Let the scare hyperbole begin:A coalition of groups led by Soulforce is targeting six U.S. mega-churches in an effort to foster dialogue about Christian views on homosexuality. Caleb Price with Focus on the Family says the campaign by the homosexual advocacy group has a friendly facade that belies the agenda of the group — and that the churches targeted need to be on guard.
This spring, members of the pro-homosexual group Soulforce and its allies will visit six well-known churches throughout the nation. Dubbed as “The American Family Outing,” the campaign targets the following churches: Lakewood Church (pastored by Joel Osteen), The Potter’s House (T.D. Jakes), Hope Christian Church (Harry Jackson), New Birth Missionary Baptist Church (Eddie Long), Willow Creek Community Church (Bill Hybels), and Saddleback Church (Rick Warren). According to the Soulforce website, “lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people” and their families will attempt to visit with members, pastors, and leaders of the churches to talk about religious views on homosexuality. Their objective? “To begin a process of changing hearts and minds” in those churches, says a document outlining the campaign, and “to educate the national public through the media on the issues of faith, family, and sexuality.” The website explains that a delegation of “families” including adults and children will visit each of the six churches.
Caleb Price, a research analyst with Focus on the Family, warns that people should not be fooled by the campaign, the goal of which he claims is to disseminate a “false doctrine.”
“As with any temptation to disregard God’s clear word on any given matter, this attempt by Soulforce and their allies is a classic example of what we see in Genesis Chapter 3, when the serpent tempts Eve by [asking] ‘Did God really say …?’” says Price. “And I think perhaps the biggest lesson we can take from that account is it’s best not to talk to snakes. Scripture clearly teaches that there will be a great falling away in the last days and there will be wolves in sheep’s clothing who will try to enter into the fold and deceive even the elect.”
Soulforce plans to recruit “forty diverse families” for the campaign, train them during a weekend session in February, then — after visiting the two Texas-based churches (Lakewood in Houston, and The Potter’s House in Dallas) — divide them into four teams to travel to the other churches. Clergy leaders who have a “demonstrated knowledge and skill in articulating an inclusive faith,” says Soulforce, will serve as primary spokespersons for each team.
Price offers a warning specifically to the mega-churches destined for a visit during the American Family Outing.
“These churches that have been targeted by Soulforce need to be clear about the real agenda behind these staged actions,” he says. “It’s not for dialogue and greater understanding — it’s to tempt them to embrace a false doctrine, which will keep many from the gospel message of hope and transformation for those who are trapped in homosexuality.”
The Soulforce campaign begins Mother’s Day weekend and runs through Father’s Day weekend. Collaborating with the homosexual advocacy group are the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, the National Black Justice Coalition, and the San Francisco-based group COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere).
Typical of Focus on the Family.
Targeted. False doctrine. Facade, Pushing the Fotf reparative doctrine. Trapped. Tempt. Snakes. Wolves. False doctrine.
Oh.
Moms and dads, hetrosexuals and single parents Peaceful. Well trained. Versed in biblical theology. Trained to counter the fear-based poltical ‘culture war’ rhetoric Fotf is known for. Sccaarry.
Is this a warning to a waning base or encouraging an attempt to bully these churches to followFoth hard line and arrest thems as examples.
The letters are entitled Can we Talk:
The letters inform each pastor that a delegation of families with two moms and two dads, as well as supportive heterosexual-parent and single-parent families, plans to visit each church. The letters invite their congregations to collaborate in creating opportunities for meaningful conversations. Over the next several weeks, staff from Soulforce, UFMCC, NBJC, and COLAGE will negotiate peaceful forums with members from each of the congregations.
I wonder if Fotf Canada has tried this with Canadian churches. Would Soulforce (based in the US) be available if Fotf was successful with its scare alerts/tactics here?
Published 10 months, 1 week ago
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Surely churches or ministries are free to decide what they consider “orthodox” behaviour, and designate as sin those behaviours that fall outside their interpretation of Scripture?
As long as they “love the sinner, but hate the sin,” that is?
Arthur, I’ll assume ‘love the sinner but hate the sin’ was said in jest.
That has to be one of the most trite meaningless, bludgeoning, consumerist, empty excuse of a phrase western Christianity has managed to up with.
If you actually meant it, well, I feel badly for you.
Fotf isn’t a ministry as much as it’s a political organization.
Yes, churches and ministries get to decide what is orthodox behavior.
Bene, of course “love the sinner but hate the sin” was said tongue in cheek. Problem is, many have used that phrase to justify discrimination against people who engage in activities with which they disagree.
I must admit, Bene, that I am of two minds when it comes to Fotf. Some of their um,… positions,… seem reasonable, if a little conservative, and while I do consider them a ministry of sorts, I agree that they seem a little too political in many respects. Okay, a LOT too political….
I will however, defend their right to hold the viewpoint that certain practices are unscriptural, whether I agree with them or not. Many other Christian Ministries hold the same view in regards to homosexuality and other issues, I might add.
Here again I am of two minds, not being able to decide whether homosexuality is a choice or a genetic actuality, or whether the practising of a homosexual lifestyle is an un-natural abomination as many scriptures seem to indicate. (Please feel free to enlighten me via e-mail, if you so desire.)
Either way, I do not presume to be wise enough to judge the people who engage in such a lifestyle. That is not my place anyway.
I prefer to accept them as people and treat them as such without malice, or condemnation, or prejudice. I will also defend their right to practise their sexuality in privacy.
Whew.
I’ve put my foot in my mouth twice this week, I thought I was heading for a third time and it’s only Tuesday.
Fotf was a ministry, I’m not going to dispute that, but I don’t think in good conscience I can say they are now.
If you believe you don’t need to judge others, then we’re cool, no email necessary. ;^)
It’s hard to tell who followers of Jesus are anymore.
I’m not talking about individual believers who genuinely believe in things like innerrancy, complimentarianism, and other spiritually conservative things.
I’m talking wilfully harming.
Think NARTH, Peter LaBarbara, Watchmen on the Walls, Exodus etc. This is a multi million dollar industry.
Micheal Brown, who was involved in The Brownsville Revival, and his Fire school is now branching out.
Exodus (Love Won Out) has been taking him out on the circuit for a test spin and his conversation over at this website is chilling. He is putting out a new book, and has started his own sexuality seminars. Lucrative.
The idea of seeing others as being in a ‘lifestyle’ is addressed.
Sorry Arthur, that’s just another meaningless evangelical code term.
Sounds like something I’m supposed to ’save’ you from of course, when what I really mean is I don’t approve of you.
This comment thread is very tough to get through, Brown has spent years burying his critics in words. But wow, as this guy is starting to see dollar signs from the fearful, the wounded, the hurting, the self-righteous, he’s got the reparative lingo down cold.
http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2008/01/the-fighting-words-of-michael-brown/
Bene, I’m cool if you’re cool.
Be blessed.
John Stott captures the tension well in a book I recently read of his. How do you be pastoral and prophetic at the same time? In other words, how can you be against adultery (to use a safer example) and still genuinely care for people who are guilty of adultery? It’s easy to come down on one side or another - to be prophetic or pastoral. It’s tough to do both at the same time.
Personally I think the problem comes when we see others as sinners and ourselves as saints. I need to always see myself as a co-struggler. The minute I elevate myself I’m in trouble. It’s a lot different to see ourselves as patients in the same hospital who are all sick in different ways and who are at different stages of recovery. But none of us is well.
Model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act, and encourage the heart.
These qualities are seen across all personality types and ideologies, prophetic and pastoral included.
None of us are well.
We’re co-strugglers.
While church is a hospital for sinners, that is a worn out phrase.
Not because it isn’t true, but because we either pretend we are not sick, or go into biohazard level 4 behavior with our fellows.
Both are extreme.
The attributes above are not a model Focus on the Family follows, in leadership, organization or public presentation.