Interview for WithJosh.com

I don't think I ever posted this interview I did with my friend Josh Skinner. Josh is a wonderful person. I hope you enjoy this interview and subscribe to his website at www.withjosh.com!!

American Family Association Radio Host: It's Time To Imprison All Gays

American Family Association radio host Bryan Fischer has called for sending homosexuals to prison for forced reparative therapy, a move he says is sanctioned by the Bible. Below, he responds to an email from a complaining listener.

Thanks for writing me about my comments on my program regarding homosexuality. It might be worth noting that what I actually suggested is that we impose the same sanctions on those who engage in homosexual behavior as we do on those who engage in intravenous drug abuse, since both pose the same kind of risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. I'd be curious to know what you think should be done with IV drug abusers, because whatever it is, I think the same response should be made to those who engage in homosexual behavior.

If you believe that what drug abusers need is to go into an effective detox program, then we should likewise put active homosexuals through an effective reparative therapy program. Secondly, I'm afraid you're simply wrong about the Bible's perspective on the law and homosexuality. Paul lists quite explicitly in 1 Timothy 1:8-11 the actions and behaviors that are the proper concern of the law:

"Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine..."

The bottom line here is that, biblically, those "who practice homosexuality" should come under the purview of the law just as much as those who take people captive in order to sell them into slavery. You express a belief in the Scriptures, and I trust your confidence in Scripture is not selective. If you believe all Scripture is inspired, then you are compelled to accept that legal sanctions may appropriately be applied to those who engage in homosexual behavior.

In November, Fischer called for banning all Muslims from the U.S. military. In addition to his radio show for the American Family Association, Fischer is the executive director of the Idaho Family Alliance.

Remember folks, the Christianist right is not about hatred and bigotry. It's about the gentle redemptive love of Jesus, forced upon you at the barrel of a gun in prison as they beat the gay out of you.

(via Joe.my.god)

Hate Passes Indiana Senate

Today the Indiana Senate passed the Marriage Discrimination Amendment. I am disturbed anytime I hear about this injustice happening around the world. However, it's particularly painful and disturbing to see it happen in the place you call home.

Same-sex marriage is already illegal in Indiana. Yet, that is not enough for the Christian's who have made Jesus a political figure rather than the Savior He is. Below is the report Indiana Equality sent via email...

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Indiana’s Marriage Discrimination Amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 13 (SJR-13) authored by Senator Carlin Yoder passed the Indiana State Senate by a vote of 38 to 10 today, Thursday, January 28, 2010.

Leading the Senate opposition to SJR-13, Senators Vi Simpson (Bloomington) and Tim Lanane (Anderson) stated clearly that the Marriage Discrimination Amendment threatens Indiana’s economic recovery and distracts from the real issues facing Hoosiers.

The amendment will moves now to the House of Representatives where similar proposals – House Joint Resolutions 5 and 7 (HJR-5 & HJR-7) were filed by Representatives Bill Davis and Eric Turner.

“The Marriage Discrimination Amendment violates every Hoosier’s basic right to fairness and equality. It’s just an attempt to distract Hoosiers from the greater issues facing Indiana, threatening our state’s current and future economic development” stated Indiana Equality Action President Randy Studt.

The Marriage Discrimination Amendment is being advocated by Advance America, the American Family Association of Indiana, and the Indiana Family Institute. Even though Indiana has passed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1997, a law that has been upheld by Indiana courts, these organizations continue to push for this unnecessary and discriminatory amendment.

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If this Marriage Discrimination bill (SJR-13) passes the House of Representatives, it will then have to pass through legislator again. If it passes through the legislature the second time, it will then go to a statewide vote to put a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

Go HERE to tell members of the Indiana House that ALL Hoosier families deserve equal protection!

Birthday Party for a Prostitute

Donald Miller's Response to Pat Robertson about Haiti

Back in the day, the comment Pat Robertson made today would have infuriated me. Robertson essentially blamed the devastation that took place in Haiti on the idea that, generations ago, people in Haiti sold their souls to the Devil and are now paying for it. I’m reminded of a similar comment made in a debate on CNN, in which yet another religious figure blamed the devastation in New Orleans following Katrina on the debauchery that took place in that town. Luckily, or perhaps providentially, Tony Campolo was also on the show and pointed out that the French Quarter was fine, that it was low-income minorities who were devastated, and then asked his fellow guest point blank whether God was angry with low-income minorities. The other guest really didn’t know what to say. Any answer would have painted him a loon.

Regardless, Robertson’s comments further divide people of faith from, well, people of faith. I don’t want to debate the theological ramifications of Robertson’s statements, I only want to point out some perspectives that ease my anger, and instead, cause me to pity him. I consider this a more mature response than I would have had a few years ago. Here are a few perspectives that, hopefully, will keep you from throwing a stapler through a wall:

• Many controlling personalities are drawn to the idea of a severe, vengeance oriented God. Robertson must have read a book about Haiti at one point, but it lacked civility to cite that book and espouse an absurd theological idea on television, without context for both. It was reactionary, and came off as a manifestation of his personality, not his theology. Regardless, it was sadly irresponsible for him to make such a devastatingly shocking statement in the context of great hurt. Can you imagine giving the eulogy at a funeral and starting out by saying “before I tell you about God’s grace, let me make it clear that little Johnny deserved to die because he stole candy from a store.” There is something wrong with a person who would do this. These people are often, themselves, controlling. They are wired to build empires, and in order to build empires you have to get people to do what you say, and if you have God standing behind you threatening hurt and pain, you can motivate people. I’ve heard pastors pray and call other men cowards, get angry from the pulpit, yell, belittle other Christian pastors who don’t agree with them, fire people who will not submit to them, surround themselves with yes men and so on. Sadly, they never point the finger at themselves. It’s always YOU or THEM who are the sinners. When they need God’s grace, they usually confess to studying too hard or caring too much. But compassion comes when you realize, and it doesn’t take long to see it, that this person is afraid that if he gives anybody else a free will, they will use it against them. Their mantra is: If I don’t control people, they won’t love me. Psychologists see control as a response to a perceived threat. Picture an adult with an inner twelve-year old saying “I’ll hurt you before you hurt me. I’m tough. I say tough things. Don’t mess with me again.” In religion, these leaders often project their way of seeing the world onto God. Please forgive me for painting Robertson with a sweeping brush. It’s not always true of controlling people, and there are often good reasons to be harsh and to take action (for instance, when somebody really is trying to control you!) It’s just that this is one of the understandings that has helped me respond to controlling people with more compassion. Theologically, what we all deserve is death, and Christ paid that for us. We live in the New Testament, not the old. Lets spread God’s unconditional love.

• Another truth that gives me a more grounded perspective on Pat Robertson is that he really doesn’t represent most conservatives. I come from a politically and religiously conservative family, and many, many of my friends are very conservative, and all of them would be in shock at Robertson’s statements. The media would have Robertson represent all Christians, or perhaps all conservatives, but the idea is absurd. It’s also important to let people know we think it’s absurd. So here is what the Devil is really going to try to get you to do: Hate other people. Those conservatives, those Christians, those whoever…I think we’d be wise to watch out for that, and stop it at the point where it starts.

• I’ve also found that the more I trust in Christ’s redemption to be sufficient, the less overtly religious I am. And, quite honestly, the more suspect overtly religious people become to me. When I’m with somebody who talks zealously about faith, about Jesus, about the Bible, after a while, I find myself wondering whether or not their faith is strong at all. For instance, if I were with somebody who kept talking about how much they loved their wife, going on loudly and profusely, intuitively I would wonder whether or not they were struggling in their marriage. I would wonder whether they were trying to convince me they loved their wife, or if they were trying to convince themselves. (Now that I think of it, though, some of my favorite people talk about how much they love their wives, but these are less public proclamations and more sighs of appreciation.) Faith in Christ, for me, is similar. It’s intimate. I’m more comfortable giving quiet prayers, intimate prayers. Often alone, in fact. I speak of faith the way I speak of personal matters. Of course there is a time for proclamations, but that’s the key, isn’t it? There’s a time. Anyway, I love that the New Testament is mostly intimate letters written to small groups of people who met in homes. I like the quiet authenticity of our faith. Robertson’s loudness and shock-jock verbiage seems strange and oddly uncompassionate. It felt like he was trying to tell us how tough he was, not how compassionate God is.

An appropriate response to Haiti:

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in..”

An appropriate response to Pat Robertson:

“You seem angry and tired. Christ loves you. He is not impressed with your religious posturing. He really loves you. You don’t have to hide behind anything anymore. The good news really is that good.”

* I understand that many of you will want to comment on the theological truths you’ve found that support Robertson’s comments, and also on the good that Robertson has done. Regarding the latter, this was not a blanket dismissal on Robertson’s life or ministry, it was a response to a comment, regarding the former, it’s a debate I ask you to take somewhere else. Also, this isn’t meant to harshly judge Robertson, it’s meant to calm those who might want to throw a tomato at him, while also trying to understand why somebody could make such an insensitive comment at such a painful time. Lets put our tomatoes down.

* For those thinking this blog was too harsh, please understand that in one passing comment, Pat Robertson painted an entire nation as Godless, and deserving of destruction. Reports from Haiti have stated that many fled into the streets, crying out to Jesus for help. Robertson, by referencing an obscure book of unknown origin chose to prejudice an otherwise ignorant Christian audience of gullible and trusting viewers. I propose, then, this post needed to be written. I only wish more Christian leaders would speak during moments like this.

Azariah Confronts Peter Sprigg

Yesterday I was able to go on the air and speak directly to Peter Sprigg of the "Family Research Council." Here is the clip from that segment...



Here is a recent video of Peter stating he would rather have gays exported out of the United States...

Dear Fundamental Christians

Dear fundamental Christians,

Your words and your actions are causing countless lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals to attempt suicide. Your words and actions are only sending out a message of rejection and hate to the LGBT community. You say, "We love the sinner but we hate the sin." Meanwhile Jesus said, "Love the sinner and hate your own sin."

If you truly do what you do in the name of Christ and you do it because the love of Jesus has transformed you and calls you to do this... if that is true... your words and actions would be different.

The Bible tells us we can judge something by the fruit it produces. The only fruit I've tasted from your tree is animosity, bitterness, and resentment. It doesn't reflect the Christian values you say you want to save. It doesn't save the families you're out to preserve. It has only caused dissension and provoked parents to excommunicate their children if they don't "change."

It is because of messages from your corner of "Christianity" and organizations like the Family Research Council, ACLJ, Exodus, and many others why so many have and are leaving the church by the hundreds. It is a message of exclusion, elitism, mistruths, and only encourages ignorance.

For once, allow the love of Christ to transform you. He is calling you to the gay bars to hear people's stories. Jesus never called you to a building but rather the streets where the people are. Get to know us, learn to love us. I encourage you to stretch yourself to a point where it will require Jesus to take over and for you to let go.

Jump into the scary and threatening unknown. Let go of all your answers and certainty and rely on Jesus once again to Shepard you in how to love your fellow neighbor... your sister, your dad, your use-to-be best friend... me.

Let love win.

-Azariah Southworth