted in the church. It is so pervasive; it is part of our culture and our community. Black gay men go to church and have ministers condemning them, beating up on them every week."
So why do they keep going to that church? It is because they really do want salvation and acceptance. But they want it on their own terms, not God’s. And rather than finding a faith that supports their lifestyle, they would rather force Christian churches to undermine their scriptural teachings.
The church plays more than a religious role in most black communities, serving as a social gathering place and often dictating the politics of its parishioners.
Activists say anti-gay sentiment grew in 2004 because white conservative Christian groups rallied black ministers against gay marriage. Many believe this bond between white evangelicals and black pastors helped President Bush get 11 percent of the African American vote that year.
"The Karl Roves of the world wrote an agenda on how to mobilize the African American vote, and part of that was to suggest the vote against same-gender marriage," Flunder said, referring to Bush's top political adviser.
First of all, the first function of the church is spiritual; not social, not political or financial. And anything the church does in these other areas must also promote the spiritual wellbeing of church members. It was not Karl Rove who mobilized Black Pastors. It was those on the left and those in the homosexual community who sought to force their moral values on the rest of society. Much like the Boykin and Flunder are trying to do.
Having said all of the above, I will agree with Boykin and Flunder on one thing. We (the church) do need to discuss these issues, because they do impact our brothers and sisters. And we need to do so with the understanding that none us are perfect. The Bible says, “All have fallen and come short of the glory of God.” We ought not let the social stigma of one sin (in this case homosexuality) lead us into thinking that our shortcomings are any better or any worse. But in love, we MUST address the impact that HIV/AIDS is having in our community.
It is so disheartening because African Americans have had strong social connections to their churches but have not been allowed to talk about AIDS or homosexuality, and (gays) are publicly ostracized by their ministers,"
However, unlike Boykin and Flunder, I believe that such a discussion would be incomplete without also including the truth about the dangers of sexual promiscuity, drug use and yes…living the homosexual lifestyle.
Craig DeLuz
Visit The Home of Uncommon Sense...
www.craigdeluz.com
The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting:
The gathering, at the First Iconium Baptist Church near downtown Atlanta, will feature films, discussions on acceptance and a look at how homophobia in churches is promoting the "down-low" phenomenon -- men having sex with other men while maintaining a heterosexual identity.
In San Francisco, a city known for its acceptance of gay and lesbian people, a coalition of African American pastors condemned same-sex marriage during the 2004 presidential election. They said it would advance the decline of marriage and family values in the African American community. That sentiment is shared in a number of churches across the country by clergy of all races.
I wonder if it ever occurred to author of this piece that the reason these pastors opposed same-sex marriage had nothing to do with the presidential election? Their vocal opposition was prompted by the fact that San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom violated California law and the will of the voters by issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. And thus, these pastors were morally obligated to speak out against this action which would have given government sanction to a lifestyle that, according to their faith is a sin.
It is so disheartening because African Americans have had strong social connections to their churches but have not been allowed to talk about AIDS or homosexuality, and (gays) are publicly ostracized by their ministers," said Keith Boykin, president of the coalition and author of the book "Beyond the Down Low." "It is especially profound for black folks because the church has been a place of refuge, to get salvation and redemption, not condemnation."
What Mr. Boykin doesn’t get is that you cannot obtain salvation or redemption when you knowingly defy the word and the will of God. Just as I cannot knowingly live my life as a thief in direct contradiction to God’s word “Thou shalt not steal.”
Whether one looks in the Old Testament or the New Testament, God calls homosexuality an abomination. Furthermore, he lumps it in with other sexual sins such as adultery and fornication … No better and no worse. Thus, just as a pastor would be remiss in giving his blessing to congregants to practice these sinful behaviors, he/she would be equally remiss in allowing them to live the homosexual lifestyle without advising them that it would be in direct contradiction to God’s word.
"Almost everyone I know who is black and gay has an issue rooted in the church. It is so pervasive; it is part of our culture and our community. Black gay men go to church and have ministers condemning them, beating up on them every week."
So why do they keep going to that church? It is because they really do want salvation and acceptance. But they want it on their own terms, not God’s. And rather than finding a faith that supports their lifestyle, they would rather force Christian churches to undermine their scriptural teachings.
The church plays more than a religious role in most black communities, serving as a social gathering place and often dictating the politics of its parishioners.
Activists say anti-gay sentiment grew in 2004 because white conservative Christian groups rallied black ministers against gay marriage. Many believe this bond between white evangelicals and black pastors helped President Bush get 11 percent of the African American vote that year.
"The Karl Roves of the world wrote an agenda on how to mobilize the African American vote, and part of that was to suggest the vote against same-gender marriage," Flunder said, referring to Bush's top political adviser.
First of all, the first function of the church is spiritual; not social, not political or financial. And anything the church does in these other areas must also promote the spiritual wellbeing of church members. It was not Karl Rove who mobilized Black Pastors. It was those on the left and those in the homosexual community who sought to force their moral values on the rest of society. Much like the Boykin and Flunder are trying to do.
Having said all of the above, I will agree with Boykin and Flunder on one thing. We (the church) do need to discuss these issues, because they do impact our brothers and sisters. And we need to do so with the understanding that none us are perfect. The Bible says, “All have fallen and come short of the glory of God.” We ought not let the social stigma of one sin (in this case homosexuality) lead us into thinking that our shortcomings are any better or any worse. But in love, we MUST address the impact that HIV/AIDS is having in our community.
It is so disheartening because African Americans have had strong social connections to their churches but have not been allowed to talk about AIDS or homosexuality, and (gays) are publicly ostracized by their ministers,"
However, unlike Boykin and Flunder, I believe that such a discussion would be incomplete without also including the truth about the dangers of sexual promiscuity, drug use and yes…living the homosexual lifestyle.
Craig DeLuz
Visit The Home of Uncommon Sense...
www.craigdeluz.com
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