Now he’s being labeled “anti-gay” for a sermon that “surfaced” from 15 to 20 years ago.
 |
| Louie Giglio |
Preachers aren’t hiding anything. They broadcast their message, they post their sermons, etc. I would expect someone could unearth a similar message or one with similar themes in Giglio’s preaching that was delivered not that long ago.
But the word I really want to focus on here is anti-gay. Anti- means again. Opposed to, etc. It has a sense of hatred. Is this an accurate description of Giglio? The Washington Post quotes Giglio’s sermon from 15 or so years ago urging Christians to “firmly respond to the aggressive agenda” of some in the gay community and warns that widespread gay marriage ”would run the risk of absolutely undermining the whole order of our society.” [The message can be found here].
This New York Times picked this section of the sermon to highlight: “That movement is not a benevolent movement. It is a movement to seize by any means necessary the feeling and the mood of the day, to the point where the homosexual lifestyle becomes accepted as a norm in our society.”
When word spread that Giglio would be delivering the inaugural benediction, author Gabe Lyons writes, “an extreme and small faction of outspoken gay activists” that helped end Giglio’s appearance.
Lyons, who is also the founder founder of Q Ideas, which is a learning community that mobilizes Christians to advance the common good in society, wrote that “within hours of the second inaugural committee’s announcement, blogs started firing. Someone had uncovered a mid-1990’s era sermon Giglio had given on homosexuality and mined it for their narrow agenda,” Lyons wrote. “The website Think Progress denounced Mr. Giglio as ‘vehemently anti-gay.’ A petition to the White House gleaned a meager 900 signatures demanding the committee replace the minister. Media outlets took the bait and echoed claims Mr. Giglio was anti-gay (though he holds the same historic position on sexuality as an overwhelming majority of American Christians, Jews and Muslims).”
In short, Giglio’s comments from 15 years ago proved true: Beware of a movement to "seize by any means necessary the feeling and the mood of the day." The feeling of the day, according to this just released Lifeway Research report, is fewer Americans believe homosexuality is a sin.
So Giglio is out and according to Christianity Post, a pro-homosexual pastor is in.
But now back to the word anti-gay. Here’s what Giglio said when announcing he’d not be delivering the benediction:
“The issue of homosexuality (which a particular message of mine some 20 years ago addressed) is one of the most difficult our nation will navigate. However, individuals’ rights of freedom, and the collective right to hold differing views on any subject is a critical balance we, as a people, must recover and preserve.”
Does this sound anti-gay?
He continued:
“As a pastor, my mission is to love people, and lead them well, while lifting up the name of Jesus above anything else. I’m confident that anyone who knows me or has listened to the multitude of messages I have given in the last decade would most likely conclude that I am not easily characterized as being opposed to people—any people. Rather, I am constantly seeking to understand where all people are coming from and how to best serve them as I point them to Jesus.”
Does this sound like a “hater”?
He concludes:
“In all things, the most helpful thing I can do is to invite each of us to wrestle with scripture and its implications for our lives. God’s words trump all opinions, including mine, and in the end, I believe God’s words lead to life.”
God’s words trump all opinions. Even those 43 percent of Americans who don't view homosexuality as as in.
Of course, some have called Him anti-gay too. What He actually is is anti-sin. Big difference. As Mark Twain once said: "The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning."
-- Word Smith
