For those who attend church, homosexuality is nothing new in the midst of it all.
No, it’s not an official addendum to the church covenant but if you participate in church regularly, you know it’s an unspoken truth. Simply put, institutional acquiesce.
Pastors, deacons and blood-bought Christians alike have even developed other phrases to soften the blow when referring to this “alternative lifestyle.” You’ll never hear the word homosexuality uttered from the pulpit. Despite the Bible’s clear and absolute rejection against homosexuality, it still exists.
On Sunday morning we all put on our Sunday Best and prepare to receive the Word. At church we’re all taught to love thy neighbor. Everyone has their faults and come short of His glory. Only the Creator is the one to pass judgment. Amen.
Do Black churches live by the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy?
Even though this week, legislation with the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” failed to advance, somehow the Black church has found a way to effectively adopt it. It ranges from the male in choir stand shaking his tambourine to the usher at the front door handing out the church bulletins. But does this misconstrued comportment stop there? Absolutely not. Unfortunately, somehow we allow ourselves to be bamboozled and think it passes over the pulpit of the adored and fierce leaders- no pun intended.
When recent reports and allegations broke out about Bishop Eddie Long, people were shocked and quickly begin to shun unyielding criticism on this allegedly adverse issue. According to CNN reports, on Tuesday two men filed a lawsuit claiming that prominent Atlanta Bishop coerced them into sex. The suit alleges that Long used his position as a spiritual authority and bishop to coerce young male members and employees into sex. If you’re not familiar with ‘mega church’ leader, Bishop Long is the pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, an Atlanta suburb. It is one of the largest churches in the country. Needless to say, this story quickly received national recognition.
Now, I know the church deaconesses are clutching their pearls and drowning their monitors with holy oil. If the allegations are true like with prominent evangelical preacher, Ted Haggard, who went from delivering the Gospel throughout America to meager nomad moving from apartment to apartment, this fall out, would be very similar to Haggard’s trying experience. There’s no secret, minority issues tend to be magnified even more. So you can only conceptualize what would happen to Long’s spiritual following and legacy.
Religion is important to many people, no matter what side of the sexuality spectrum you fall on. This is the contributing factor as to why homosexuality and religion do not mesh well unless it’s swept under the rug or ignored. Appears the Black church has found itself back on the media’s agenda. Stories like this will begin to plague the Black church, especially with the advent of technology, and will garnish unneeded negative attention. If these allegations are not true for Bishop – the saints are praying – this will sure begin to spark more and more already rumors and stories connecting church leaders and homosexuality.
Can the Black church actually hold someone accountable for full disclosure of their sexuality when accusations like this arise, if it indirectly encourages the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy?
Article by Drew-Shane
Drew-Shane is a Philadelphia based writer maneuvering through life and graduate school. He’s the creative genius behind the new project www.heardhimsay.com. His work has been featured on Global Grind, Soul Train, VIBE Vixen, KRAVE Magazine, Clutch Magazine and BET.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @drewshane.
Drew-Shane has written 51 article(s) for us.
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A Black church that I attended regularly the first half of this year was adamant on preaching the pitfalls of "sexual perversion." The church is located in the heart of the hood and is ALL BLACK. Each time the pastor touched on the spirit of "sexual perversion" he managed to get several "butch" lesbians to the alter to pray that spirit out of them. Generally the gay men sat awkwardly as the heterosexual men applauded the pastor while the rest of the congregation (i.e. women) tried not stare.
I did find that experience to be unique, but the pastor was sure to remind the congregation how homosexuality was viewed in God's eyes. It was almost a plea for us to not look at him negatively for bringing to light what many of us would rather sweep into a dark corner.
I am fortunate to have quickly found a great church in the Atlanta area, and they too, preach against same-sex relationships and marriage. Not talking about something doesn't mean it doesn't exist. You cannot conquer anything that you don't confront.
Interesting topic. Kudos!
This article was well said. I completely agree that the "Black Church Community" has adapted the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Which, is sad because as a family that is suppose to be loving and understanding. Topics like this don't need to be pushed to the side as if they are non-existence. We really need to people to come together from regardless of a sexual "prefernece"
I don't understand why a homosexual would want to participate in an organization that clearly hates you for just being.
I wonder the same thing, yet I know too many crucifix rocking LGB people.
I don't get it either but I don't think it's for us to understand. To each their own.
@blackchild
becuase its not clear that they hate them. The Church loves them in their midst, leading their choir, walking the fashion show, praise dancing. As long as it remains "unnamed" they are accepted; their talents applauded. so it is ingrained "dont ask dont tell" you to can be saved from the demon inside, look at Donnie Mclurkin….
As long as we classify organization as the black church that ostrasizes gays. There are churches that focus on Christ (hence the name of the Christianity religion) that profess showing love. If I recall correctly, new testament doesn't deal much with homosexuality – it deals more with sexual morality and pushes the importance of not having sex until marriage and not committing adultery. Those two acts are most commonly violated by heteros and homos equally.
Especially in ATL, there is proliferation of 'lgb' friendly churches. I think that's the right thing to do. Hell, we let sexually active heteros in the church…why discriminate based on sexual immorality?
all homosexual sex is sinful because it is sexual activity outside of marriage just like masturbation ad pre-marital sex.
i do agree that there is a don't ask, don't tell policy with the church period- black, white, orange, blue or green. and its very un neccesary when in the bible as stated "thou shalt love thy neighbor"…i love my neighbor no matter what sins, personal/ physical flaws they carry, because it isn't my place to judge them in the matter of that which i possess as well( as in i sin as man, and carry personal and physical flaws). i feel as someone who was raised in church like some us, we see our leaders as indestructible, fearless, inpentrable and free of mistakes…but the news flash is they are man just like we are. they do a job as a messenger in their titles, they are not god! they are not jesus! but as we are made in god's image we tend to think we are those two thinks and thats its ok to condemn when it not our place. i honestly believe when we tend to ourselves we dont or wont have time to tend to others business. as wayne said…what other people think is none of my business…and what they do as well isnt for it isnt my place to judge, condemn my brothers and sisters in christ for i or anyone else is not the father and this isnt judgment day.
True, but there's no denying that when you make the decision to become a pastor, you are/will/should be held to a higher lifestyle standard since you are now setting the example for others to follow. Being a leader is not easy which is why it's not for everyone. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. I understand pastors aren't 100% perfect all of the time, but they don't have room for backsliding either.
now that's not fair.
How can you say pastors aren't 100% all the time, but they don't have room for backsliding? That's requiring perfection from an imperfect creation.
It's not fair, but it's reality. Life's not fair. Get over it (not you Uppity Negro, but peeps in general). :p
And I guess I could amend my statement by saying they don't have *much* room for backsliding.
my question is where do we have room to judge even that? i mean we are all used as god's vessels…and sometimes the choices we make on the journey are our own. i can say that i knock anyone for what they do because i dont know why people do or say what say. its not my place…and we each are leaders even if we choose not to carry that titles, and when we do if should be implied that man even with title can sin…so anyone who chooses personally to put someone on a pedestal and that person falls off, shouldnt be made because you put them on there as if they were god and they arent, but only made in his image as you and i.
I completely agree with you. But look at how you articulated your opinion…full of shoulda this and shoulda that…signifying the ideal situation. It's not ideal. Hence life's not fair. Get over it. It sucks but hey, *kanye shrug*
Being a pastor for the masses is a VERY heavy cross to bear so when you chose that undertaking you are agreeing to live/lead by example-oftentimes you are monetarily compensated for this, people come to you for counseling, etc. A lot of trust is placed within that one individual, more than the average, so when you fall, you're going to fall harder than the average.
Well stated Ms. Yancey
Homosexuality has never been swept under the rug in my church. We call it what it is & we don't hate homosexuals. We follow God's word on the matter. Last year a former coworker (who wants out of the "lifestyle" as he called it) said "I like your church & I'd like to play music there, but I know your pastor's not entertaining that foolishness." He was right. We don't ask, but if we're going to preach the truth that fornication is wrong, adultury, stealing/etc is wrong, then we can't overlook homosexuality. Leaders have been removed for far less (as far as the world is concerned). Great article.
THIS! SMH.
I like the fact that a lot of churches are actively anti-homosexual. It helps expose the religious for the sham artist they really are.
How does being against homosexuality mean that the religious are a sham?
I'm guessing one book telling you to love thy neighbor, turn the other cheek etc. and another saying that gays deserve death (Leviticus) is what Blackchild means. The world grows more tolerant while the churches rein in the hypocrites, this is why it's a sham.
It's very simple, if I was born a certain way and someone told me the way I was born is an abomination in the eyes of the so-called creator of all things it would instantly and irrevocably cause me to question everything else I heard from that religion,
can you prove someone is really born that way??…
can you prove someone is really NOT??
i want to read an article about Eddie Long.
Go to CNN. They have a pretty entertaining one.
What I've always found most interesting about the Black Church is that it's ardently anti-homosexual, but very accepting of other forms of sexual immorality. According to Biblical teachings, all forms of sexual immorality are perverse, rather they be fornication, adultery, or homosexuality.
However, no one ever finds fault with the pregnant mom w/out a husband, the player sexing everyone in the church, or the unmarried man and woman with 3-4 kids. They are guilty of sexual immorality, but they do not receive nearly the same level of flack as gay folks.
It's a case of shunning what don't understand; natural fear response….
Also far as holding pastors to a higher standard, why do it??? I was always under the assumption that once ANY person decided to follow Christ they would ascend to that elevated standard within due time.
Problem is lack of transparency and open-ness in religious circles; not just with homosexuality, but a wide array of issues. As a people, we already struggle with keeping quiet on issues effecting us and pretending like everything is okay, while slowly dying within…. this behavior of secrecy gets magnifed with the Black Church and as a result we have the church producing a lot of jacked of people with pyschological and emotional trauma.
That's my two cents…. and why I'm cool with my Bible, minus church attendance, lol.
Exactly. That's part of my gripe. If you're gonna actively condemn homosexuals, do the same for every other "sexual perversion". I may not agree with any of it, hence me being agnostic, but I'd have a smidgen more of respect for them!
Church would damn near empty if they did that; A great percentage of the individuals in the church are "getting it." If they were actively called out, they'd be fleeing to some other church and Pastor Dollar wouldn't be able to collect on all those tithes, his salary would get lowered, and the congregation wouldn't be able to get the roof fixed….. :-/
Shunning a minority group within a majority unifies that majority…. as Erykah Badu would say: GROUP-THINK!!!
Sad but so true…
Think of all the millions of people who have been mentally tormented over the years for buying into an ideology that hates their very essence.
The source of the issue is the two conflicting understandings of homosexuality's origin. There is the congenital argument and the choice argument. There is no way to scientifically prove that a person is born with a gender preference, the best that we can do is listen to them explain how it came to be. Thus, given that each person knows themselves more than any other person could, if a person tells me that they were born with an attraction for members of their own gender, I am inclined to believe them.
With that reasoning established, I find it tremendously difficult to reconcile the notion that a God of love, wholly perfect and merciful, would instill in his creations an immutable trait that will ultimately doom them to an eternity of punishment.
Why is it that progressive interpretation of the Bible stops short at homosexuality?
The Apostle Paul, one of the most intelligent and dutiful figures in the Bible, given an explicit directive by Jesus to build the church and spread the gospel, unambiguously stated that women should not speak while in church. He even went so far as to describe the speech of women in church as a shame. And yet, women talk in church all the time. Why have we discarded this rule over time one hand and cling to the denigration of homosexuality on the other?
Christians need to take a long and hard look at themselves in the mirror.
First let me say that this article was very well written. I enjoyed the read and the topic as well, however, I think to just shine the light on the black church is degrading. At least in the black church there is some kind of discretion. In some temples where priest prey on little boys while some congregation members are aware but sweep it under the rug. Don't ask don't tell is right, yet don't be no fool. To me this comes as no shock, homosexuality is more prevalent in the church than ever before.
Please excuse any grammatical mistakes I am on my phone….
I'm glad to say that our church leadership does not condone homosexuality, fornication or adultery. From my first visit there, they clearly called out each and every one of these topics and made it clear what the Bible says. When it's all said and done, I choose to follow Christ's teachings– not preachers that say (or don't say) things that will make me feel good. My goal is to grow in my walk with Christ and help others.
I feel anyone, I don't care who it is my mother, father or whomever, and most important some preacher, or whoever the hell he calls himself, feels they have the right to be judgmental against anyone is not acting in a manner I feel is Godly. More important you don't have the right to my soul, let me be very clear, whatever you may call yourself, I know who I am and don't need the approval of the church or some sister with a bigotry attitude claiming she knows God and is very judgmental.
I'm not sure that I'll ever understand the big deal about homosexuality. It is no one's business but the person and their God. If God doesn't make mistakes (which so many of us are taught) then gays aren't mistakes. It wasn't that long ago that interracial marriage was thought to be amoral and held up on biblical grounds; it wasn't that long ago that blacks were only considered *partially* human. Whatever relationship someone has with God is their own business, and if God is all loving, then he will and does love gay people too. We aren't supposed to judge anyone, but so often, that is exactly the case when it comes to the church and gays.
No one should be made to feel ashamed and ridiculed for who they are. I am also one of the few that believes homosexuality isn't a "lifestyle choice" as so many people say. I have never personally known any LGBT (and I know several, even a couple of transgendered people) claim that this is a life they 'chose'. I am also good friends with a married lesbian Christian couple, and they both have their own relationships with God. My point is this: with all of the persecution they are subjected to, why would anyone WANT to choose to be gay? I believe that God made everyone the way he saw fit (but I know my more progressive view of Christianity isn't too popular… just ask my mother…).
Krys,
thank you!… I think this is insane and people are insane to think they have the right to judge someone. who the hell gave them that power. let me add, God has a funny way of closing the mouths of man, it maybe that very gay to wipe your behind, put some food in your mouth, you don’t know what the future holds, I have seen many people brought down from their high horse… I say if you are up high today keep on living, keep on living and lets see if you remain high and mighty.
Thanks! I’m glad that I’m not crazy haha. I just think it is completely ridiculous. It seems that for a religion that preaches love, there is so little of it for people who don’t fit into the mold.
Agreed. Who am I to judge or condemn anyone for their lifestyle choices? At the end of the day, what I really need to be focused on is the lifestyle I'm leading, because that is the only one I am accountable for. I do find it difficult to believe that anyone would CHOOSE to be gay; why is it so hard to believe that homosexual people are born that way? Did you (if you're hetero) CHOOSE to be heterosexual, or were you born that way? I was born heterosexual, just like I was born black…how dare I tell someone who thinks/acts/feels differently that they must have CHOSEN that life!
I read a story few weeks ago, where a man left his wife and kids when they were babies, the man ended up with cancer on his death bed in the hospital ward and floor where his very child was working, his own child he abandoned, was feeding him daily, giving him a bath and he did not know he had end up in the arm of his child, you don’t know the future or what it holds…..be humble with love and peace for all.