Here is Senior Pastor Frederick Haynes III preaching on OBAMA'S "PERSONAL" stance on gay marriage. Not quite what you might have expected. Here are some excerpts, but he says it himself a lot more powerfully in the video.
“Don’t forget he was sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States which was born out of the Declaration of Independence . . . we hold these truths to be self evident that all men, all people, are equal . . . notice it does not say that all straight men are equal . . . he swore on an oath to uphold, protect, and defend the Constitution, not the bible."
“He is not the pastor of the United States, he’s the President of the United States.”I've just finished a novel about Spinoza and then I saw this sermon which was delivered a month ago. I'm still digesting the Spinoza book, but I hope to get something up here. It's definitely related to this and to almost everything we're dealing with in the US today.
"We have a President who has dared to use his position to make the democratic promise available not just for a select few who are up and in, but to everybody regardless of their race, their creed, their color, or their sexual orientation."
"Whenever you want to ostracize another person it is because of a fear you have yourself, the fear that you have finds itself rooted in an ignorance of other people or in a projection of your issues."
"You are so outraged over what the president said. . . .Take a chill pill. . . You are not going to lose your 501c3* if you do not marry a same gender, loving couple."
"Why are you so upset? . . . Why were you so emotional that you had to clothe your anger with the bible and justify your bigotry with scripture . . .?"
"Because we got issues with sexuality, we can’t have a healthy discussion about homosexuality. We love to judge other people’s sins because it keeps it off of us as opposed to looking at us."
*501c3 refers to the section of the tax code that gives tax exemptions to non-profits, including churches.
Spinoza and baptists, what a great combination!
ReplyDeleteThis pastor's ringing truth, that Obama is President, not Pastor, of the United States is worthy of any of the best bumper stickers "gotchas" of our times. It is true and it needs to be remembered in this political season in the states.
Still I loved this video for doing something far more important: it gave me insight into how Black community support moved in key states in the struggle for marriage -- hell, let's admit it -- the struggle for LGBT people to be seen as family members equal to the social blessings marriage pours on to its participants, let alone its legal benefits.
This pastor was preaching the gospel of the ringing promise of America's assertion to a world then beholding to monarchs: that all are equal. This is how change happens. It is difficult and it takes personal courage. With this one small clip, you gave us the chance to see one pastor take up the call and preach it!
Amazing. Uplifting. And so very, very welcome from this still American exile who will tomorrow become a British citizen. Thank you brother, Pastor Haynes III.
That this one lone preacher is the only beacon of light in a sea of right-wing-hideousness & darkness tells volumes about the state of religious bigotry etc in political play in this election. Maybe he will make the quivering preachers more bold to join him. Know doubt.
DeleteAnd, that the latest polls give Obama only a 1 point lead over cypher Romney...run far, run fast. If that puppet gets in, kiss democracy good-bye.
You know, at some point I really lose patience with this issue. I find it astounding that we're still spending so much public energy debating and agonizing over LGBT rights. I mean, what is the point to this? LGBT folks obviously deserve equal rights and status as any other group of people in this country, or any other country. And it especially irritates me because one of the largest groups hell bent on blocking their movement to equal rights are Fundamentalist Christians. This is one reason I'm a confirmed, card-carrying Atheist!
ReplyDeleteThe one segment of society that I assume would be tolerant of fellow human beings and the diversity of God's children, consider LGBT folks an abomination. I sincerely do not understand this hatred for people who have a different sexual orientation. I appreciate that not all Christians share this bizarre point of view but I would hope that more Christian leaders would stand up and make their views heard like Pastor Haynes.
One hope I have for young people today is that they will not continue this archaic, unfair, and Un-Christian attack on LGBT citizens... that it will end with this generation.