Some mornings I really shouldn’t drink coffee at my desk. This is one such day. Articles like this give me a lump in my throat.
I suppose I should begin with an introduction.
Bert M. Farias (photo from his Facebook page) is the founder of “Holy Fire Ministries.” He’s also a writer for Charisma News. Luckily for his readers, Mr. Farias has evidently solved the so-called mystery of homosexuality. But, he begins in a most loving manner:
In a moment I am going to speak very plainly and straightforward about homosexuality. As a preacher, I have a great responsibility before God to speak the truth in love—to convince, rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering and teaching (2 Tim. 4:3)—to never shun to declare the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).
If you are involved in a gay relationship, or have a loved one who is, please do not get upset with me. I am for you and not against you. If you will listen long enough, you will see that I am actually trying to help you.
Hoo boy. This is going to be bad. Any time someone cites Bible versus and asks to “please don’t get upset,” you can figure you’re about to be on the receiving end of a tsunami of unpleasantness.
Let’s see if that’s true in this case:
The government of Denmark has made it mandatory for all churches to conduct gay marriages, regardless of religious beliefs, conscience or convictions. No church or minister in Denmark is exempt from complying with this new law.
Could America be next? Could a law be passed that would order American churches to perform gay ceremonies if they want to maintain their tax-exempt status?
The writing is on the wall.
What will you do on that fateful day? Obey man or obey God?
Interesting tactic. Do you see what he did there? I was all set for his tsunami of ugly, and he stepped back and laid the groundwork for his one-two punch. Well played.
Also, if you’ll note, he’s building his credibility because as you’ll see, he’s feels he’s taking that second path: obeying his particular deity. Let’s see if I can get to the crux of his argument.
After much dilly-dallying, talking about what god likes and what satan hates (and vice versa), nature, Bible quotes, and language uses, he finally gets to his point:
Here’s the raw, naked truth: Homosexuality is actually a demon spirit. It is such a putrid-smelling demon that other demons don’t even like to hang around it. A genuine prophet of God told me that the Lord allowed him to smell this demon spirit, and he got sick to his stomach. And yet as humans, many embrace this demon. Yes, you heard me right: Being gay is demonic.
Wow. Just wow. So many questions:
- He hasn’t established the existence of demons.
- He hasn’t established that if demons exist they, in fact, smell.
- If homosexuality were a demon, it’s unfortunate that none of the other demons like it. The spirit world sounds like a bad elementary school play ground.
- A “genuine” prophet of god? Do tell how this is established. Is that like being a “genuine” psychic?
- Did this prophet get sick due to the so-called demon or was there a current bug going around? Food poisoning can hit fast, too.
So many questions…
There is an account in the Bible where Jesus casts 2,000 demons out of a man. The demons came out screaming and begged Jesus to send them into the pigs. The pigs didn’t want them, so they ran down a steep hill and were drowned in the sea. Pigs have more sense than some humans. Some people embrace homosexual demons, but the pigs would rather die than be possessed with demons.
Wow. That doesn’t sound particularly loving. Plus, how does he know that
- This story actually happened and…
- If it did happen, what motivated these pigs to engage in that activity?
It’s entirely possible that, if this event actually occurred, the alleged exorcism spooked the swine, causing them to run. How does he know what the pigs were thinking?
Oh well.
He goes on in this fairly long column to talk about society, how everyone knows (deep in their heart) that his particular deity exists, and then he schools his readers in “Basic Sex 101.”
He ends with this:
May God grant godly repentance to more homosexuals and cause them to shun the horrors of hell while gaining the glories of heaven. May many more of them be washed, sanctified and justified for the honor and glory of God.
Yup. Fundamental christian love at its finest. Here’s the link to his whole diatribe.
Bottom line?
I’m sad for every gay child who stumbles on this piece of venom. I’m sad for every gay person who has to face this trash every. single. day.
I’m sad that in the 21 century, we’re still plagued with iron age notions after they’ve been thoroughly debunked.
I’m sad that my generation has done little to ebb this tide of misinformation, hatred (veiled as “love, of course), inaccuracies, anger, self righteousness, pride, and bigotry.
I’m just sad.
