Singing Loudly

It was funny when Jimmy Swaggart said that The Police were sinners who were bound for hell because they wrote the song, Murder By Numbers.

It's alarming and disgusting that he would say on broadcast TV: "I'm trying to find the correct name for it . . . this utter absolute, asinine, idiotic stupidity of men marrying men," he said. "I've never seen a man in my life I wanted to marry. And I'm gonna be blunt and plain; if one ever looks at me like that, I'm gonna kill him and tell God he died."

Please tell me how this level of homophobia exists, let alone has a broadcast voice? I hope that Christian denominations of all every sort will disassociate themselves with this hateful, wretched, broken man. As Eugene Volokh points out Leviticus 18:22 states, "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." Thankfully that is not followed.

Even the most conservative Christians will admit that it is not the Christians place to make these determinations. Jesus said, "First take the plank from out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brothers eye." (Mt.7:5). No Christian is called to enforce Leviticus 18:22 and no loving Christian would even consider saying something as appalling as what Swaggart said.

There is little that upsets me more than a religious leader who uses his platform, the respect and admiration he has from others (often because he is in a position of power), to spread wickedness. I hope that this revelation will show anyone who potentially might have listened to Swaggart that his understanding of religion is nothing to admire, believe, or certainly not to follow.

[If you want to read more about Swaggart's quote you can at Christianity Today's Weblog]

UPDATE: In reply to the comments --

There is a reason that theologians say that Jesus was the great equalizer. Thanks to the sacrifice that Jesus made it doesn't matter if your brother has a speck in his eye. He has been redeemed. It doesn't matter if you have a plank in your eyes, you have been redeemed. Assuming that you have taken the leap of faith and trusted in Jesus -- accepting Him as your Lord and savior.

The point of the post isn't to claim that homosexuality isn't a sin -- I realize that Christians have mixed emotions on that. The point is that Swaggart is a hate-monger. If there is anything that is explicitly clear in the New Testament it is that harboring that sort of hatred and spreading it (especially to people who watch you around the world) is just as bad, if not worse, than a man laying with another man or being a liar or stealing from the store.

Jesus commanded: Love God and Love your neighbor. Swaggart can't claim to love his neighbor if he is saying he'll murder him for "looking at him like that." As a pastor what sort of a man would seek his help if he is struggling as a sinner? It is an appalling statement on many levels.