While their letters and discourse promised civility, we believed that the invitation carried a veiled threat of picketing or disruption if we did not “talk.” Because of our church’s activism in religious freedom disputes, I have received death threats and intimidating e-mails and phone calls from individual gay activists. In light of this history, our church had a feeling akin to those of US leaders who have to decide whether or not to negotiate with terrorists.
Two Saturdays ago (May 24) the radical gay rights group, SoulForce, showed up at our church in Beltsville, MD for a “discussion/debate ” with our pastors. The next day their group of gay “families,” including children, attended one of our worship services. The group of 31 kept their word to act respectfully this time.
So why did they come to our church along with TD Jakes’ Potter’s House, Eddie Long’s New Birth Community Church, and Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church? And why are they going to Willow Creek Community Church and Saddleback Community Church? The answer is simple. Their goal is to force us to accept their lifestyle by slowly desensitizing us to their aberrant theology and practices. This change in tactics is an attempt to play the pity card. Continue reading...
Homosexual behavior is NOT morally superior to other kinds of sexual sin - regardless of the acceptance it currently enjoys in our culture. In fact, God calls it an abomination - suggesting that He considers it a particularly serious offense.
SoulForce is composed of people who claim to be Christians yet promote what amounts to out and out rebellion to the clearly expressed will of God. The Bible is also clear about how we are to respond:
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindlers not even to eat with such a one. - I Corinthians 5:11
Interestingly enough, homosexual activists seem to understand what Pr. Hybels does not. Dialoging with "wolves in sheeps clothing" lends credibility - to the wolves...
Recently, an American Psychiatric Assoc. symposium on the subject of reparative therapy was canceled for precisely that reason. Homosexual activists protested because they did not want to lend credibility to the notion that change is possible for homosexuals. Homosexual activist Wayne Besen said this about it:
"The cancellation of this forum is welcome news because it gave the wrong impression that the American Psychiatric Association endorsed 'ex-gay' therapy, when, in fact, the organization soundly rejects such therapies."Likewise, Bill Hybels sitting down for a meal and dialogue with SoulForce gives the impression that the acceptance of homosexual behavior in the church is something worth discussing.
Not to waste a good PR opportunity, SoulForce is predictably spinning the event for all it's worth. Here are excerpts from an article from the SoulForce website [which has since been pulled down, since my/this Blog article was first posted].
Jay Bakker Leads LGBT Families to Sup with Willow Creek Church
(Chicago. IL) Jay Bakker, star of the Sundance Channel series One Punk Under God, will be the clergy leader for a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) and straight-ally families who will join Rev. Bill Hybels and members of his Willow Creek Community Church for a meal and conversation on Sunday, June 8, 2008.Sup? They make it sound like an intimate 'tete a tete' among friends. CLICK HERE to see Pr. Hybels' dining companions.
One of the dads coming to Willow Creek is Jeff Lutes, Executive Director of Soulforce. Lutes and his partner, Gary Stein, have three adopted children.
"Pastors like Bill Hybels are part of a new generation of evangelical leaders," says Lutes. "We're asking them to get to know us and our families, because -- looking beyond the things that divide us -- we believe that they can exercise a new kind of leadership by speaking out for the safety and inclusion of our families."
Also joining the church supper with Willow Creek will be Reverend Kevin Downer of Chicago's Metropolitan Community Church and his partner, Toby Bishop. In his ministry, Downer hears stories of LGBT members of Willow Creek who are denied opportunities to be of service because they are openly gay.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time Pr. Hybels has entertained wolves. In April, he gave a platform to apostate emergent church leader, Brian McLaren, to address youth ministry leaders at the Shift conference. Read about it HERE.
It should be noted that Pr. Hybels is not the only mega-church pastor who has agreed to meet with SoulForce. Thus far, it appears 4 out of 6 mega-church pastors, have followed suit. See the SoulForce website for a progress report of furthering the gay agenda.
Pray for discernment and wisdom for our Christian leaders. They surely need it in the growing darkness...
