The Religious Right Is Now Uniting Around a Manifesto Attacking, You Guessed It, LGBT People, Because
‘It Is Sinful to Approve of Homosexual Immorality or Transgenderism’ Signers Say
Let’s take stock for a moment.
Thanks to Hurricane Harvey, millions of people in America have literally just lost everything – their homes, their cars, their businesses. Some – we have no idea how many actually – but in all likelihood a lot, have died.Â
We have a president who is (probably) under investigation, members of his team and even his family definitely are too. Every day brings new news of what we used to think were cataclysmic events in the political world.Â
Americans are suffering through climate change. Our nation is more divided than at any time since the Civil War, and trust in once veritable institutions is grotesquely lacking.
Millions of Americans when they have time to think about it are faced with possibly losing their health insurance thanks to Republican lawmakers. Since entering America, millions of undocumented immigrants are living in greater fear than they have ever before of being deported to countries where they may face death at the hands of the very gangs they fled.
Neo-Nazis, white supremacists, white nationalists, and other hate groups are now marching in America’s cities.
And there is an astounding amount of hate, hopelessness, divisiveness, and anger advancing across America.
So America’s Christian right has devoted a good deal of time and money and come up with a document they have just released: The Nashville Statement.
Does it urge Americans of all faiths or none to come together for the greater good, put aside our differences, and remember what a great land we live in?
Does it seek to rediscover the true message of Christ: to love one another?
Is it designed to give hope and support to those who need it most?
No to all of the above.
Instead, the Nashville Statement, affirms their beliefs that LGBT people are bad.
The Nashville Statement boasts about 150 initial signers – some of the best-known names among the Southern Baptist, Evangelical, and far Christian right.
Many will recognize at least a few of these names:
James Dobson, Founder, Focus on the Family
Russell Moore, President, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council
Erick Erickson, Editor in Chief, The Resurgent
David French, Senior Writer, National Review
Richard Land, President, Southern Evangelical Seminary
Eric Teetsel, President, Family Policy Alliance of Kansas
Almost all of the above, and almost all of the 150 or so signatories, support Donald Trump, a man who doesn’t have a clue about the Bible, is probably the least “Christian” president America has ever had, has been married and divorced three times, sins daily, has admitted he does not ask God for forgiveness, and, well, the list is long.
The Nashville Statement mentions the word “homosexual” six times, “transgender” four times, “biological sex” four times, and marriage seven times.
It says things like, “WE DENY that God has designed marriage to be a homosexual, polygamous, or polyamorous relationship.”
“WE DENY that any affections, desires, or commitments ever justify sexual intercourse before or outside marriage; nor do they justify any form of sexual immorality.”
“WE DENY that adopting a homosexual or transgender self-conception is consistent with God’s holy purposes in creation and redemption.”
The Nashville Statement also “affirms.”
WE AFFIRM that sin distorts sexual desires by directing them away from the marriage covenant and toward sexual immorality— a distortion that includes both heterosexual and homosexual immorality.”
“WE AFFIRM that it is sinful to approve of homosexual immorality or transgenderism and that such approval constitutes an essential departure from Christian faithfulness and witness.”
Those who sign the document claim it is their “duty to speak the truth in love at all times, including when we speak to or about one another as male or female.” In other words, they’re going to call women who are transgender “men,” and men who are transgender, “women.”Â
Here’s what some are saying about this latest act of anti-LGBT hate shrouded in a new package:
I wonder which #NashvilleStatement signatories have condemned racism, sexual assault, & greed as clearly as they condemn my loving marriage.
— Daniel Baer (@danbbaer) August 29, 2017
Dear evangelicals,
You supported a serial adulterer and grifter.
Your opinions couldn’t matter less.#NashvilleStatement
— Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) August 29, 2017
Says quite a bit about the Evangelical community that they’d released this while tens of thousands suffer in Houston.#NashvilleStatement
— Charles ClymerðŸ³ï¸â€ðŸŒˆ (@cmclymer) August 29, 2017
I believe Jesus Christ loves me and wants me to be my true self, and no collection of hateful cowards can erase that.#NashvilleStatement
— Charles ClymerðŸ³ï¸â€ðŸŒˆ (@cmclymer) August 29, 2017
What’s more vile than attacking marginalized communities? Trying to pass that attack off as morality. I reject the #NashvilleStatement. https://t.co/3gJwTP9j0y
— Shannon Coulter (@shannoncoulter) August 29, 2017
The #NashvilleStatement is proof that some Christians are only interested in playing God, not being Christ-like.
— Girls Really Rule. (@girlsreallyrule) August 29, 2017
In the middle of a humanitarian crisis, in one of the most divisive years in memory @JohnPiper & co. chose to do harm. #NashvilleStatement
— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) August 29, 2017
Prideful, conservative Christian scolds issue #NashvilleStatement to tell America to follow their religion. America replies: “You first.”
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) August 29, 2017
Here are the Twitter handles of many signers of the hateful anti-LGBTQ #NashvilleStatement. Let them know you intend to #EmptyThePews https://t.co/51RYOGnf2j
— Christopher Stroop (@C_Stroop) August 29, 2017
Divorce: OK
Adultery: OK
Greed: OK
Judging People: OK
White Supremacy: OKHomosexuality: SINFUL
Transgenderism: SINFUL— PROUD RESISTER 👊 (@ProudResister) August 29, 2017
The #nashvillestatement is the most unchristian piece of garbage I’ve read in a long time. Modern-day Pharisees doing real & lasting damage. https://t.co/f0MVGqSns0
— Anna Claire Vollers (@acvollers) August 29, 2017
The #NashvilleStatement is a declaration of war on the LGBT community and a condemnation of any Christian who practices acceptance.
— Mandy Nicole (@TenaciousMandy) August 29, 2017
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