Posted on 12/06/2010 10:47:16 AM PST by inflorida
Richard Davis grew up in the black Pentecostal church in the 1960s and '70s that preached homosexuals were doomed not only to eternal damnation but a hotter place in hell than where other sinners might go. Old Testament scripture quoted from the pulpit fostered within Davis a homophobia.
By the time Davis was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1982, the overt condemnation of gays in the black church had been tempered into an unspoken acknowledgement that some members of the congregation, and the clergy, might be homosexual. But as long as they did not acknowledge their sexual orientation, they could remain within the church.
Yet Davis, 58, very publicly broke that code of silence when he conducted a series of forums this fall on "Gays in the Black Church: Is it time to come out of the closet?" that called out the hypocrisy and homophobia of black churches. In the forums, Davis apologized to black gay church members for his past homophobia. It was an apology that may never have come were it not for the empathy he received at a low point in his life and which came from a lesbian friend.
In looking at the black churches' silence on gays, Davis said, "We know our musicians, our best orators, our best preachers, our best singers, are homosexual. We know you're gay — just don't tell us."
And yet, he said, "We were hypocritical because while gays were amongst us, worked and died, we never recognized them, never gave them the love that Jesus would give them."
While many predominately white denominations — including Lutherans, Episcopalians and Presbyterians — have become more accepting of gays in the pews and the pulpits, the black church has largely not.
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
Hate the sin,love the sinner. That’s how it should be!
“For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” Jude 4
“Sometimes I seek spiritual guidance from the Lord Almighty. And sometimes I think that the guidance from my lesbian friend is far superior ...”
True.
the love of Jesus cares enough to call sinners to repentence
Gay jackboot imperialism and colonization succeeds again.
It made him scared of homosexuals?
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No longer "homophobic", Davis now believes that homosexuals are better than heterosexuals.
There is no such thing as homophobia. A phobia is an irrational fear of something. People aren’t afraid of homosexuals, just disgusted by them.
So warning people to flee from the wrath to come is a 'phobia'?
Its "hate" to love a soul enough to warn them that they are walking their souls into eternal damnation?
We are all sinners, and Thank God HE gave us HIS only Begotten Son to be our Saviour. But we do no one a favor by telling them that they should continue to walk in sin - to trample underfoot our Lord's Ransom (HIS Life).
Walking in sin is not a 'valid lifestyle'...
This 'pastor' has decided he prefers the approval of the World, rather than the approval of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Good point. This guy's conclusion is very typical of the bad hermeneutics used by religionists of late (won't call them Christians). They are so married to the idea that "Jesus loves everybody", they cannot read the entire Book and apprehend the Gospel. They are the modern-day pagans.
Well Reverend, we know your “best golfer” isn’t Gay.
I am afraid of what they are doing to the MORALS and the Norms of the world.....we have spun into ALL GAY, ALL THE TIME, and I FEAR for my country, the military, etc.
AMEN. When a Pastor compromises on scripture to appeal to his friends IMO he is in rebellion against God. I don’t buy that there is any separation where Hell is any hotter for some than for others.... but the cowardly,unbelieving sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,sorcerers, idolaters,
and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone,which is the second death.Rev.21:8
I have no problem with any church reaching out to sinners—but they ought not be invited to take part in the sacraments.
ANy believer should by now be gone from that wicked place. and reject th estrange doctrine of this man.
IMO the end times famine will be for the Word of God.The falling away that precedes His coming seems to have been manifested- If I read the signs right.
I'm undecided on this issue of "levels of hell". Those who push this doctrine base it, in part, on Jesus warning (going from memory here - no bible nearby) "Woe to you Chorazin, it will be WORSE for you in the day of judgment than for Sodom and Gomorrah for if those cities had seen what you've seen they would have repented." The fact it can be WORSE for some than others leads to the doctrine that there are different levels of hell and punishment. I'm not totally convinced but I'm not discarding the possibility either.
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