So they’re back. And sweeter than ever.

Gay choirs are back in the running for Verizon’s capitalistic cash cow How Sweet the Sound. How you ask?

Because HSTS is owned by a secular, pluralistic company whose bottom line is money, there can be no restrictions on who can participate. It can be the Black Temple Church of Satan Mass Choir or Black Temple Church of God in Christ Mass Choir. To Verizon Wireless, they’re all the same. Qualifications per Verizon:

The Choir must have a meaningful and consistent relationship with a church, temple, mosque or other similar religious organization (the “Religious Organization”). The Religious Organization must be a tax-exempt organization as described under sections 501(c)(3) and 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and must have a tax-exempt ID number; (our italics).

Please also understand that a great majority of gospel music isn’t what it labels itself to be. Its like a jar labeled as jelly but inside its glue. However they need the name to deceive the shallow-minded. Its money driven.

Last year we reported to you that HSTS judge Dorinda Clark Cole advanced a St Louis based homosexual choir from the Metropolitan Community Church denomination to the competition’s semifinals.

This year, the same choir is back again.  With all the blasphemous vomit spewed out by this denomination time and time again, you would think that somebody with a slither of integrity would protest their inclusion. But not so. The lust for money and fame has attracted greedy, ignorant churches lined up once again to “praise the Lord”. And if its any consolation, we can’t single out any denomination. Churches from a smorgasboard of denominations have got on the grind to win the cash prizes and fame for their pastor.

No Light

There is absolutely no way light and darkness can co-exist physically or naturally. They are polar opposites of each other with nothing in common. The same can be said spiritually.

I  have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.  John 12:46

And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. John 1:5

So what does Marvin Sapp, Hezekiah Walker, Dorinda Clark Cole, CeCe Winans and other celebrity gospel music industry workers not understand about that undeniable truth? To be blunt, satan’s kingdom is characterized by darkness and God’s kingdom is characterized by light. So Marv, Hez, DCC and CeCe are you saying its okay for the two to mix to sing gospel music? How can the blind sing of a glorious light they have never seen? How is it possible to praise a God whose sexual standards you reject? How can you approve and participate in such things knowing the judgment of God against them?

Don’t hold your breath waiting for an answer.

Joining the MCC choir is the “85% gay”  Tabernacle Baptist Church and the metaphysical, “new thought”, gay affirming church Hillside Chapel of Truth both in Atlanta.

You can see a list of all the churches involved here. Oh, how ironically sweet it is.

Bishop Yvette Flunder

“I received an invitation to come and preach at Love Center Church in Oakland, and very reluctantly I went. I had not preached in years. I had planned never to preach again, but that day God transformed my life. I joined that Sunday and the Sunday after I met the leader of my new church family. We called him Pastor Walt. I understood why I was led there when I heard him preach. He spoke with passion, clarity and conviction about the extravagant Grace of God that is greater than all of our shame and guilt. He introduced me to the doctrine of Eternal Security that made me understand that my salvation was not fragile, and that God was not punitive and vindictive. I realized that I was indeed justified by faith and that I had peace with God. What a glorious revelation!

I recall him saying over and over, ”What shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” I became progressively freer every time I heard him. I learned to both love and affirm myself. Pastor Walt became my friend and Brother. We talked regularly, shared vision, traveled the world and designed ministry. He was my Biker Buddy and we spent many hours riding through the hills of Northern California. I remember late night conversations that turned into after church fried chicken, sweet potato pies, (he made them from scratch), and Walt practicing his budding hair styling skills on me. I have fond memories of sitting with him on his piano stool, watching him create brand new music under the influence of the Holy Ghost.

I was blessed to know him and he was the same when we were at the ice cream parlor and when we were at the Stellar Awards. For 10 years I served beside him as his Assistant Pastor and as a member of The Hawkins Family. My love for the transforming power of Gospel music grew under his direction. My call to the Ministry of Radical Inclusivity grew out of his influence.

Bishop Hawkins took the courage to step into uncharted waters and to preach a liberating Gospel that was like fresh cool water on my battered spirit. Everyone who has ever been blessed by my ministry in any way…every church, every class, and every organization must pay tribute to the life and ministry of this great man. His mark is on you.

Bishop Walter Lee Hawkins, Walt…you were and are a giant of a man. You are home now with the Jesus you loved and served with your whole life. May your legacy have an even greater impact on the world than you could have imagined in this life.

Flunder as well as many of Hawkins supporters have stopped short saying the gospel singer himself was homosexual. Highly lauded as a man who wrote and produced music which dominated the gospel music industry and spanned four decades, Hawkins was at the same time an advocate of the false inclusion doctrine. Strangely,  his songs were solid in contrast to his theological fallacy. Undoubtedly, Hawkins was a man of immense talent, but his support of homosexuality and gay marriage is particularly troubling despite that acknowledged talent.

I grew up on the Hawkins’ music. It was personal and remain significant markers in my life.  I’ll never forget the first time I heard “Dear Jesus, I love you”. I sung it over and over till it felt like I wrote it myself. As a young man struggling with his sexuality, it was my letter to the friend that understood.  “Changed” was my anthem when I came out of homosexuality. But others like me have expressed an unusually torn feeling about Walter Hawkins perhaps unlike any other gospel singer/musician we know. His songs weren’t trashy chart topping ditties you forgot about two weeks later. Each one seemed to strike a deep chord of common experience with the listener.  But his support of something that we all know is deeply offensive to God sours the memory. How can the same fountain bring forth both bitter and sweet in such contrast?  The danger of being a castaway is something we all should consider. When its all said and done, we had better be sure that we have not run in vain.

I therefore so run, but not with uncertainty; I so fight, but not as one that beateth the air. But I keep control of my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Cor 9:26-27

Like his predecessors and some contemporaries, Hawkins’ legacy embodies the very best and perhaps the very worst of the gospel music industry. Hawkins is gone and whatever his eternal state is, it is already done and cannot be changed. But no one should ever mistake talent and acclaim as an indicator of right relationship with God. We can only be sure of our relationship with him  by adhering to his word and never compromising it for ourselves or anyone else.

Previous GCM Watch coverage of Walter Hawkins:

Carmen interviews Walter Hawkins on TBN

New book alleges Hawkins brothers are homosexual

Deception becomes the homosexual movement like nothing else. Its rather shocking when you realize how deeply homosexual culture’s perverse way of thinking and living has impacted so many of the central areas of our society. Marriage, politics, religion, education, entertainment and music, law and finances all have either been drastically altered or in the process of being altered by people blinded by their worship of their error-ridden sexual passions.

And for context remember it only takes a little leaven to leaven the whole lump (Gal 5:9).

Thankfully, Dr. Albert Mohler’s “History and Origins of the homosexual movement”  help us to understand and thus respond with wisdom and accuracy to one of  the greatest threats of our times.  Dr. Mohler does a monumental job in explaining how the homosexual movement evolved, its etimological subculture and particularly the point of its spear:  the sexual orientation theory. He reminds us that homosexuality unlike any other sin formulates a distinctive attack against God himself. Looking at the Romans 1 passage, the Apostle Paul identifies homosexual conduct in men and women as a prominent sign of the decline of societal integrity. If this is true in society, imagine what acceptance of it in the church signifies!

“Essential to understanding this reality in theological perspective is a recognition that homosexuality is an assault upon the integrity of creation and God’s intention in creating human beings in two distinct and complementary genders. Here the confessing church runs counter to the spirit of the age. Even to raise the issue of gender is to offend those who wish to dispose of any gender distinctions as mere “socially constructed realities” and vestiges of patriarchal past.”

You should be aware that you are being played with words that serve a singular purpose:  legitimizing homosexual conduct. He explains how the homosexual movement only recently began using the term “sexual orientation” and why. In contrast, they vehemently object to the usage of the word “homosexual” because they say it was only “recently” introduced into biblical translations. You will understand why gay christian activists and their supporters  (who come to this blog) always argue identity over behavior as a defense despite what the scriptures teach.

“The concept of sexual orientation was an intentional and quite successful attempt to redefine the debate over homosexuality from same-gender sexual acts to homosexual identity–that is, from what homosexuals do to who homosexuals are.

Yet this concept is actually of quite recent vintage. In fact, even within the past decade, the concept more commonly employed by the homosexual movement was sexual preference. The reason for the shift is clear: “Preference” implied a voluntary choice, so the clinical category of “orientation” was more useful in public arguments.”

If you truly want to understand what we are facing, why homosexuality is satan’s weapon of choice in this generation forward and why the gay christian movement should never be allowed to operate in the Christian church in any form, take some time and read this four part series.

I’ve taken the liberty of linking to the articles at Black Christian Network News.

Part One – Introduction

Part Two – The construct of sexual orientation

Part Three – Homosexuality in Biblical and Theological Perspective

Part Four – The Church’s response to homosexuality

First, in Auburn, IN one Lutheran church has overwhelming decided they will no longer be subjected to the gay affirming aggression leaders in their denomination have embraced.

A Lutheran church in Auburn this week joined a growing number of congregations in voting to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America over its recently broadened stance allowing homosexual ministers.

Members of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 211 E. Ninth St., voted 161-25 Sunday to withdraw from the ELCA, the Rev. Stephen Kummernuss, church pastor, said Friday.

A second vote must be taken in 90 days to confirm the action, he said.

“In August 2009, the ELCA changed its policy to allow same-gender persons in a committed relationship to be ordained, and we don’t agree with that,” Kummernuss said, adding the congregation is not against gays.

“No, absolutely not,” he said. “We believe that God made male and female for relationship with one another and not otherwise. We accept (homosexual) people but are not going to accept the act as part of God’s creation, and … not (among people) in ministry.”

The Journal-Gazette story also said the denomination previously allowed gays and lesbians in the clergy if they remained celibate. The policy change does not force any particular congregation to accept a non-celibate homosexual pastor.

But the move sparked an outcry in many ELCA churches, and many members of St. Mark’s felt it went too far, Kummernuss said. Some [members] began not attending church in protest, and giving dropped 50 percent, he said.

Nothing speaks louder to these apostate leaders than decreased money and members. If more churches would take action, they would no be so bold in installing homosexual leaders in authority. Part of the problem it seems is that many unsuspecting members are deceived with promises of more “dialogue” when in their inner circles they already have determined they will go against the Word of God.

Thankfully, for bible-adhering Lutherans there are options. Leaders have formed CORE, a “coalition of pastors, lay people, congregations and reforming groups. We seek to preserve within the Lutheran churches in North America the authority of the Word of God according to the Lutheran confessions.”

Meanwhile in the UK, a gay cleric was denied a key leadership position for the second time. The UK Guardian reported:

A gay but celibate clergyman has been blocked from becoming a bishop for the second time, following a row over his inclusion on the shortlist for the choice to run the Anglican diocese of Southwark.

Jeffrey John, the Dean of St Albans, was under consideration for the post and would have replaced the Right Rev Tom Butler, who retired earlier this year. In 2003 Dr John had been forced to stand down from his appointment as suffragan bishop of Reading.

When news of his second candidacy was leaked, the prospect of the first openly gay bishop in the Church of England immediately angered conservative evangelicals, who threatened to seek alternative leadership overseas and warned of a schism.

Of course per biblical standards, John shouldn’t be in any position of leadership in the first place, but the politics of religion have gotten him to where he is not biblical integrity.  Its interesting how  John is being marketed as a “gay but celibate clergyman”.  But further in the story says he is in a “civil partnership” but then again reasserts he is “celibate”. Sure, he is.  These agenda driven clerics will tell any lie they can to get into position.  So much for “honesty and integrity” they claim is the hallmark of being openly gay.

John reinvents the atonement  into a English tea party and in the end God and man decides to be friends. [source]. Where have we heard that type of lunatic religious heresy before?

The liberals in the church’s left wing are predictably outraged, because they want to seat these sexual apostates in power. We all know what they will do once in power. Look no further than the vindictive  Vickie Gene Robinson and its clear that keeping people like John out of power in the church is a fight worth engaging in.

Reports One News Now:

This week’s General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will consider redefining marriage to include same-sex couples and allowing ministers to perform same-sex weddings.

Carmen Fowler, president of the Presbyterian Lay Committee, believes those sorts of initiatives are to blame for the denomination’s declining membership.

Her group supports upholding the church’s traditional definition of marriage.

The PCUSA’s newly-elected moderator, Cynthia Bolbach, supports gay marriage but told the assembly on Saturday that the denomination has become paralyzed.

Fowler says that’s what happens when a church body becomes disconnected from its head — Jesus Christ.

The PCUSA is currently running a PR campaign which has the gall to declare pride in being Presbyterian “because it is God centered”.

According to the Christian Post, the PCUSA has been “debating this issue since 1991. That’s a long time to debate the validity of something with such a clear condemnation in scripture. It shows how weak many US denominations are spiritually and how far many have strayed away from foundational truth. With the election of a pro-homosexual moderator for the PCUSA, the issue now appears to be moving in favor of those who want the PCUSA to become another gay affirming denomination.

The newly elected moderator wasted no time with the smooth words of hate for God’s word:

“Those in favor of the full inclusion of gays and lesbians in our life together – and I include myself in that group – believe that we fail to satisfy the Gospel imperative of inclusiveness as we continue to exclude gays and lesbians from leadership in our church,” she said. “But there are also many within our church who believe that homosexual behavior is a sin that violates Scripture’s mandates. I respect their beliefs, and I want to continue in conversation with them about this basic issue.”

Continue to have conversation? The truth is they have  already decided that the denomination will be prohomosexual. The “conversation” is just to win more converts. That’s why its dangerous to even enter into these traps. People like Cynthia Bolbach have no intention of honoring or adhering to the truth of scripture. They words are just like the poisonous bite of a viper.

John Sloop of Shenandoah Presbytery interestingly argued that the church is being left behind if it does not accept the homosexual lifestyle that the world has already accepted.

“Jesus called on us to be the light of the world. But he never meant for us to be the tail lights,” he said, according to The Presbyterian Outlook.

And it goes on and on. The insanity that has taken over some churches is nothing but rebellion against the rule of the Lord Jesus. Since they wont be honest, I will. They despise him, his rule and his law. But they need his name to continue the deception. That’s why if you are in this denomination and any other for that matter, you should treat it like sodom and gomorrah and flee without looking back.

If the statistics are true, some are doing just that.

The ongoing debate over homosexuality comes as membership continues to decline in the PC(USA) – the largest Presbyterian denomination in the country. According to a newly released report, membership dropped by 2.9 percent to just over 2 million in 2009. The number of churches has also decreased to 10,657. Eighty-eight churches were dissolved and 15 were dismissed to other denominations. There were 524 more adult baptisms in 2009 compared to the previous year, but the denomination saw 1,336 fewer children baptisms.

Leave these apostates and take your money with you. Let them fund their own voyage into hell.

Actor, comedian, author, and radio personality Steve Harvey made an appearance on the Trinity Broadcast Network’s (TBN) show, Praise the Lord.  Airing May 11th, 2010 with Paula White as the host, Harvey talked about his book, “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man.” He specifically discussed the “90 day rule.” This rule tells women to put a man on probation before giving away any “benefits.” Harvey went on to state that he knows that the Bible says a person should wait until s/he gets married to have sex and he agrees with that whole-heartedly.  But he states that since people are not going to wait until marriage to have sex, they should at least wait for 90 days.  Paula White wholeheartedly agreed with him and didn’t correct him at all!  The crowd laughed in agreement.  The Bible warns us in Jude 18-19, “How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.”

First, this interview is disturbing because it takes place on Christian television!  It would have been somewhat acceptable if it were aired on a secular station or radio show.  The nature of Harvey’s statement would have been more understandable and expected.  We as believers could have just passed his statements off as worldly wisdom with a roll of the eyes upward.

Secondly, his statement boldly goes against the Word of God. God doesn’t grade sin on a curve.  He doesn’t look at certain situations and say “…ok I’ll let you slide by on that one because you can’t help yourself.”  This is a prime example of cheap grace.   God is a holy God.  The Word says, “Be ye holy for I am Holy.” (Leviticus 11:45).

Harvey’s book may make some good points for women. But is his book’s wisdom of God or earthly? James 3:15 says, “This wisdom descendeth not from above, but earthly, sensual, devilish.” The book my offer some good advice for women to follow, but telling them they can’t abstain from fornication is earthly, sensual, and downright demonic.  His advice is within the guidelines of the world system. Godly wisdom within the kingdom of God falls under James 3:17 which says, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy, and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”  When a person walks in the wisdom of God, they will first be pure, have good fruit.  The good fruit a person shows from abstaining from fornication will manifest as two parts of the fruit of the Spirit:  longsuffering (endurance and patience) and temperance( having control or mastery over one’s desires or passions).

The ironic part of this interview was Harvey began to sound like the serpent in the Garden of Eden. He basically tells others what the Word of God says and agrees with it, “Abstain from sex before marriage!”  But then slyly adds, “hardly any Christians keep the Word of God anyway.  So since we all know you’re not going to abstain, its okay to do it…just wait 90 days until you do.”  He speaks as if the Word has loopholes in it. These types of comments are just like those of the serpent when he told Eve that she would be as gods (Genesis 3:5) deciding for herself what is good and evil instead of leaning on understanding of the Word of God and keeping His Word. This type of nature is rooted in Satanism. Aleister Crowley’s, Book of the Law states “Do as thou wilt, is the whole book of the law, which means I can do as I please and I don’t have to line up with the Word of God.” Even in Anton Lavey nine satanic commandments of the Satanic Bible, the first commandment is that Satan represents indulgences instead of abstinence. First Thessalonians 4:3 states, “For this the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication.”  The key word is to abstain from fornication, not to indulge in fornication by giving a man sexual benefits after a 90-day probation period.  This is outside the will of God.

One may ask Shofarsound what is the big deal? It just fornication! God understands I have needs that must be met.  Everybody in my church is having sex and they aren’t married.  They still sing in the choir.  They’re preaching.  They’re teaching.  They’re still serving on the usher board. Does that mean you follow the broad road to destruction (Matthew 7:13)? If everyone jumps off the bridge are you going jump also? I don’t think so!

Biblical View on Fornication

The Old Testament viewed premarital sex as a capital offense against one’s future spouse. This was unlike the Gentile nations that condoned premarital sex. The Greek word for fornication is porneuo, which means to act like a harlot, indulge in unlawful lust of either sex, or practice idolatry – fornication. Fornication is idolatry, because that person you sleep with isn’t your spouse.  You’re bowing down to get in the bed with your idol instead of obeying the Word of God.   It is idolatry when an individual places a person they’re consistently fornicating with over the Word.  First Samuel 15:23 states, “stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”

That person you’re sleeping with is an idol in your heart and it is evident that the Holy Spirit doesn’t reign supreme in your life. Every time that person calls you jump up and run to him/her.  The next thing you know, you’re in the sack.   The Holy Spirit calls out to you in order to lead and guide you into all truth.  That person means no good for your spirituality.  Instead of listening, you turn a deaf ear to the voice of Godly wisdom.

First Corinthians 6:18-20 says, “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”   Our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. When you fornicate you desecrate your temple.  You sin against your own body. If you continue in the sin of fornication you will die.  Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death.  You may eventually earn a sexually transmitted disease that attacks your physical body.

Fornication Destroys the Soul

Sexual sins destroys the soul (Proverbs 6:32). The Greek word for soul is called psuche, which derives psychology study of the soul. Your soul is made up of the intellect, will, memory, emotions, and imagination. First example your involve in fornication, Your intellect or reasoning will tell you that you’re in love with him or her so its ok to have sex before marriage.  You essentially rely on your own understanding instead of the Word of God.  Secondly, after you intellectualize being in a sexual relationship your will is given unto your carnal desires. Thirdly, you will have memories of the good and bad things of the illicit relationship. Why do you think someone can be in the act of intercourse with one person and call out another person’s name? It is because the soul connection of the memory is still there.  The person is comparing their present sexual experience with a former.  The fourth example is the emotions.  You develop the emotion of bitterness.  Because of your memory, you remember all the bad relationships you had in the past.  A person develops bitterness and emotional detachment. So when man or woman of God comes to you, your’re damage goods from all the bad relationships you had in the past.  You’re unable to make that godly connection. Lastly is the imagination.  The enemy uses the imagination to keep sexual perverse thoughts in your head and to prevent you from being obedient to the will of God.

So whether 90 days or 20 years, if you’re not married you need to abstain from fornication. We all must keep in mind that fornicators shall not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9; Galatians 5:19-21). Ecclesiastes 12:13 says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”  Keep His commandments and the Holy Spirit will give you keeping power to overcome the devil, the world, and your flesh.  So will you listen to the Word of God or Steve Harvey?

Another must see and hear to believe it video courtesy of  homosexual christian clerics.

Have you been under the impression that gay christians love, revere, worship, honor, serve, obey and follow the Jesus of the Bible? If you have, you couldn’t have been more wrong.  In fact I would say that the “Jesus” they speak of is but an idol of their own imagination, crafted by the dark recesses of their minds. The Christ, who came expressly to die and deliver us from the penalty and curse of sin is mocked and demeaned by those who call themselves by his name.

After watching this video (a little over 10 minutes) of a gaggle of clergy from the Metropolitan Community Church (a homosexual christian denomination), it reminded me of Bill Clinton’s 1998 defense statement when he said “It depends on what the meaning of is, is.”

Listen to these gay christian “theologians” discuss what believing in Jesus means to them. Or rather what believing in Jesus doesn’t mean to them.

The panel sets the stage by defining their brand of religion as more akin to Jesus because everything is always in flux. There are no absolutes and there are no imaginative boundaries for followers of Christ. In their logic, man is smart enough —and has a high self worth— without the bible to determine what is right and good for us.

I pulled out a few of the more stunning statements for your review. Keep in mind these are people who are demanding to be accepted as equals (brothers and sisters in Christ).

The Rev. Durrell Watkins (the church’s senior pastor) refers to Jesus as some type of voodoo doll he has purchased.

“I as a progressive Christian have set my heart on Jesus so yes I believe in Jesus…and that means that Jesus for me is a symbol and a figure that I am constantly working with, exploring, playing with and so how that impacts me, how that influences my life is going to change over time. But because I have set my heart on Jesus Ive made Jesus a primary symbol to work with…”

A symbol to play with? Professing themselves wise, they have become fools.

Rev. Nikki Bailey sees Jesus dying for the sins of humanity is  something akin to a humorous fairy tale.

“I would say that belief in Jesus would be belief in all the questions and all of the seeking and all of the possibility that Jesus represents. I would agree with Durrell not necessarily believing about Jesus all of the things or I was taught in the tradition I was raised in, not necessarily that Jesus died for my sins., which is fine if that’s where you are… (all laugh) But for me it would be believing that all the things that Jesus represented through his life and all of the questions that arrive from that and all of the commitments that I need to make to justice and peace and loving my neighbor is a part of what that belief is.”

I was wrong. From there it gets progressively worse. The gay christian ministers go on to reject the significance of the death of Christ because they possess a “high anthropology”. Thus, they have no need for Jesus to save them although, as the man says, they do have high regard for Jesus.

I’ve said it before and it bears repeating. The theology of the homosexual christian movement is diametrically opposed to literally every fundamental teaching of our faith.  This is the very nature of satan who wraps himself in an angelic facade and presents himself as one who is focused on love and peace.

More on MCC ministers and their perverted view of Jesus:

• Thieves, robbers and perverts in the MCC
• MCC clerics demonize Jesus
• MCC minister imagines Jesus in love

“I’m coming to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as a brother, a friend and co-laborer in the gospel. I’d like to start by thanking you all for your love, prayers and support. For every one that has been wondering where I’ve been, I say with all sincerity that I have been at the foot of the cross, seeking the heart of God, reprioritizing, realigning myself with Him and reuniting with my wife, family and friends.

I have sought forgiveness from my wife Nicole Lambert for breaking my vows and the covenant that I made before God, abdicating my responsibility as the priest of my home and forsaking my responsibility as a husband and a father.

I owe more than an apology to my two daughters Carlise Jackson and Summer Lambert. I would never want a man to do to them what I did to their mother. In this area I have been an example of what not to be. I am saddened and deeply shamed by my actions.

To my personal ministry team, I realize that my actions have compromised the integrity of our mission and call but I am so grateful that you have forgiven me and I am looking forward to how the Lord is rebuilding us as a community and will use that to minister healing to His people and the world at large. ” [full statement]

God bless this young man and those who are directing him back to restoration. I read the entire statement and there was no obfuscating or word play to make him look good. There was no casting blame and “you who are without sin” sermonizing.  Like a man of God he bowed down and confessed his own sins. The reason I call it true repentance is because true repentance is never face-saving. And true repentance is evidenced by obedience to the process of restoration.

I want to say openly to Emanuel:  God is pleased with your humility, submission and your willingness to openly repent for what you have done. Like probably a lot of people who didnt know you personally, it hurts and is disappointing to hear of a brother’s sin, especially one so promising. Yet, obeying what the scriptures tell us to do when we sin is not punishment but a glorious testimony.  I don’t know if you will read this but I’d like to share with you a couple of scriptures that tell us the benefits of repentance.

1.  Repentance proves that you love and know Christ 1 John 2:1-5

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.  He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

2.  God promises that he will respond to our repentance with overwhelming grace 1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

I look forward to you getting back in your place and letting God take you to a higher plain.  To every other young man who is been tempted by sexual sin, heed the words of David:

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Psalms 119:9

Reverend Michelle Smith’s story is unusual. Maybe a little shocking. She says that she used to be a lesbian. And now, she’s not. “I used to be one of those who said that the Bible was ambiguous, because I wanted to justify my lifestyle,” she argued. “But God did something to me and I can’t deny it.” God or no God, Smith’s experience certainly doesn’t fit the status quo for either side of the fence. In fact she has received serious criticism from the Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Bisexual community (GLTB), and she’s been largely ignored by T&T’s versions of the mega-church. Most GLTB believe that if you’re gay, you’re born gay, and no amount of licks, shock treatment or holy water can change that.

Smith certainly never tried to change during the 26 years she spent as a lesbian. She dressed like a man, worked her way up to being a top dog in Jamaica’s drug industry and by all accounts was the life of the gay party. “I loved being a lesbian. I thought I was going to die a lesbian,” Smith said honestly. “I never had a problem getting women. I had penis envy; if anybody called me a woman, I would be so upset.” A photo of her former incarnation shows her with a butch haircut, grim expression and male clothing. A very different person to the gorgeous-haired, grey-suited, make-up wearing woman she is now. Most women learn to cultivate outward femininity during puberty; Smith is now learning to do it at age 41. But it wasn’t her desire to change her gayness that drove her to Christ, she added. It was the fact that no matter how many women she wooed and won, no matter how much money she made, it was never enough to fulfil her.

“I came to Christ at a point in my life where I felt so much emptiness. You keep hoping for a relationship where someone will love you unconditionally, and you’re not getting it.” And while searching for something to fill that void, she pursued Christianity, with no intention of giving up her lifestyle. Once she began a relationship with Jesus, Smith said, her lesbianism became an issue: not for people in the church, but an issue between her and her God. “He was telling me, ‘All or nothing,’” Smith said of her conversion. “I didn’t have anything to lose.” It’s been six years since the Jamaican left the life of a lesbian behind. It’s ironic that becoming a Christian and leaving the gay life has brought her more isolation, a harder life materially.

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Order Michelle Smith’s book  “From lesbianism to grace” here.  To read more about how  grace works for the believer go here.

Even now in the 21st century in the church, we have some “preachers gone wild.”  They are generally driven by the lust for fame, sex, and money. Unfortunately, today in the church world integrity, morality, humility, and anointing take a back seat to showmanship, talent, pride, and those who can draw big crowds and money.  They look to be “Sunday’s best” by being the hottest preacher or singer instead of living holy every day of the week and presenting their bodies to be living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto God which is their reasonable service (Romans12:1).

In the last couple of years there have been scandals of pastors caught in immorality. Why is this? The American church has been caught in the trap of pursuing the most popular, crowd-commanding preacher to put it on the map instead of  praying and seeking the face of God to see if the Holy Spirit has endorsed the preacher or not (Acts 13:1-3).  For the most part it seems like churches are not trying to build the kingdom of God through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, but through devilish sensual earthly wisdom (James 3:15).

These scandals of immorality on the pulpit range from adulterous affairs, to sexual assaults against female members, even murder. Believe me, the Catholic Church is not the only church that has its sex scandals of molestation.  Pentecostal and Charismatic( among other Christian denominations) circles have been touched heavily by sexual immorality also.

Just recently, like something written out of a soap opera, Houston pastor Tracy Bernard Burleson of the First New Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Houston, Texas was accused of killing his wife. Police state that Burleson paid his 20 year old stepson, William Darnnell Fuller, to kill his stepmother Pauletta Ross Burleson. Mrs. Burleson was found dead from a single gunshot that pierced her head and neck. Along with the arrest of Pastor Burleson and William Fuller, a third person, Tyonne Marie Palmer-Pollard, was arrested for tampering with evidence. Palmer-Pollard was having an affair with both Pastor Burleson and William Fuller at the same time. Also to note, before being murdered, Mrs. Burleson was aware of the multiple affairs her husband had with other women. Both Pastor Burleson and his stepson Fuller are being held without bail. Fuller has already confessed to the murder.

In the last couple of years, there have been other preachers who have made the dishonorable mention list of preachers gone wild.  A few are: Terry Hornbuckle, Sherman Allen, Anthony Hopkins, Sergio Alvarizares, Ted Haggard, and Paul Cain.

On August 28, 2006 Terry Hornbuckle, pastor of the mega-church Agape Christian Fellowship Church in Arlington, Texas was con­victed of raping and drugging three women.  Two of these women were members of Hornbuckle church. Not only was it found that Hornbuckle was a rapist, but that he also smoked meth. He even smoked meth with one of his victims, drugged her then raped her! He ended up receiving a fifteen year prison sentence. Hornbuckle before being exposed publicly received counseling privately from several ministers in the area. One of the ministers was Pastor Sherman Allen of Shiloh Institutional Church of God in Christ in Fort Worth, TX.   It can be said that Allens’ counseling Hornbuckle was a bad idea.  Allen has been accused of assaulting women and sexually abusing them. How can somebody that has same perverse spirit lead someone else to deliverance? This is hypocrisy and an abomination before the eye’s of the Lord!  Thirty five women accused Allen of beating them with a pad­dle.  Some even said that this paddling turned into sexual abuse.  The presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ, Bishop Charles Blake, suspended Allen because of this.  However, despite being suspended by Bishop Blake, Allen has continued to pastor his church and has changed the name of the church to Shiloh Institutional Church and has dropped the “Church of God in Christ” at the end. 

Allegations of abuse go all the way back to 1983 for Allen. Lawsuits have been filed against him with criminal charges pending.  Yet, he continues to pastor like nothing ever happened and is still unaccount­able to leadership.  Its business as usual with his church and some of the big name preachers still run to his conferences despite his “major character flaws and issues.”  

In Portland Oregon, October 2007, police arrested Pastor Sergio Alvarizares for allegedly sexually abusing eight women in his con­gregation. Alvarizares was held on one account of rape in the first degree, two accounts of attempted rape in the first degree, and ten accounts of sex abuse in the first degree. He was later sentence to three years of prison in June 2008, after pleading guilty to attempted rape and third degree sexual abuse of sexually assaulting five women.

The next preacher to commit heinous acts of sexual immorality and murder is Anthony Hopkins. Hopkins a traveling evangelist (some had consider him a prophet) from Alabama.  He was arrested by police during a revival at Inspirational Tabernacle Church of God in Christ in Jackson, Alabama for the murder of his wife. Anthony Hopkins killed his wife after she caught him having sex with a teenage relative in 2004. He eventually stuffed his wife’s body in a freezer.  It wasn’t until 2008 that his step-daughter led the police to her mother’s body. On May 21, 2010 Hopkins was sentence to life in prison , he was convicted for murder, sodomy, and sexual abuse.

 Male church leaders not only get caught up with women, but with sleeping with other men. In 2006 Ted Haggard, the pastor of New Life Church, a mega church in Colorado Springs, Colorado was ex­posed when he was caught having an affair with a male prostitute. Paul Cain, a noted Prophet, was exposed in 2004 engaging in long-term homosexual activity.

These problems are prevalent because of the lack of accountability, discernment, spiritual fatherhood and mentoring, and lack of correc­tion. Pride, arrogance, prayerlessness, the love of money and the lack of a repentant heart is causing preachers to go wild in sin.

No one can take glory for somebody falling into sin.  We are one body in Christ.  Therefore, when a leader blatantly sins against God it affects the whole body, brings a reproach, and profanes the name of the Lord.  As saints of God we must strive to be a positive witness so that our light might shine in a dark world.

Let us keep this in mind: if we have not fallen, it is only by the grace of God.  Through humility He gives us the grace to live a victorious lifestyle in Him (James 4:6-7).  Preachers let us take our eyes off popularity and fame, and keep them on Jesus Christ who is able to keep us from falling (Jude 24).

Remember, His grace is sufficient to keep us saved, and not go wild! 

 Related articles:

• Sherman Allen/COGIC sexual abuse trial looms
• Pastors and Adultery
• Southern Baptists screen out sexual predators