T.D. Jakes 'Shocked' After Theology Called Into Question Following Remarks Respecting 'Gay Rights'
August 10, 2015 | Filed under: Life & Society,Top Stories | By: Heather Clark

Megachurch leader and author T.D. Jakes says that he is "shocked" by how his comments last week regarding homosexual rights have been interpreted as some across the nation are now calling his theology into question over the opinions he provided about the issue.

FINDING GAY-AFFIRMING CHURCHES AND 'RESPECTING' GAY RIGHTS

As previously reported, during an interview with the Huffington Post last Monday, Jakes was asked by a viewer if he believes that homosexuals and the black church can co-exist.

"Absolutely," he replied.

"An obvious yes; the Church ain't turning nobody away," interviewer Marc Lamont Hill added. "How should the black church and the LGBT community co-exist?"

"I think it is going to be diverse from church to church. Every church has a different opinion on the issue and every gay person is different," Jakes replied. "And I think that to speak that the church—the black church, the white church or any kind of church you wanna call it—are all the same, is totally not true."

Jakes said that he thinks homosexuals should find congregations that affirm their lifestyle.

"LGBT’s of different types and sorts have to find a place of worship that reflects what your views are and what you believe like anyone else," he outlined.

"The church should have the right to have its own convictions and values; if you don’t like those convictions and values [and] you totally disagree with it, don’t try to change my house, move into your own … and find somebody who gets what you get about faith," Jakes added.

When asked if his thinking has "evolved," Jakes agreed that it has.

"Evolved and evolving," he replied. "I think that where I am is to better understand we, the church, bought into the myth that this is a Christian nation."

Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states must legalize same-sex "marriage," igniting a battle between the Church and State over the issue. In his comments last Monday, Jakes advocated for the separation of Church and State, which would allow for "all types of people" to have whatever rights they desire despite biblical prohibitions. He said that politics don't need to be based on Christianity.

"[O]nce you get past [thinking America is a Christian nation] … Once you begin to understand that democracy—that a republic actually—is designed to be an overarching system to protect our unique nuances, then we no longer look for public policy to reflect biblical ethics," Jakes explained.

"If we can divide—or what you would call separation of Church and State—then we can dwell together more effectively because atheists, agnostics, Jews, all types of people, Muslims, pay into the government. The government then cannot reflect one particular view over another just because we're the dominant group of religious people in [this] country because those numbers are changing every day," he asserted. "We need a neutralized government that protects our right to disagree with one another and agree with one another."

"That's outside the Church," Hill remarked. "Inside the Church, has your thinking shifted biblically, Scripturally, hermeneutically at all? The reason I ask that is because I talk to a lot of ministers now …. and one of the questions [at a recent African meeting] was, is there a way to approach Christian tradition—Christian Scripture—in light of a new understanding of LGBT?"

Hill then pointed to the issue of slavery, and that "irrespective of what [biblical] text says literally, we don't support slavery as a body." He asked if there was likewise "room for that same kind of shift" when it comes to homosexuality.

Jakes said that he believed that the shift needed to occur "behind the closed doors of the church" to avoid being called names by society for disagreeing on the matter. He added moments later that the issue of homosexuality is "complex."

"Paul spends a lot of time wrestling back and forth, trying to understand should a woman wear a head covering, should you cut your hair," Jakes stated. "I mean, they grappled back then and we're grappling now because we're humans and we are flawed and we're not God."

"Once you understand you're not God, you leave yourself an 'out' clause to grow," he said.

JAKES 'SHOCKED' BY HOW COMMENTS WERE PERCEIVED

Following Christian News Network's report on Jakes' statements, he shot back on Facebook, remarking that he was "shocked" at how his comments were interpreted, but reiterated that while he personally disagrees with homosexual "marriage," he "respects" the government's provision of it.

"My comment on HuffPo TV drifted into issues of the Supreme Court ruling and changing the world through public policy versus personal witness. Further, I have come to respect that I can't force my beliefs on others by controlling public policy for tax payers and other U.S. citizens," he wrote.

"Jesus never sought to change the world through public policy but rather through personal transformation. All people didn't embrace him either," Jakes continued. "That's what I said and what I meant …. Nothing more and nothing less."

He contended that when he used the phrase "evolved and evolving" in response to Hill's question, he was only referring to the methods used to minister to homosexuals, not his position on the issue.

"When asked about the 'black church' and its role in ministering to gay people, I briefly mentioned (we were running out of time) the word 'evolved and evolving' regarding my approach over the 39 years of my ministry to gay people who choose to come to our services," Jakes wrote. "I simply meant that my method is evolving—not my message."

"I was shocked to read that this was manipulated in a subsequent article to say I endorsed same sex marriage! My position on the subject has been steadfast and rooted in Scripture," he continued.

Jakes concluded by stating that although he personally opposes same-sex "marriage," he "respects the rights" given to homosexuals by the U.S. government.

"For the record, I do not endorse same sex marriage but I respect the rights that this country affords those that disagree with me," he remarked.

CONCERNS EXPRESSED OVER JAKES' STATEMENTS, THEOLOGY

On Monday, author and speaker Dr. Michael Brown wrote an open letter to Jakes for Charisma, expressing that Jakes' "answers [to Hill] appeared to be intentionally ambiguous."

"At best, your comments left your hearers in the dark; at worst, they gave the impression that you now support same-sex 'marriage,'" Brown wrote.

He then outlined his concerns regarding Jakes' remarks.

"You … counselled professing gay Christians to find a church that supports their views, as if there is no right or wrong and as if the goal of the church is to make everyone feel comfortable, regardless of their lifestyle, their morality and their beliefs," Brown said. "That's the counsel of a servant of God? [That] regardless of what you believe, just a find a place that agrees with your views and makes yourself at home?"

"I thought the church was called to bring people to Jesus, to stand for righteousness, to care for the needy, to shine like light in the darkness, to declare God's will and to live it out," he continued. "And don't you have a responsibility as a leader to warn people about deception?"

Brown opined that Jakes spoke in roundabout terms that did not provide a direct response to Hill's questions.

"[M]ay I ask how the question of whether America is or is not a Christian nation relates to Mr. Hill's question of your own view of homosexuality?" he asked. "Is it that difficult to say, 'I believe according to Scripture that homosexual practice is sinful in God's eyes, but I don't believe I have the right to enforce that belief on others because of the separation of church and state'—if that is, in fact, what you believe?"

"[D]oes a 'neutralized government' make no laws concerning marriage or morality? Should the government also accommodate polygamy because Mormons and Muslims pay into the government?" Brown inquired. "Again, I do understand part of the point you were making, but ultimately, your comments avoided addressing some of the questions Mr. Hill was asking you (or, at least, that your listeners wanted answered)…"

Others reading Brown's article expressed similar opinions.

"I read the interview by TD Jakes, and it amounted to a murky, unnecessarily verbose, stuff and nonsense," one commenter wrote. "These days there seems to be a pattern. Some secular journalist asks a question. The preacher gives the most uncertain, ambiguous answer presumably designed to appease… The preacher gets blowback. He claims to be shocked and then issues a statement 'clarifying' his position."

"Jakes is savvy enough to know that the surest way to arouse the snorting bull of suspicion is to wave the red flag of ambiguity and [use] words like 'evolving,'" another stated. "Why is he surprised by the blowback?"

Jakes' The Potter's House did not return calls seeking clarification from Christian News Network or other news outlets.

http://christiannews.net/2015/08/10/t-d-jakes-shocked-after-theology-called-into-question-following-remarks-respecting-gay-rights/

dapyd1:


Its been a long time coming especially in America.
Pastor's are now seeker-friendly, giving the audience what they want to hear instar if what they are supposed to hear.
That's why the church is now a laughing stock to the world and ucv will continue to be so.
All we have are now political pastors that done and wine with men of questionable character just to get funds and patronage.

AdeniyiA:


I said it, the man was busy saying everything but ended up saying nothing! useless circumloculation

vooks:


Image123 nailed it; political correctness.

The same that makes Joel Osteen avoid judgement and hell like plague

tos4u:


T D Jakes my best American preacher of all time

UyiIredia:


SMH.

esere826:


TD jakes spoke soundly
he expresses the views that most Christians espouse
which is simply that all ministries cannot be the same

there are some churches that expressly forbids single men and women intermingling and punishes them if they try it
others seem to thrive on such intermingling of opposite sexes and then explain that they cannot sin or that it is no sin

Some ministries have no qualms if you empty the treasury you've been entrusted with
while some frown at such pilfery

Some ministries are excited about tongue speaking throughout the service
while some would rather that you remain calm

If you don't like a ministry, ..live it and join another or start one
no need turning yourself to a bull in a china shop destroying everything and demanding that rules be changed because of you

orisa37:


Gay is no Right. It is Exploitation of our selves. It is Selfishness Without Grace. And so, it is not Holy, Pure, Righteous and Sovereign before God. Gay people are nuisance, neurotic, indisciplined and simply experimenting.

parisbookaddict:


Jakes is very eloquent and this is the reason I am surprised at how ambiguous and unclear his initial comments were.. the rest of his remarks are not faulty but too guarded nonetheless. .
The gay life style is disgusting unnatural and condemned by scripture. He and every christian should reject gay marriage but should impose their worldview on others.

doofanc:


I was truly shocked and saddened to read those comments from TDJ.

He's one few ministers now who, not despite his many years in minitry, had remained consistent and scandal free.

Unlike what occurs in sime mega Churches i've heard him preaching Holiness and righteousness.

Its not my place to judge, but his comments have left highly disappointed.

End is truly near

OLAADEGBU:


Did you mean to say that we should not impose our worldview on them as much as they should not impose theirs on us?

OLAADEGBU:


Are you saying that you agree with what T.D. Jake said?

parisbookaddict:


Its a typo. I should correct that. I meant we should NOT impose our worldview on others, and same with them, they should NOT impose the gay thing on us.

Entertainment seems to be one of their weapons, as a Christian I don't listen to musicians who support the gay culture, I don't watch gay friendly TV shows eg Ellen, modern family etc, CNN is filled with gay empolyees who push the "gay agenda" eg Anderson cooper, Richard quest, Eric bannet (allegedly)

They seem to be doing the imposition and we Christians must be vigilant.

esere826:

Perfectly yes

He spoke with wisdom,...absolute wisdom
Do you realise that John the Baptist was killed because he was quite blunt??

OLAADEGBU:


As much as I agree with your post I also insist that as Christians we should not condone the lifestyle in our churches or sermons.

parisbookaddict:


I did NOT in any way insinuate we should condone it. Its abhorrent and disguSting.

We should preach against it very clearly and boldly. This, Jakes failed to do.

parisbookaddict:


But we should not force our wOrldview on others.

parisbookaddict:


If gay men comes to church, they should discard that life, sermons should not be diluted to please anyone. But we shouldn't be hostile to them. They are as flawed as anyother fornicator or adultress. I have even heard where people call for their deaths(both devout Muslims and pseudo-Christians) . That is terrible. They have human rights.

orisa37:


Christ's Character is as available as Fresh Air to those who care!!!!

OLAADEGBU:


Good.



What do you mean by that? Is it not the world forcing their worldview on the church using the media, entertainment etc as you have rightly opined? This lifestyle is being promoted from the cradle to the grave as we speak but they would not have the church exercise it's rights to preach against it, they call it hate speech.

Do you agree with T.D. Jakes that they should go to churches who condone their lifestyles?

parisbookaddict:


I have even heard where people call for their deaths(both devout Muslims and pseudo-Christians) . That is terrible. They have human rights.

parisbookaddict:


It is left to us Christians to promote morality and heterosexual conduct, marriages.

Do the gAys and liberals force u to watch their media, secular music, movies etc which promotes immorality.

parisbookaddict:


We must preach against it. They may interpret it as a hate speech that is their cup of tea. Its everyones right to express their views , including the gay.

parisbookaddict:


We have a lot of hypocrisy in the church and this is why the "gay agenda" keeps moving forward. Only the catholic church has stood firmly against gays, abortions, euthanasia. Yet some priests have been charged with molesting male kids.

parisbookaddict:


Many protestant churches have buckled to pressure, even the Anglican church. Pastors like Rick warren have even swayed to pressure, I like him but he sways. Today he is opposed to gayS, tomorrow he distances himself from anti-gay people. Joel osteen has swayed, even mega church pastor bishop Eddie long who is opposed to gays was caught up in a scandal involving molesting young boys.

parisbookaddict:


We need to stand firmly against it, this is not imposing ones own world view, it is simply defending ones own world view without hypocrisy.

parisbookaddict:


NO. All I have said so far points clearly to the fact that I am disappointed with some of what he said but he made some common sense points as well. Including the unclear remark about evolving opinion on gays.

parisbookaddict:


Any church that condones gays is not a church.