“It is in moments like these that I am so grateful that we do not preach that we are the solution, but we look to Christ for resolution.” That’s a statement from Bishop T.D. Jakes, of Dallas megachurch The Potterâs House, following his step-son Jermaine’s arrest for soliciting sex of the homosexual nature at a public park. All the more interesting, of course, because Bishop Jakes is a raging homophobe.
The pastor is anti-gay marriage, anti-hate crime protection, and says he would never hire a sexually active homo. He sees being gay as a “brokenness.” (But he’s also sat down with organizations like Soulforce.)
So let’s see what he has to say about one of his own family members … who, it’s clear, he would never hire.
As parents, we occasionally feel that our children do not live up to our highest and best ideals. When they do not, we don’t diminish our love for them as recompense for our disapproval. Like our children, we also are not infallible nor do we profess to be. Our now adult son Jermaine is 29, but when he was at home he was a recipient of correction, compassion and wise counsel. We hope that the light of what we believe will guide him through times of contradiction and moments of concern as he continues to mature.
In spite of the family pain we feel from this unfortunate situation, it has given us a chance to show him the same help, support, and restorative grace for which our family and church is noted. Through our ministry at The Potterâs House, as well as our own home, we have for years offered help in the time of need to all adults, our five children and other peopleâs children.
It is in moments like these that I am so grateful that we do not preach that we are the solution, but we look to Christ for resolution. So then, as a very human family with real issues, like many other people, we will draw from the same well of grace to which we have led others to drink and be refreshed.
Bishop T.D. Jakes
Sebbe
“when he was at home he was a recipient of correction, compassion and wise counsel” – um correction?
OF COURSE he’s looking to Jesus to save his son.
You know, I’ve always thought, if you did believe in all that stuff, you would also have to think pretty highly of yourself as well to think that the jesus is gonna take time out of his busy day to solve all your individual woes. Also, why doesn’t mary and the holy ghost ever help people out either? They are just supporting actors in the script?
JJJJ
Sebbe : Mary primarily works directly with people in Catholic and Eastern Orthodox theologies, which is greatly at odds with Protestantism.
Sebbe
@jjjj – oh, how bout the holy ghost? Is that a catholic and EO thing too then I assume?
I’m sure you’ve already seen this video on youtube, but if you haven’t it’s kinda funny.
http://catholic.ie/
some irish kid allegedly bought and registered the site first and posted this video. LOVE IT!!
Sebbe
the end of the video is the best!!
JJJJ
I know the Holy Ghost is a major figure in Catholicism, and certain Protestant groups (of which there are so many and so varied). I’m not as knowledgeable about the Orthodox Churches. One really has to educate oneself as to just how different the Christian sects can be.
JJJJ
Re. the video : I know it’s just one person from Ireland who put the video on, but overall the Catholic Church ruled with an iron hand throughout most of Ireland for so long that there seems to be an almost opposite reaction now…. a lot of anger back at the Church. Of course some connect it to Ireland doing economically better than they’ve done in centuries. Interesting. (There IS the possibility though that an Irish Protestant put it on, and we know about that whole thing).
Sebbe
@jjjj – supposedly its an atheist and is actually run by some atheist group now. But, I have no inside knowledge and its all just “allegedly”.
I personally believe though the change in Ireland (in the republic) has more to do with economic changes in the last two decades than anything else. Although other factors have certainly played a role as well.
Unfortunately, now the economic crisis has hit Ireland harder and faster than most of Europe, due to many underlying problems in the irish economy that I won’t go into here, but has certainly been helped significantly by their membership in the EMU.
JJJJ
Yes, Ireland has felt it bad, but…..the “lousier” quality of life will never go back to the old days. At least the new “sophistication” that comes from prosperity won’t go away. They got too much of a taste of being spoiled. Even the Protestant versus Catholic thing is weakening somewhat, but still holds on there somewhat. I know a (very hot) male couple over there who are just waiting/planning to get married, and they’re getting more flack for being in a mixed Catholic/Protestant thing than for being two males.
Sebbe
@jjjj – is one of them american and one irish? I wonder if its who I’m thinking of in Dublin as well?
Dick Mills
Well, it sounds to me like he knew that the son was a cock-suckin’ butt-pirate when he lived at home, and then he went ahead and hired the sexually active homosexual. Isn’t that one of those, “Thou shalt not”s that they lying liars are always harping about?
JJJJ
No, Sebbe, they’re two Cork-born men.
Olive Yurdich
T.D. Jakes need only read Deuteronomy 21:18-21 to solve his problems.
The LORD is a jealous and avenging God. Suck no cock other than the LORD’s.
Sebbe
@JJJJ – to bad, good luck to them though and at least they were blessed with some pretty kewl accents being from Cork!!
Bill Perdue
The only one wronged here is Jermaine. Itâs unlikely that his ranting, loudmouthed step father left his compulsive hatred âat the officeâ. Imagine hearing that christian garbage every day as you grew up. And living with the rage it produces. And imagine hiding so you wonât get tossed out on the street.
Sound familiar.
In truth christian bigots are holdovers from the Dark Ages and responsible for most of the child abuse in this country. In a decent society theyâd be in jail or undergoing compulsory counseling. Their superstitions and ignorance have no place in modern society.
transracial
If Jakes was truly wise he would simply say nothing. Because there is nothing he can say. If growing up around one of the most stridently homophobic and steeped-in-jesus stepfathers could not “save” jermaine from the homosphere, I’m afraid dear pastor that nothing can.
accept
accept
accept
Sebbe
Wierd what people will do and say to attempt to hold onto power and money. This is defo gonna get more interesting and I’m pretty sure we haven’t heard the last of this.
In his mind, I fear this is his big chance and only given him more exposure and pr nationally.
audiored
@JJJJ: ‘Holy Ghost’ is a funny phrase.
jonah
I feel so horrible for his son. Sure, soliciting sex isn’t exactly the greatest thing to do but to grow up with a person like. I hope this doesn’t end tragically but I wouldn’t be surprised if it does.
Sebbe
@audiored – I always thought so too, aren’t ghosts a bad thing to Christians and Catholics?
Bill Perdue
@audiored: Not when ‘in the name of the father, the son and the holy ghost’ was the last thing you heard before being burned, drowned, hung or drawn and quartered.
That was the standard sentence, after a few days or weeks of torture for being a midwife (witch), a prot heretic, a catholic heretic, a jew, a muslim, gay, having a birthmark or just being unlucky enough that the bishop found out you were rich.
tarheel1023
if christians spent as much time caring for others as they do for spreading hate-what a wonderful world this would be.
sal
the house once made of “indestructible”steel has magically turned into a house of glass,be aware all who egg on those to throw stones (future t.d.jakes)one day it may be u.
Steve
Bishop T.D. Jakes absolutely must read “Prayers for Bobby”, by Leroy Aarons, or see the movie of the same title, BEFORE saying another word about his son.
Sebbe
@Steve – how was the movie. I read the book, but didn’t catch the movie. I heard it was done pretty well, but now that I think about it that was from my aunt who tells me she doesn’t have a problem with “the queers” as long as they are like me, so you have to take everything she says with a grain of salt. She actually called me to tell me she watched a “gay movie”. LOL
Sebbe
ohh she likes that guy from the the fab 5 too (the blond one), apparently he’s on Lifetime alot? SCARY
Steve
@Sebbe – The movie was done very well. The third-person writing from the book is nicely translated into real dialog. She reminded me of my own mother.
JJJJ
Audio : In my Church they called it the Holy Spirit ! Spirit sounds a lot more…..spiritual, right? Ghost still makes me think of a sheet over the head at Halloween.
JJJJ
Sebbe : I rather like Irish accents (brogues) too. Yes, they vary a lot. Sadly most gay men hate Irish accents, but they hate Irish men, period….so, that’s probably why.
Sebbe
@JJJJ – oh really? I didn’t know that. They should head to Dublin, Cork, Galway and they might change their minds.
getreal
Hopefully this experience will enable Jermaine to see the inherent hypocrisy of his father and his fathers church. Any church (and there are many) that teaches LGBT people that they are broken is not preaching the word of God. (Real Christians believe and the bible says)We were all created in God’s image so gays can’t be broken. History will expose these bigoted churches as hypocrites the same way it exposed the slave owners who used the bible as the reason behind their evil acts. The important thing is that LGBT people to know that you don’t have to choose between being gay and being a Christian there are more and more churchs out there that are rejecting this kind of bigotry. The churches that preach bigotry are rotting from within .
Bill Perdue
Any church (and there are many) that teaches LGBT people that they are broken is not preaching the word of God. Name a few who don’t and compare them to the major bigot cults – roman and protestant christers, eastern orthodox christers, islamists, judaic fundamentalists: there are even bigots among the buddhists. Compare them in terms of size, financial and political power and youâll see that the bigots outnumber the non bigots thousands to one.
History will expose these bigoted churches as hypocrites the same way it exposed the slave owners who used the bible as the reason behind their evil acts. It already has and thatâs why GLBT folk reject the closet of ignorance and delusional hatred embedded in superstition, aka, religion.
The important thing is that LGBT people to know that you don’t have to choose between being gay and being a Christian there are more and more churchs out there that are rejecting this kind of bigotry. Consider yourself rejected. Islamists, the christite cults and fundamentalist judaic cults are far and away the worst offenders. Thatâs why huge numbers of GLBT folks despise them and understand that weâll never be safe until we suppress their ability to organize hatred under the guise of worshiping this or that sky gawd. You arenât going to get many (sane) takers for your âcome to daddy gawdâ spiel.
The churches that preach bigotry are rotting from within. Nonsense. The cults that preach bigotry are the vast and overwhelming majority of superstitious groups. They show every sign of growing. Even the child raper cult, the roman catholics, have survived the scandal and are hanging in there in spite of the fact that hundreds of priests (at a minimum) raped thousands of children and most bishops and archbishops were (are) accessories.
Tony
I just don’t get the people who worship these hypocrites. They live like kings and queens, get on their fake moral high horses, and preach hatred and divisiveness. People who thinks these Tartuffs of our society are the connection to GOD are truly stupid. These snakes have every answer to their flaws. When in doubt, use the damn bible and everyone will agree! Hypocrisy and religion go hand in hand!
getreal
There are always going to be people who hate as certain posts illustrate. A christian LGBT person is just as deserving of respect as any other LGBT individual.I have said it before and I’ll say it again as a christian I can only do my part by treating others with love and respect and fighting against injustice at each and every opportunity.I know a lot of christians who feel the same. I can’t be expected to control what other misguided christians do. I cannot and will not attempt to atone for sins that are not mine. Judging all christian by these fruitcakes makes about as much sense as judging all caucasians by Jeffrey Dahmer. It is not fair to judge a diverse group of people by the most extreme of their number. The LGBT person who attacks christian LGBT people is no better and is just as unjust as the fundamentalists that attack gays. There are people here who feel justified attacking people because they have different beliefs. I pity them. They are no different from the people who victimized them and continue to victimize people by confusing with bigotry. Why not go attack homophobes why attack your own kind? Wait I know the answer because you are a coward. To Bill Perdue you seem to take a certain enjoyment attacking christians. I notice your posts almost always apropos of nothing rail against sexual abuse by christians. Clearly you were sexually victimized and that is a terrible unforgiveable thing, you repeatedly allude to it and I’m so sorry that happened to you. Hating all christians won’t undue what was done to you all you can do is seek help and try to bring whatever light you have inside you to the world. I see from your posts that you are angry at the way you have been treated and victimized but you seem to be repeating the cycle. Be well
Mister C
*snickers*
Robert
Forgive them Lord for they know not what they are saying. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the un-Godly but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in His delight He doth meditate both day and night, he shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water that brings forth his fruit in his season and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
It never ceases to amaze me that we, as fleshly beings, can only seem to see things our way when we oft times have the same or similar proclivities ailing us… Or we forget the vicissitudes of life that have caused us to be separated from the truth.
We all seek answers to life’s questions; some stay ignorant longer than others and thus doom others with their words in an attempt to spread the same confusion that plagues them. It becomes their comfort level/”sweet spot.”
Note that the same prejudices that LGTB persons claim are against them, they also perpetrate on those who believe that they have missed the message. To thyself be true.
The same God that loved Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and me loves you and your partner and has a plan for your life. Take a chance and make the inquiry of a man or women of faith. It is guaranteed to change your life forever. The truth will set you FREE.
RobBob
@Tony: It appears that you are forgetting the hypocrisy that you live in daily and can only see what you consider the hypocrisy of others… Isn’t it hypocrisy to be born with a vagina/penis and yet promote being sexually attracted to others with the same tool? Isn’t it hypocrisy to rail against the obvious and yet seek to spread the hypocrisy of having two males be sexually attracted to one another while they have the same tools? How do gays/lesbians explain that the male and female “instruments of pleasure” are made perfectly for the opposite sex without confusion? I mean how does one rationalize it to oneâs self?
Many opine that gays and lesbians take the obvious (what is visually and physically obvious) truth and justify their confusion and deny who they are… The laws of nature don’t lie. Homosexuality is about sexual gratification, confusion and the denial of the facts. It can become the crutch that leads to destruction. Of the many gays and lesbians that are in our circle of family and friends, not one of them can deny these facts, when having an honest conversation.
Another fact is that most heterosexuals respect and love those that consider themselves gay or lesbian–especially those of us who are BELIEVERS. We, like you, respect that you have made a choice and must live with those consequences just like we have to live with the consequences of our decisions (good or bad). We have a problem when you start to force your opinion on us or onto our value system. It is like anything else, when one comes along and attempts to force oneâs views onto others without regard for them (especially using false arguments), people get emotional instead of rationale.
None of us are perfect but we should still be able to love each other despite our differences. The problems normally come when someone becomes emotionally excessive. Let us remember that our opinions kept in moderation will likely give us mileage.
getreal
@RobBob: Homosexuality is the no different than heterosexuality. God created some of us to fall in love with men some us to fall in love with women. I am always very suspicious about so christians who preach to LGBT people about how confused and unnatural they are. Clearly you are not a true believer we are all made in God’s image so to call gays unnatural is to question GOD’S PLAN. No true believer does that. As far as unnatural clearly you have never been to a farm, in the ocean, the woods or around animals for any length of time. Any zoologist will tell you there is homosexuality in every animals species which makes it clear it is very natural and just another variation in our species like having red hair of being left handed. You seem to me very confused so I will explain our bodies be they female or male are capable and were clearly designed for many variations of sexual activity. If a penis was not designed to enter an anus it simply would not fit but it does not an accident it won’t fit in an ear. I think like most of us you need to look into yourself and ask why am I being so ungenerous? Why do I want to rob others of the things that should be a birthright to any person love, a family, growing old together. I’m not trying to cast aspersions but in my experience heterosexuals don’t spend time thinking about gay sex and a heterosexual person who sees a gay people and starts thinking of their “instruments of pleasure” is probably someone who is struggling against their own desires.If you are against gay marriage then don’t marry someone of the same sex beyond that mind your own business and let people live their lives.
getreal
@Tony: I agreed with everything till the last bit. Don’t judge all religious people by these idiots it isn’t rational or right.
Bill Perdue
@getreal: getpathetic may be on to something. Last week I spoke to a group about the war and opposed bombing civilians. Thatâs because at age 7 I was horribly wounded in an air raid. Before that I addressed groups about the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi children. I nearly starved as a child. Several times. I oppose racism because as a child I was African American/Latino/Asian/Pacific. Etc.
Dismally, getpathetic continues those simple minded parodies of psycho babbling cretins like Dr. Phil and Sally Jesse Raphael that have become getpathetics trademark. Every time getpathetic loses an argument, which is every time they happen, instead of admitting that superstition and ignorance are crippling, getpathetic falls back on personal attack. Pathetic, getpathetic, really pathetic.
It may be that a tiny number of GLBT christites, islamists and others are not out to hurt us, and that may even be true for an even tinier minority of straight cultists. Getpathetic is not one of them.
Getpathetics attempts to recruit normal healthy GLBT folks to a bizarre chosen lifestyle of ignorance and superstition are offensive. Not that getpathetic has much chance of winning any converts by example.
getreal
@Bill Perdue: I’m sorry you were abused by christians . It is not the fault of the hundreds of millions of people of faith out there. I have don’t have the desperate need you have to indoctrinate others to my way of thinking and the need to attack anyone who does not agree with me. My message is the same don’t judge a large group of people by the stereotypes, superstition, hatred, and bigotry of a percentage of their number. It is a mental illness to think those who are different from me are my enemy. I understand you have had a hard life and from your countless posts about sexually abusive clergy and families that something truly awful happened to you. I have no intention of converting anyone to my beliefs I just believe I have a right to my opinion without threats and insults. I understand that you are incapable of believing that people who have slightly different opinions deserve respect. Your anger and bigotry are a reflection of how you feel about yourself and how disenfranchised and powerless you feel. I see that you don’t understand earnestness you automatically assume it is disingenuous. You have a right to your opinion you are free to feel the whole world hates you but you could attempt to treat people on this site with a modicum of respect. I won’t be addressing you further like most crazy fundamentalists you have your agenda of hate and you post simple to get attention and insult never to inform or educate. I have no doubt there are many support groups for adult victims of child sexual abuse that would be helpful to you. I’m sure getting help will alleviate the anger. The way you treat others is a reflection to the world of how you feel about yourself. It takes the same amount of effort to be kind as it does to be hateful from your many posts I see you don’t understand kindness (a common byproduct of abuse) but why not try it for a week you might like it. Be well.
Charles J. Mueller
@Japhy
From Queerty’s Comment Policy; What is Prohibited.
“Queerty is not the place for you to spread anti-gay propaganda.”
I have flagged commentors Robert, No. 35 and RobBob, No. 36, whose religious denunciations are clearly anti-gay screeds that have no place in a gay blog site, whether those words emanate from the lips of a closeted, self-loathing gay or a homophobic, straight person who is lurking on this site for the sole purpose of shit-stirring and pissing off other commentators who may be atheist, agnostic or simply non-believers in organized religion.
We have rights too….even if we don’t believe in God or organized religion and we are getting sick and tired of being attacked by these Bible-thumpers who feel that it is their God-given and legal right (free speech)to come into websites and chat rooms designated as gay and to condemn, harass and preach at us with their vile, holier than thou bullshit and verbal abuse.
Organized religion is precisely the reason why we of the LGBT community are in the horrible, second-class, civil-rightless state we presently find ourselves in. I, for one, am fed-up with being preached at that I must be tolerant, respectful and turn the other cheek each and every time I get slapped in the face by some hate-spouting religious serpent who thinks s/he is better than I am. Exactly what is it that I am supposed to respect when someone wants me exterminated like some kind of vermin?
I echo the sentiments of the British YouTube Commentator and former comedian, Pat Condell:
“I don’t respect you beliefs and I don’t care if you are offended. Cheers”
I am certain that I speak for a great many of my fellow posters on this site when I say that if we wish to be preached at, admonished, condemned and threatened with hell fire and brimstone, I am certain that the majority of us are within walking distance of a Church, Chapel, Synagogue, Temple, Mosque or other such place of worship where we can avail ourselves of that claptrap. We certainly don’t need to come to Queerty.com for it.
For the above stated reasons, I respectfully request that the words “religious preaching, proselytizing denouncement and judgement are prohibited” be specifically added to the Commentary Rules of Queerty.com
We of the “no faith and going straight to hell crowd” will bless you for it. đ
getreal
I think debating these people is better than banning them. The best way to get them to go away is to address them with intelligence and compassion I have noticed if I do that they disappear. People who oppose equality could be here to get a different perspective or to incite and be hurtful. Either way I don’t see how trying to censor them helps. I feel comfortable debating this issue because I’m right. We don’t have to avoid these people in case you did not notice when addressed respectfully they seem to cut and run. I feel like the purpose of the comments section is to get a wide variety of opinions. I also get the impression that a lot of these so-called christian homophobes are self-hating gays deeply in the closet and in self-delusion. I look at RobRob’s message and it has closet case written all over it. At least he is here on the site maybe he will look around read and start to wake up. Getting ugly and hateful to people who are hateful does not change a thing. Ghandi knew that MLK did too.I know it sounds niave. I just don’t think we should let them get the best of us by giving them what they want which is a negative reaction. It makes someone feel more justified hating you if you act hateful. Just my opinion.
getreal
@Robert: As a christian I am frankly embarrassed by and embarrassed for people like you. I think it is really cowardly to hide behind the bible to excuse your own prejudices. You don’t even make any sense. You quote to thine own self be true as you ask people to deny who they are. If you really are a christian (I’m pretty doubtful any monkey can quote scripture but it takes a person to actually understand it) I think you should worry about yourself and your own immortal soul. Keep your nose and your misguided perversion of God’s word out of people’s lives.
Charles J. Mueller
@getreal:
If you have the patience and the energy to “debate” idiots like Robert and RobBob, go for it. You’re a better person than me.
At 72, I’m tired and worn out and no longer have the time, energy, patience or the desire to waste what little remaining time I have left on this earth on the likes of them.
If I rely believed that there was a god, my very first prayer to him would be “Lord, spare me from assholes like Robert and RobBob.” lol
Cheers
EverybodySayLove
“As parents, we occasionally feel that our children do not live up to our highest and best ideals. When they do not, we donât diminish our love for them as recompense for our disapproval.”
No, you just do that for other people’s children/friends/relatives. You call them “broken”, “disordered”, “sick”, “immature”. Perhaps because it was of your “correction” and “wise counsel” that he received in your home that he had to search for the human closeness and connection that HIS heart and soul required and desired in less than desirable venues. As we now know, he wasn’t trying to hurt anybody. He only wanted to be close to someone.
There is more than one verse in that bible that tells parents what to do with kids they’re disappointed in. The one that comes to mind is the prodigal son, whom the father not only welcomed back into the family, but killed the fatted calf for the son to celebrate. THE FATHER LOVED AND ACCEPTED THE SON FOR WHAT HE IS AND WELCOMED HIM BACK INTO THE HOME. How about taking a few lessons from that book of verses you’re so fond of quoting?
Your son is a child of GOD! He is a mature man who deserves to be loved and respected as a beautiful African-American, same-gender loving MAN…and I don’t even know him! Better check yourself, rev!