Giglio: ‘Homosexuality’ A Difficult Issue For Nation

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM


PEMA LEVY 4:11 PM EST, THURSDAY JANUARY 10, 2013

Rev. Louie Giglio commented that "the issue of homosexuality" is "one of the most difficult our nation will navigate" in a blog post Thursday, explaining his decision to withdraw from the presidential inauguration proceedings after anti-gay comments he made years ago came to light.

"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," Giglio wrote. "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."

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.

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.

My greatest desire is that we not be distracted from the things we are focused on…seeing people in our city come to know Jesus, and speaking up for the last and least of these throughout the world.

Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/giglio-homosexuality-difficult-issue-for-nation

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Link to Giglio's blog:
http://www.passioncitychurch.com/blog/?p=1436

[adieu]

1. It's not a difficult issue

What people do in the privacy of their own homes is their business. Done.

[BigDemVoter]

23. Not to mention what people choose to do in public--

i.e. public displays of affection-- heterosexuals do it all the time so fair is fair.

[adieu]

24. As long as it doesn't scare the horses, who cares, right?

Hets do a lot more public displays of affection than homosexuals.

[randome]

29. That's rational and even reasonable.

But is it Reality? To deny that some have a 'problem' with homosexuality is to deny the truth. I don't know what point I'm trying to make but it's true. Some people DO have a problem with it. Maybe keeping that in mind can make things less confrontational? I don't know, I'm just throwing it out there.

[yardwork]

31. What point are you trying to make?

Why would it "make things less confrontational" if we "keep in mind" that "some have a 'problem' with homosexuality?"

You won't find a gay person denying that "some people have a problem with homosexuality." We noticed. There are lots of laws against us.

What kind of confrontation are you trying to reduce?

[randome]

39. First, my father is gay. So I'm not trying to put the onus on gay people to 'prove' themselves.

It's just something to keep in mind that some deeply religious people actually don't hate gay people. But they are uneasy around them.

I'm not sure I know what point I'm trying to make. But maybe not seeing all religious people as hateful and 'the enemy' might help? Maybe they can be 'brought around' to a better way of thinking?

(I'm not religious, either, BTW.)

[yardwork]

42. Well, who are you accusing of seeing all religious people as hateful?

Maybe you are talking about your father. Gay people are not a monolithic group. Many of us are religious people ourselves.

Speaking for myself, I don't "see all religious people as hateful and the enemy." I recognize that sometimes people can be "brought around to a better way of thinking." I disagree that this will happen unless gay people and our straight allies continue to insist on equal rights, though.

Some people see any kind of protest as an expression of "hate." I don't "hate" people. There are laws that I hate, and I'm working to get them changed. The people who are trying to pass more hateful laws are not on my side. I don't hate them but I'm not going to be intimidated by them into silence either.

[awoke_in_2003]

32. Kirk kissing Uhura...

was "confrontational" in it's day. Gay love is the modern day interracial love, and opponents to it are just as stupid and full of assholery.

[randome]

40. I'm just saying that 'stupid' and 'full of assholery' may not be the best way to see them.

See my post above.

Or maybe what I'm trying to say is that reacting to hateful attitudes with similar hatred is a zero sum game? I don't know, just musing.

[yardwork]

43. Is it hateful to protest hatred. I don't think it is.

Is it hateful to call the Ku Klux Klan stupid and full of assholery?

[awoke_in_2003]

44. Well, you can educate the willing...

but there is a certain percentage of people that you are never going to change. I am not sure what you can do with those types, other than keep an eyeball on them to make sure they don't hurt someone.

[hedda_foil]

2. You know he's not doing the inaugural gig,right?

His invitation was withdrawn.

[DonViejo]

12. Yes, I know.

[Tempest]

15. It's in the first sentence of the article

And he withdrew himself.

[truthisfreedom]

25. He probably received a polite request from the White House that he withdraw.

Seems pretty likely.

[closeupready]

3. No it isn't. Nor for Jesus. It's difficult for you hateful prejudiced people.

On that, I agree.

I happen to have no problem with my homosexuality. In fact, I rather enjoy it.

But thanks for playing, you misguided bigot.

[Divine Discontent]

16. +1 Jesus loves us all.

And, thank you for saying you have no problem with your being gay, neither do I. It's taken time from the programming we receive from people that it is at best, something that shouldn't be discussed in mixed company, for me to be clean and genuinely at peace. But, through the grace of God, and many loving straight and gay friends, I have no qualms about God's choice for me. It isn't weird, it's a gift. I have met many GLBT people now in my life, and they, at a high rate, have been highly artistic, thoughtful, accepting, and loving. And for those open-minded straight people, wow, you guys are just fantastic to reject the teaching that most of us received.

[kurtzapril4]

20. It's so stupid....

I don't understand what is so difficult about accepting people as they are. I believe that how people live their private lives is their own business, not mine. I think preachers need to learn to keep their noses out of politics, and out of other people's private lives.

What I find absolutely unbelieveable is that for the second time, the administration chose a bigot to lead the prayers. Do they not have access to the internet in the White House? How could that possibly be a mistake?

[LeftofObama]

4. Not difficult at all!

Mind your own f***ing business!

[Behind the Aegis]

5. Only difficult in the minds of bigots.

[dbackjon]

6. What is so difficult?

Equality for all.

You don't want to do a gay marriage in your money-grabbing church, fine.


But don't deny me the right to enjoy Liberty, Equality and Freedom.

[awoke_in_2003]

33. What is difficult...

is for these of us who have gay family members and have to worry what other assholes will do to them. I support and love my sister, but living in the babble belt I worry about her and my sister in law. I will stand with tem, no matter what

[msanthrope]

7. It's only difficult if you want it to be. Evolve. nt

[Stewland]

8. The Bible is not an authoritative source

The biggest fault I can think of is blindly believing in something because someone else said to. I hold little regard for mst religious leaders. Frankly it has become a numbers game. In a Nation where Church and State are separate we should not invoke religion in matters of the state. It's time to demand that the Seperation of Church and State be respected.

[Bluenorthwest]

19. His Bible, lest anyone forget, condones slavery:

Stoning kids to death for sassing you. Stoning your neighbor to death for wearing blended fabrics or getting the wrong hair cut. The Bible is brutality codified.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

9. Barf.

60 years ago a black person taking "his" seat on the bus would have been a difficult issue for him. It's only difficult because these hateful assclowns need to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century, or pushed the hell out of the way so the rest of us can get on with it.

[Chorophyll]

10. Oh Reverend Giglio. Let me help you out.

The "issue of homosexuality" becomes much less "difficult" if you stop obsessing over it for a few minutes now and then.

Jerk.

[ReRe]

11. Yeah, it WAS....

....a difficult issue to navigate, but it's OVER, reverend bud. Blah, blah, blah, blah... So glad someone found their hind-ends on the issue of YOU and dumped you before it was too late. Please don't get up in public and preach your mind-altering, brainwashing BS...just keep it in your church, OK?
Thanks, ~THE WORLD~!

[Ernesto]

13. Speak for self meathead! n-t

[jtuck004]

14. Not for me. n/t

[Solly Mack]

17. "God’s words trump all opinions" <- Which is just another opinion.

LMAO

[Bluenorthwest]

18. This hate monger claims to be dedicate to fighting human trafficking. Here's his beloved Leviticus

from 'The Word of God' on the the subject of buying, selling and owning human beings, a practice Giglio certainly must approve of if he quotes Leviticus as an authority on anything. Why would a man who says he is against slavery believe this:
Leviticus 25:44-46
44 “‘Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. 45 You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property. 46 You can bequeath them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly.

Giglio seems to be pro slavery. Is he in the human trafficking business? Many who preach against things actually are those very things. He says God's word trumps all opinion. He quotes Leviticus as if it were his guide.

[cbrer]

21. DU ROCKS!

Every thought that came to mind. Every hateful notion in Giglio's comments that was shot down and stomped. Every reaffirmation of the realities of humanity.

Were well covered by you people. This is all I can add!

[BigDemVoter]

22. Really?

I find it pretty much a no-brainer-- easy as pie!

[frylock]

26. nah. even as a straight, white male, i'm at peace with it..

it's assholes like you that are difficult for the nation.

[RKP5637]

27. I've never seen this as a difficult issue for the nation other than for those who want

to persecute others and categorize them as unequal ... generally the stuff bigots, racists and homophobes like to promote, and often under the banner of religion.

[Ash_F]

28. No, no I think we got it figured out.

Thanks anyway rev

[hrmjustin]

30. What the hell is so difficult the fact that I and many others are gay?

I think someone needs to get a grip. I wonder what is in his closet.

[stultusporcos]

35. What is in his closet - Leather Daddies perhaps? Who knows?

[awoke_in_2003]

34. I bet the fucker...

eats pork and shellfish.

[Evasporque]

36. Religion is a more difficult issue for this nation...

Zealots and zombie minded vacant followers are making life difficult for anyone who does not "believe" the same way....

fuck them.

[and-justice-for-all]

37. Ones personal self serving interpatation of desert dogma

does not make it correct.

It should be noted that they have changed the "word of god" to suit them, actually putting the word 'homosexual' in new prints of the new testament. Here I thought that one could not change the word of 'god'.

[MadrasT]

38. There is nothing "difficult" about it.

Mind your own fucking business. Problem solved.

[Wolf Frankula]

41. God's words trump all opinions?

Maybe opinions, but in this country the Constitution trumps God's words.

Wolf