Atlanta pastor withdraws from Obama inauguration ceremony
The evangelical pastor chosen to give the benediction at President Barack Obama’s inauguration withdrew from the ceremony Thursday after remarks he made two decades ago condemning the gay rights movement surfaced.
The Rev. Louie Giglio of Passion City Church in Atlanta said in a statement he withdrew because it was likely that the “prayer I would offer will be dwarfed by those seeking to make their agenda the focal point of the inauguration.”
Addie Whisenant, a spokeswoman for the Presidential Inaugural Committee, said the committee had chosen Giglio because of his work to end human trafficking.
“We were not aware of Pastor Giglio’s past comments at the time of his selection and they don’t reflect our desire to celebrate the strength and diversity of our country at this inaugural,” Whisenant said in a statement.
The liberal website ThinkProgress posted audio of the sermon Wednesday. In the talk, which the pastor said he gave 15 or 20 years ago, Giglio cites Scripture and called same-sex relationships sinful and an abomination. He warned congregants about what he called the “aggressive agenda” for acceptance of the “homosexual lifestyle.” And he recommended the writings of an advocate for therapy that aims to convert gays and lesbians into heterosexuals.
Repeatedly in the sermon, Giglio urged congregants to welcome gays and lesbians to the church and says God loves them.
In Thursday’s statement, Giglio said “speaking on this issue has not been in the range of my priorities in the past 15 years.”
Obama’s inaugural planners have put an emphasis on reflecting diversity in the festivities, including the participation of gay Americans. Obama personally selected Richard Blanco, whose work explores his experience as a Cuban-American gay man, as the inaugural poet. And the Lesbian and Gay Band Association of St. Louis was one of the first selections to march in the inaugural parade.
Whisenant said the committee was considering others to deliver the benediction at the Jan. 21 event.
The Think Progress post cited by the AP points to remarks from Giglio found on “a Christian web site:”
The 54-minute sermon, entitled “In Search of a Standard – Christian Response to Homosexuality,” advocates for dangerous “ex-gay” therapy for gay and lesbian people, references a biblical passage often interpreted to require gay people be executed, and impels Christians to “firmly respond to the aggressive agenda” and prevent the “homosexual lifestyle” from becoming accepted in society.
Think Progress cited this passage:
”We must lovingly but firmly respond to the aggressive agenda of not all, but of many in the homosexual community. … Underneath this issue is a very powerful and aggressive moment. That movement is not a benevolent movement, it is a movement to seize by any means necessary the feeling and the mood of the day, to the point where the homosexual lifestyle becomes accepted as a norm in our society and is given full standing as any other lifestyle, as it relates to family.”
And this one:
”I would refer you maybe just to the article “Born gay?” by Joe Dallas, who is the president of a ministry that helps with homosexuals in “recovery.” It was found in Christianity Today in June of 1992. It really unfolds for us that the evidence that they say is there, that the media wants to tell us is there really isn’t there at all. But I want to tell you this tonight. Even if it was there…
“How do you respond to that? How do you respond to the news reports that we’re hearing in the last few months that there is a genetic tendency to be an over-eater and it’s been supposedly proved by the scientists? That there is a genetic tendency to addictive behavior. Alcoholics by and large have a genetic tendency to addictive behavior. I predict in our lifetimes and not a very long period of time from now, scientists and geneticists will have found a way to prove a gene theory for every malfunction in sinful society. And do you know why? We talked about it the very first week—because we do not want responsibility for our choices.”
I still can’t fathom what the White House thought it was getting when it booked a well-known, conservative pastor. Somebody didn’t do his homework.
Beyond that, opinion toward same-sex marriage is one of the most rapidly shifting areas of cultural policy ever seen in American politics. One wonders how many people will soon be penalized for being on the wrong side of this one – which could be a dilemma for a president who wants to be seen as reaching out to religious conservatives.
To that point, here’s a paragraph from a statement that Giglio has posted on the Passion City Church website:
The issue of homosexuality (which a particular message of mine some 20 years ago addressed) is one of the most difficult our nation will navigate. However, individuals’ rights of freedom, and the collective right to hold differing views on any subject is a critical balance we, as a people, must recover and preserve.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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264 comments Add your comment
Concerned
January 10th, 2013
4:54 pm
@jamel…the word in the black community upon Obama announcing he was for Gays was …what would you do for a Glondike bar… It should have been what would you sell your soul for in order for wordly gain…Obama his family are in my prayers..they need it!!!
melshop
January 10th, 2013
4:57 pm
Interesting that the media is only using the first part of Giglio’s comment on the matter…here’s the rest entire comment in context.
“The issue of homosexuality … is one of the most difficult our nation will navigate. However, individuals’ rights of freedom, and the collective right to hold differing views on any subject is a critical balance we, as a people, must recover and preserve,” he said. “As a pastor, my mission is to love people, and lead them well, while lifting up the name of Jesus above anything else. I’m confident that anyone who knows me or has listened to the multitude of messages I have given in the last decade would most likely conclude that I am not easily characterized as being opposed to people — any people. Rather, I am constantly seeking to understand where all people are coming from and how to best serve them as I point them to Jesus.”
The idea folks (and I am talking mostly to the unbelievers) is that we do love people – all people. We do want them in church because, for those troubled or in sin, that is where they need to be. However, that does not mean we have to conclude their sin (I’m speaking of any sin here) is acceptable to God. It’s not.
Yes, science has determined that genetics play a role in behavior a.k.a. sin. But the Bible already states that by declaring that sin passes down generations to generation. It is very specific about handle to break the cycle. Having a genetic component does not negate personal responsibility nor invalidate free will.
None of us can go to God for salvation unless we first repent of our sin. Repent means not only be regretful but also to turn away from it. The liar cannot become a Christian and continue in the life of lying. The prostitute cannot continue selling herself. And those who commit sexual sins (defined as any sex outside marriage, pornography and the like) cannot continue in that sin either.
Jesus said “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more” when he saved the woman found in prostitution. That was meant for all of us – not just her.
No doubt some will have momentary failings. We all do in our individual sins. Thank God He doesn’t “unsave” us when those occur. But to live in a life of sin without change or repentance is to thumb your nose at God’s mercy and grace. It is to take lightly the sacrifice of Jesus’ death. And it also shows no confidence in His victory over sin by His victory over death in His resurrection.
That is the crux of the matter in this particular issue. Either we believe that Jesus can save us and help us conquer sin (any sin) or we don’t. That doesn’t mean the sin will suddenly disappear. It does for some, but some will have a battle with their particular sin the rest of their lives (a.k.a. Paul’s thorn in the flesh) but live daily in God’s grace as did Paul.
If we say this sin cannot be changed and therefore isn’t sin, we not only deny the Bible but deny the resurrection and the victory in it – that Jesus conquered the wages of sin which are death – therefore gives us victory over that sin.
Uh Huh.....You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
January 10th, 2013
4:57 pm
WHO?…Has the courage to “Love the sinner and hate the sin”?
Some people on this blog have committed unspeakable sins but
they want to condemn others.
God knows who THEY are.
Cherokee
January 10th, 2013
4:58 pm
td I’ve seen enough of your comments to realize that you are totally without any humility at all in your supposed understanding of the Bible.
As I said, Isaiah is very clear about the sin of Sodom. Try reading that before you let your haughtiness get in the way.
And as DannyX notes, Jesus called divorce and remarriage adultery – Paul said, in the Scriptures you quote – that adulterers will not see the Kingdom of Heaven.
So I ask you again, why are you so exercised about homosexuality, while you ignore the sin of adultery which fills the church pews of any evangelical church in America.
Jesus would call you and many of the posters here Pharisees and Sadduccees.
Democrats Are The Devils
January 10th, 2013
5:07 pm
Hosea 4:6
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
because you have rejected knowledge,
I reject you from being a priest to me.
And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.
td
January 10th, 2013
5:19 pm
Cherokee
January 10th, 2013
4:58 pm
“while you ignore the sin of adultery which fills the church pews of any evangelical church in America.”
Adultery is the same level of sin as sodomy. I have never said adultery is not a sin. Now DannyX and maybe you are trying to say that if people divorce and remarry then it is adultery. Well that my friend is not the case. You may want to read Deut 24 for a little more understanding. After you read and study this chapter then come back and we will talk.
DannyX
January 10th, 2013
5:20 pm
Democrats Are The Devils, what are your sins?
What laws of God have you forgotten?
Disgusted in Dekaln
January 10th, 2013
5:25 pm
It is our country’s loss that Louie isn’t speaking. He’s an awesome speaker and a wonderful human being. I can guarantee he has done more than enough good to outweigh an unpopular sermon from 20 years ago
The gay rights movement is almost Fascist in nature. They want everyone to recognize their rights but they denounce anyone who disagrees with them. We’re suppose to respect their ‘choice’ but they refuse to respect our opinion if it disagrees with theirs. Talk about hypocrits.
DannyX
January 10th, 2013
5:29 pm
“Now DannyX and maybe you are trying to say that if people divorce and remarry then it is adultery. Well that my friend is not the case. You may want to read Deut 24 for a little more understanding.”
A little more understanding?? Jesus himself gave new orders on divorce and explicitly stated that he was overriding any old divorce laws.
Matt 19:8 “”Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.”
Jesus overruled Moses. Stop trying to find silly waivers, td.
Post me
January 10th, 2013
5:32 pm
you right wingers are interpreting the bible to support your hatred and not feel bad about yourself. if it wasn’t in the bible you would find something else to “support your claim” so you could sleep at night
Post me
January 10th, 2013
5:34 pm
By the way, the evangelical christians are ruining the republican party. Other republicans across the country don’t agree with you and thus don’t vote like they used to because it is a win win for them. They view you at hate mongers that are weakening our party
Scrivener
January 10th, 2013
6:01 pm
Cherokee: “And as DannyX notes, Jesus called divorce and remarriage adultery – Paul said, in the Scriptures you quote – that adulterers will not see the Kingdom of Heaven.
So I ask you again, why are you so exercised about homosexuality, while you ignore the sin of adultery which fills the church pews of any evangelical church in America.”
Cherokee, in case you hadn’t noticed, homosexuality is the main theme of what this blog is about, so accusing someone of being “exercised” because they’re discussing it is absurd. And you clearly don’t know what you’re talking about when discussing the Bible as demonstrated in the remarks you’ve made. I suggest you Google Robert Gagnon who is an expert in the Bible and the ancient scripts and interpretations. And BTW, your repeatedly (and I DO mean repeatedly) bringing up divorce is another red herring. Divorce is another symptom of our fallen nature. Christians do NOT celebrate it and do NOT seek to bless it.
Jesus would call you and many of the posters here Pharisees and Sadduccees.
Democrats Are The Devils
January 10th, 2013
6:01 pm
DannyX
January 10th, 2013
5:20 pm
Democrats Are The Devils, what are your sins?
What laws of God have you forgotten?
not a one……
Scrivener
January 10th, 2013
6:03 pm
Oh, and that last sentence about Pharisees was not written by me but was a leftover from cut-and-paste of Cherokee’s post.
Democrats Are The Devils
January 10th, 2013
6:04 pm
the reading is in the puddin, dont get mad at me ! I dare you take it up with GOD !!!!!
td
January 10th, 2013
6:09 pm
DannyX
January 10th, 2013
5:29 pm
And Matt 19:9 says? How about Matt: 5:32?
Democrats Are The Devils
January 10th, 2013
6:13 pm
you have to admit the liberals goes against god laws more than anybody. they dont go for what christians stand for. and god laws ! they are changing them more and more. and when you do that, you will pay !!! see about, “I also will forget your children”……..
Democrats Are The Devils
January 10th, 2013
6:14 pm
see above…
Justified
January 10th, 2013
6:15 pm
Well,well, well let’s see take God out government , you get the Beast as the leader of most powerful country in the world take God out of schools and he quits fighting the Devil so why not let SATIN him selfs do do the ceremony witch lives in HOLLYWOOD
td
January 10th, 2013
6:16 pm
DannyX
January 10th, 2013
5:29 pm
BTW: In the Southern Baptist church if you are divorced you can not be in the leadership of the church (Pastor, Deacon…) so there is a consequence for a persons action or hardness of ones heart against the covenant made between a man and a woman before God.
Democrats Are The Devils
January 10th, 2013
6:19 pm
Justified
January 10th, 2013
6:15 pm
Well,well, well let’s see take God out government , you get the Beast as the leader of most powerful country in the world take God out of schools and he quits fighting the Devil so why not let SATIN him selfs do do the ceremony witch lives in HOLLYWOOD
td
January 10th, 2013
6:19 pm
Democrats Are The Devils
January 10th, 2013
6:13 pm
All you had to do was to watch the Democratic convention to see how far from God they are when they approved sodomy, murder of the innocent on demand and denied God three times.
You really can not be a Christian (IMHO) and be a democrat just from the platform.
1776
January 10th, 2013
6:21 pm
The article states “Giglio said “speaking on this issue has not been in the range of my priorities in the past 15 years.”…..I bet he hasn’t. That’s because he’s a compromiser that’s worried about filling pew seats, selling his books & making $$$. You can’t rake in the $$ with hard Bible preachin & “tickling ears”. Giglio watered down approach is exactly what’s wrong with many (so called) Christian churches these days. Preach God’s Word & let the chips fall where they may!
Democrats Are The Devils
January 10th, 2013
6:23 pm
Democrats Are The Devils
January 10th, 2013
6:13 pm
you have to admit the liberals goes against god laws more than anybody. they dont go for what christians stand for. and god laws ! they are changing them more and more. and when you do that, you will pay !!! see about, “I also will forget your children”……..
sandy hook ?????
DannyX
January 10th, 2013
6:24 pm
“Christians do NOT celebrate it and do NOT seek to bless it.”
Sure they do! Churches are full of people that have broken the divorce and re-marriage laws Jesus set. Most churches arrogantly ignore the rules of divorce. Cherry picking at its finest. Churches bless divorce by allowing them. Churches bless re-marriage by allowing them. Churches also allow remarriage with full ceremonies.
Bringing up divorce is certainly valid here, it points out the laughable hypocrisy on the whole marriage debate. But hey, its easy to throw stones at gay people, you can throw the book at them and ignore the log that is in the eyes of half your church members. Wouldn’t want to upset the cash cow would we?
We going to see an amendment in Georgia soon that bans divorce???
Divorce is a CHOICE!!!
Democrats Are The Devils
January 10th, 2013
6:24 pm
td – praise god, excaltly !!!
Democrats Are The Devils
January 10th, 2013
6:26 pm
DannyX – yes, it is a choice…..
Democrats Are The Devils
January 10th, 2013
6:30 pm
Matthew 7
Do Not Judge
7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
now, what i take from this passage, is that first, get right with your own self and then you can tell your brother he’s traveling down the wrong road…….
td
January 10th, 2013
6:30 pm
DannyX
January 10th, 2013
6:24 pm
“Divorce is a CHOICE!!!”
It sure is and like many have said it is a sin and there are consequences to the actions of the individuals. Being gay is not a sin and gays are welcome in the church and can here the same sermons that divorced couples here about sinning and asking for forgiveness.
Understand now.
DannyX
January 10th, 2013
6:33 pm
Matt 5:32– The most ignored verse in the Bible. Bringing that up weakens your argument td.
“But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.”
Half of all Christian marriages end in divorce. The minority of those divorces involve adultery. Either way that is a lot of sin. You are either an adulterer, or you are divorcing without cause which Jesus forbids. Re-marriage laws have been tossed, the adultery in those cases ignored.
Its just laughable to hear so-called Christians condemn gays with their Bibles! Defending marriage, lol.
1776
January 10th, 2013
6:34 pm
Ol’ Louie needs to stop trying to back-peddle and give the straight Bible truths!
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils%20in%20America/Sodomy/homosexuality_is_a_sin.htm
Yeah Right
January 10th, 2013
6:36 pm
Who’s this con artist holy man trying to fool. If he withdrew he did it because he was told to either withdraw or they’d remove him from the program. So, like all two faced preachers, he did what would make it look like it was all his idea. But whatever the reason it’s good he’s out. They should do away with all religious references in the inauguration in the first place. That’s what separation of church and state is all about. Let the nitwit holy rollers pray on their own if they way to. What some fictitious deity thinks should not enter into it.
Democrats Are The Devils
January 10th, 2013
6:39 pm
Leviticus 18:22
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
what now !?!?
concern
January 10th, 2013
6:41 pm
To bad. Agree with the pastor. Better to be on the right side than take center stage.
Says a lot about our leadership or lack of it.
Wilbur
January 10th, 2013
6:42 pm
Hatred and bigotry have become the speciality of the gay community. God forbid that anyone should ever disagree with them!
BG1
January 10th, 2013
6:47 pm
Just think, one condom could have prevented all this……
Democrats Are The Devils
January 10th, 2013
6:47 pm
i dont think we are hating !?!? just saying youre wrong and wrong is getting confused with hating….
DannyX
January 10th, 2013
6:48 pm
“It sure is and like many have said it is a sin and there are consequences to the actions of the individuals.”
Surely you joke td. What are the consequences of unlawful divorce and remarriage, td?
Are the divorced ostracized on the internet? Are the divorced blamed for massacres and hurricanes? Are people voting for constitutional amendments that ban divorce? Has anybody told a divorced person “Love the sinner, hate the sin”? Anyone scream at a divorced person “Divorce is a choice”? Are the divorced kept from remarrying in their churches? Are Christian leaders going on rampages about the evils of divorce, (especially Catholic and Southern Baptist leaders)? You ever see over 200 blog replies about a divorce?
td
January 10th, 2013
6:52 pm
DannyX
January 10th, 2013
6:33 pm
First off you have such a limited knowledge of the Bible that you are confused. The KJV does not use the word Adultery but rather the word fornication. Then if you actually studied then you would know that fornication is an English interpretation of Porneia and the normal Greek for adultery is moicheia. Now for your next assignment so that you look less foolish go look up Pomeia and read about what the meaning could be for the word.
Democrats Are The Devils
January 10th, 2013
6:57 pm
i do a
James 2:10
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.
no sin is greater than another….
td
January 10th, 2013
7:00 pm
DannyX
January 10th, 2013
6:48 pm
“It sure is and like many have said it is a sin and there are consequences to the actions of the individuals.”
Surely you joke td. What are the consequences of unlawful divorce and remarriage, td?
Already explained to you twice and you seem to not want to accept the truth. The consequence is that the divorced person can not participate in the leadership of the church. To the truly faithful this is a huge penalty to bear for ones actions.
No Christian should be yelling at gays because being gay is not a sin. They should rebuke them of committing sodomy because it is an abomination. We as a nation should not be condoning an action that is an abomination in God’s eye so there should be no gay marriage.
DannyX
January 10th, 2013
7:01 pm
“First off you have such a limited knowledge of the Bible that you are confused.”
Spare me the deflections td, you were the one trying to use Deuteronomy a while back. Are you Jewish or Christian?
DannyX
January 10th, 2013
7:06 pm
“We as a nation should not be condoning an action that is an abomination in God’s eye so there should be no gay marriage.”
Well there certainly should be no divorce then! Or re-marriage! Jesus condemned divorce and was silent on homosexuality.
Why should gays fear the Bible, most Christians sure don’t, certainly not the divorced and re-married ones!
td
January 10th, 2013
7:08 pm
DannyX
January 10th, 2013
7:01 pm
No deflections on my part because adultery is a sin, no fault divorces is a sin and Sodomy is an abomination. All three sins can be forgiven if you get down on your knees, ask for forgiveness and not repeat the sins again.
Yeah Right
January 10th, 2013
7:37 pm
If sodomy was truly an abomination 95% of every heterosexual person on earth would have been struck dead by the sky fairy long ago. You bible thumpers just get more loony and pathetic by the day. Of course ALL of you are complete hypocrites. You pick and choose which bible verses you’re willing to follow depending on which ones you agree with. All the others, you just ignore. How CONVENIENT!
Rafe Hollister
January 10th, 2013
7:39 pm
He needs diversity at his festivities, he sure doesn’t have it in his cabinet. He needs one of those binders full of women, he derided Romney about. He was called on this today, by Charlie Rangel, the guy accused of disenfranchising Hispanic voters, just last fall. Obama is do as I say kinda guy, not do as I do kind.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/charlie-rangel-hits-obama-on-diversity-86005.html
Democrats Are The Devils
January 10th, 2013
8:02 pm
Yeah Right
January 10th, 2013
7:37 pm
If sodomy was truly an abomination 95% of every heterosexual person on earth would have been struck dead by the sky fairy long ago. You bible thumpers just get more loony and pathetic by the day. Of course ALL of you are complete hypocrites. You pick and choose which bible verses you’re willing to follow depending on which ones you agree with. All the others, you just ignore. How CONVENIENT!
really !?!?
Yeah Right
January 10th, 2013
8:52 pm
Democrats Are The Devils: Hmmmm, you have an amazing grasp of the obvious. YEAH REALLY!
Democrats Are The Devils
January 10th, 2013
9:05 pm
go to god, boo !!!
Living With Open Eyes
January 10th, 2013
9:50 pm
You gay guys keep on truckin with each other and leave the women for the rest of us. Being gay IS a choice unless you were born with sexual organ deformities. I’m not against you-I’m just saying be honest, you’re gay because you like being gay. Be accountable for your free choice and don’t blame heredity.