Preachers and Leaders, Are They Facing Reality?

Gay Pastor Confession May Draw More Compassion
By
Lillian Kwon
Christian Post Reporter

Congregants of the mega church Grace Chapel are broken yet standing firm after their lead pastor confessed to homosexual struggles. Much like evangelical pastor Ted Haggard, the Rev. Paul Barnes will be led through counseling, which had failed him in earlier attempts.

"I have struggled with homosexuality since I was a 5-year-old boy," Barnes said in the 32- minute video, which church leaders permitted The Denver Post to view. "... I can't tell you the number of nights I have cried myself to sleep, begging God to take this away."
His wife, Char, cradled his hand. Barnes declined an interview request through the church.
Related
Mega church Pastor Confesses to Gay Encounters
Ted Haggard Begins 'Restoration'
Barnes, 54, started Grace Chapel 28 years ago in his basement as he carried homosexual feelings, which he described as "my thorn in the flesh." He was in counseling three times before he made his public confession.

Lillian Kwon

Preachers and Leaders, Are They Facing Reality?

OK, Here is my observation:

Have our pastors and church leaders become consumed with the popular traditional, religious and political views of banning gay marriages and preaching the unadulterated gospel of condemning homosexual "sin" and damnation to all who are blameworthy? Could it be that they are ignoring the possibility that their interpretations of the scriptures on the subject matter of homosexuality may be erroneous. Could it be that it is their pride and prejudice that raises their "holy indignation" preventing them from reconsidering the traditional literal interpretations of the bible instead of investigating the scriptures for illumination and clarity on a subject matter that is so- real in the hearts and minds of many people in society and a numerous amount of their congregants.

Why does the subject matter of homosexuality bring about such great debate; I'm sure that this same type of great debate occurred many years ago on the controversial subject matters of slavery, civil rights, the silence of women in the church, voting rights for women and etc.

Preaching at people and telling them that they were not born with natural homosexual desires, convincing people that homosexuality is an evil spirit that they must be delivered from does not serve an individual's soul and spiritual needs. Encouraging individuals to suppress their natural homosexual desires and to follow the path of traditional heterosexual dating and marriage which sometimes leads to living a lifestyle of passive-deception; Whatever happened to the quote:

"To thine self be true".

Has the traditional religious community totally missed the mark?

Samuel

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