Jul 6, 2006
Whether you accept Kinsey’s figure of 10% or the more conservative estimates of 3-5% of the population, it still means that there are 100’s of gays and lesbians who are a part of the 35,000 strong Hillsong 20th Anniversary Conference at the Acer Stadium in Sydney this week.
“There was a time when this was believed impossible,” says Anthony Venn-Brown, Australia’s first openly gay Pentecostal.
“I’ve discovered not only a change in attitude but also people within Pentecostal circles who have completely resolved their faith and sexuality issues. There are 100’s, all at different stages in their journey. Some still hate that part of themselves, some have married believing it will fix their “problem”, others have resolved it but are fearful to come out, while some of us have come to a place of total openness. We know there is nothing to be ashamed of if we happen to be attracted to the same gender instead of the opposite, its just the way we are”, Venn Brown added.
Anthony Venn-Brown, is very familiar with the conflict of being gay in a bible believing denomination. He was once a popular leader within the Assemblies of God and a regular preacher in the Hillsong churches. Believing that being homosexual was evil, he spent 22 years attempting to change his attraction to the same sex. His autobiography ‘A Life of Unlearning Coming Out of the Church – One Man’s Struggle’ details that traumatic journey and is about to go into its second print.
“The church’s’ stand against gays and lesbians will eventually be proven to be the greatest heresy of the 20th century”, Venn-Brown said. “Its tantamount to the church rejecting scientific fact and labelling Galileo a heretic when he said that the world revolved around the sun. One only has to look at church history to the see errors of the past being repeated today. Sincere bible believing Christians were amongst the opponents of the abolition of slavery, interracial marriages and the equality of women. The enemy we are fighting today is ignorance. The debate will continue until the opponents learn and understand the simple difference between behaviour and orientation.”
“I’m in the strange position of getting opposition from both sides. I feel like I’m living on the fault line. Some people in the gay community tell me I should have nothing to do with Hillsong church and some people in the church who try to tell me that I can’t be gay and a Christian. All I can say is there will always have to be a Rosa Parks and I ain’t going to the back of the bus for nobody”
Media inquiries info@gayambassador.com
Hi Anthony,
It’s Spirit & Flesh from http://jesuslovesgays.blogspot.com
Thanks for sharing your story and your words of encouragement. I read your post and was inspired by your convictions. It is eapecially tough in Pentecostal and AG churches to make the stand you’re taking. Please feel free to e-mail me at jesuslovesgaysblog@yahoo.com
Also, if you feel moved to write a devotion like the ones on my site. I’m accepting submission from other authors.
God’s blessings be with you!!!!
GOD LOVES GAY SINNERS AS MUCH AS OTHER SINNERS BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN SINNERS GO TO HEAVEN
It is clear from the pro-gay viewpoints that they will twist and turn every Bible verse they want to say what they want it to say, or otherwise just brush over it and say that we are apparently a more enlightened society in the 21st Century. The Bible is God's word and should be the only guide in a Christian's life.
The Bible in no ways contradicts itself. It is self explanatory and we do not need the human corrupt mind to interpret it. Homosexuality is an abomination to God and is SIN in clear terms. Let those clergy who are trying to defend it know that the judgment of God is upon them, because the Bible warns us against adding or subtracting the Word of God.
thanks for sharing your viewpoint anonymous …one that we have heard many times before. It is a shame you didn't put a name to your strongly held beliefs. Beliefs that are increasingly being deconstructed by the truth, being more enlightened and the lives of gay christians who live moral lives and have a profound relationship with God.
um… why not just tell me the mistakes in my viewpoint instead of saying i am wrong?
http://gayambassador.blogspot.com.au/2011/05/15-things-i-learnt-about-discussing.html
NO 7. I think your mind is cleary made up and it would be a waste of time discussing this. Its being and has been done 1000's and 1000's of times on the internet, articles, forums, books etc etc etc. If you are seeking to gain more insight and information then you will be able to access that for yourself.
Let those clergy who are trying to defend it know that the judgment of God is upon them, because the Bible warns us against adding or subtracting the Word of God.
True, prior to 1946 the Bible didn't have the word Homosexual in it, so who added it? Why was it added?
The Bible is God's word and should be the only guide in a Christian's life.
The Bible is INSPIRED by God not written by God, there is a difference!!
Homosexuality is an abomination to God and is SIN.
Cursing your mother or father is also a sin and punishable by death, so let's bring back the death penalty and kill children that curse their parents. Did you ever curse any of your parents when you were a teenager?
Johann, could you please ensure that if you are going to quote scripture you check the reference first. The passage you choose regarding adding or subtracting is in the final chapter of Revelation. The bible was not written like other books; the individual authors did not speak to one another about what they were putting in their letters etc.
This passage from Revelation specifically refers to not adding or subtracting from the prophecy that John has received. It is not about the whole bible.
Of a truth there is at least one book in the bible that has not yet been finished and that is the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. That book is still being written today as the church goes about its business in the world presenting the living Christ to the world.
Additionally, you might want to consider that many of the interpreters and translators imposed their own prejudices and religious beliefs into the texts they were working on. Without reading any ancient text it is essential that you read it in context. Sadly most religious institutions/seminaries do not teach what the bible actually has to say. Instead they teach what they want their graduates to say the bible says, to suit their religious agenda.
All believers are told to study to show themselves approved, learning the word of God… This does not involve sitting in a pew in church and simply accepting what the pastor preaches from the pulpit. You never know, he might have got it wrong.
Hi Graham
This is my first time using this Blogger and I clicked on the wrong thing, I should have clicked on Reply as this is a reply to Anonymus.
Graham and Johann are on the same page….just in case you guys didn't realise or know each other as I know you.
Here anonymous, I fixed your mistakes:
It is clear from the anti-gay viewpoints that they will twist and turn every bible verse they want to say what they want it to say, or otherwise just brush over it and say that we are taking their interpretation of the bible out of context.
The bible is god's word and should be the only guide in a christian's life.
The bible in numerous ways contradicts itself as evidenced here: http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/jim_meritt/bible-contradictions.html. It is self evident that it is a mass of contradictions and humans interpret it in different ways, evident by the 100's of religious that have the bible as its holy text.
Homosexuality is an abomination to God, much like poly cotten blends, eyeglasses, haircuts, tattoos and sating meat on Fridays and is SIN in clear terms. Let those clergy who are trying to defend it know that the judgment of anonymouses interpretation of gods word is upon them and the bigots who do not abide by Christs message of "love thy neighbour", because the Bible warns us against adding or subtracting the Word of God because the bible has never been translated into hundreds of different languages and editions with different words and meanings and the word "homosexual" wasn't added into the bible until after the term was coined in the early 1900's.
I still fail to see how one book, out of the millions on this planet could be any justification for treating your fellow humans like second class citizens. I doubt that's what Jesus would do.
I'm pretty sure Jesus said "Let he without sin, cast the first stone"
actually i think we just need to clear one thing up. Homosexuality is not an abomination….its an orientation. http://thegreatheresy.wordpress.com/
the abonimination (ritually unclean) is same sex activity with male prostitues in pagan fertiltiy practices not same sex love as we know it today and therefore the Leviticus reference is not relevant to me.
i dont treat any one like second class citizens
Being gay isn't an abomination, I was merely pointing out the hypocrisy of the poster. If one so called sin is bad and must be stopped – they all should be stopped. Nitpicking from the bible according to what anonymous does and doesn't like, ignoring what the poster likes and condemning what they don't like is nothing to be proud of.
thanks for you contributions tygerness…much appreciated taking the time.
in one way I'm glad that anonymouus found the is post about being gay at Hillsong….I mean this was posted back in 2006…..they must have googled and found it….then brought it alive for us and the internet. Thanks anonymous.
NO PROBLEM SIR. I LIKE HOW FAST YOU GUYS RESPONDED
A DIFFICULTY IS NOT A CONTRADICTION.
I HEARD MANY CONTRADICTIONS AND I MY SELF PROVED THEM WRONG. I HAVE FOUND NO CONTRADICTIONS IN THE BIBLE.
AND I NEVER SAID I HATED HOMOSEXUALS I DONT TREAT THEM LIKE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS AND IM NOT ACCUSING ANY ONE IM JUST SAYING MY SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT.
http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/jim_meritt/bible-contradictions.html
i read true most of these and some were dificult math that i solved and others where just plain stupid and ignorant. give me some questions that makes u sure the bible contradicts its self and i will tell you why you are wrong