Sermon in Dallas

[howdy ya'll]

You know, this is unbelievable. Keep religion out of politics is what people cry, keep politics out of religion!!!!

12:56 PM CST on Monday, November 10, 2008

By DEBBIE DENMON / WFAA-TV

DALLAS - Protestors stood outside a prominent Dallas church in reaction to a sermon titled "Why Gay Is Not O.K."

Singing "Jesus Loves Me," about 100 people stood outside the First Baptist Church of Dallas in protest to the sermon, which was part of a series called "Politically Incorrect."

Pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress told First Baptist members to not believe the hate-speech hype and called the protest a plan to silence any criticism of homosexuality.

"In Romans I, it says because they rejected the true God and exchanged the truth of God for a lie, God gave them over to degrading passions - men with men and women with women," he said. "And so, the Bible says when the people reject the truth of God's word, they're open to any kind of immorality."

But Michael Robinson, the founder of Unified Community Against Gay Hate Crimes, said sermons like Jeffress' can lead to very serious hate crimes.

"What they are preaching from the pulpit is hate and that breeds these type of people to come out and do these type of crimes," he said.

Linda Bell, another protestor, said the sermon's message struck a personal nerve.

"I know one boy who committed suicide because he was homosexual," said Linda Bell. "So, it's wrong."

While Jeffress said he believes "homosexuality is a perversion," he said he doesn't believe that should translate into "disrespectful" treatment.

"Being against homosexuality is no license to treat anybody in a disrespectful way," he said.

[bigfatfurrytexan]

Of course, the bible could be wrong, too. Or their interpretation of it.

I think it is easier to say that God loves all his children, and he created homosexuality to further have a display of diversity.

As above, so below. :)

[howdy ya'll]

I guess I was more looking at the double standards that is being shown. Keep religion out of politics, keep politics out of religion. Nothing seems to be good enough.

[sparky-4]

another way of looking at the situation is that the protesters are infringing on the religious rights of the people who go to that church and have biblical religious beliefs that homosexuality is a perversion and a choice

The people who go to that church and their pastor are being persecuted by the protesting homosexuals for their beliefs.. leave them alone.. and if you don't like the message, stay out of their building.

why is it that the gays want to stick their lifestyle in my face and force me to accept it and when I fire back at the real reasons they choose to live that way, they tell me to shut up and what goes on in their bedrooms between adults is non of my business.. now there is true double-speak for you:D

[bigfatfurrytexan]

Perhaps it is because they didn't "choose" to be what they are. :)

I speak from personal experience here, dealing with a child that i KNEW was going to be gay his entire life. From the time he was a toddler, i KNEW he would be gay. And i loved him anyway.

"What" he is doesn't make him "who" he is. And i am far more concerned with "who" people are. That speaks to their soul, something deeper than the physical.

[sparky-4]

Perhaps it is because they didn't "choose" to be what they are. :)

I speak from personal experience here, dealing with a child that i KNEW was going to be gay his entire life. From the time he was a toddler, i KNEW he would be gay. And i loved him anyway.

"What" he is doesn't make him "who" he is. And i am far more concerned with "who" people are. That speaks to their soul, something deeper than the physical.

and we will never, ever, ...ever...ever agree whatsoever on the whole choice/gay gene, argument so I will not reply to your post other than to move on, keep it civil and on track here;)

[howdy ya'll]

There are so many that 'choose' to be gay and I think that most of those are the ones who instigate the protesting and rub it in your face and demand you to accept them and if you dont then you are discriminating and thro politics and religion where it is not supposed to be.

I agree with sparky, if you dont like the sermon, leave and find another church. Dont take my freedom of speech away, and my freedom of religion. I dont think this church was doing any illegal blood sucking rituals to not be within the legal limits of the law. There is nothing stopping people who are gay to form their own church. I dont think it is that hard.

Just because you are gay, does not mean you are non spiritual, and there are churches out there that they can go to comfortably, on both parties.

Some gay people want love and tolerance, well, then they should express it as well.

AND...bfft, with supportive parents, those that feel they are gay will grow up with that love and tolerance.

[bigfatfurrytexan]

There are so many that 'choose' to be gay and I think that most of those are the ones who instigate the protesting and rub it in your face and demand you to accept them and if you dont then you are discriminating and thro politics and religion where it is not supposed to be.

I agree with sparky, if you dont like the sermon, leave and find another church. Dont take my freedom of speech away, and my freedom of religion. I dont think this church was doing any illegal blood sucking rituals to not be within the legal limits of the law. There is nothing stopping people who are gay to form their own church. I dont think it is that hard.

Just because you are gay, does not mean you are non spiritual, and there are churches out there that they can go to comfortably, on both parties.

Some gay people want love and tolerance, well, then they should express it as well.

AND...bfft, with supportive parents, those that feel they are gay will grow up with that love and tolerance.

I agree with this totally.

Sparky, i understand where you are coming from. :)

[Dudette]

BFFT knows my feelings on this subject, so I express this for others. As a Christian I struggle with my faith daily. I have made a choice to believe what is stated in the Bible, so therefore I believe homosexuality is not what God intends for us, but the reason for this in my opinion is because we are to multiply and because it adds stress to the lives of these people who are condemned by others for their choice.
I love my children and grandchildren and I want them to experience the best lives possible, with all of the blessings that God intends for his childrren. I do not condemn those who are homosexual, but I can not condone it either. I am sinful and I do not expect others to condone my actions either. I also know that for the most part, my sin is not done with the intent to hurt anyone else, nor do I believe that most homosexuals are that way because they want to hurt another person. It just is what it is because we live in a sinful world and none of us are without sin.

[bigfatfurrytexan]

BFFT knows my feelings on this subject, so I express this for others. As a Christian I struggle with my faith daily. I have made a choice to believe what is stated in the Bible, so therefore I believe homosexuality is not what God intends for us, but the reason for this in my opinion is because we are to multiply and because it adds stress to the lives of these people who are condemned by others for their choice.
I love my children and grandchildren and I want them to experience the best lives possible, with all of the blessings that God intends for his childrren. I do not condemn those who are homosexual, but I can not condone it either. I am sinful and I do not expect others to condone my actions either. I also know that for the most part, my sin is not done with the intent to hurt anyone else, nor do I believe that most homosexuals are that way because they want to hurt another person. It just is what it is because we live in a sinful world and none of us are without sin.

I love temperance. :)