I couldn’t believe what I read in a recent article, coming from a pastor who claims to be Christian and supporting Rick Santorum. Here’s the quote:
In obedience to the Judeo-Christian Scriptures, most South Carolinans and I have a sane and healthy homophobia, while Mitt Romney has a very bad case of homophilia,” said Mills in a joint statement with fellow pastor, Rev. Ray Moore, according to The Hill. “Romney’s liberal support for homosexuality is not only at doctrinal odds with traditional Judaism and Christianity, it’s even at odds with latter-day cults like Islam and Mormonism.
I hope that this is just a fringe Christian wing-nut who doesn’t represent the way most Christians feel about people who struggle with homosexuality.
What are your thoughts, fellow Christians?
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Grace for Grace 
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January 27, 2012 at 10:47 pm
ezra
It’s funny — in a very sad way — how name-calling flames the passions and give people a pass on using their God-given intellect and common sense.
Anybody who doesn’t want to deal with an issue like immorality can call someone a name and move their issue forward. In the mid-1900s, Christians who frowned on ‘free-love’ was called a prude. In the 90s, Christians who didn’t go along with the immorality of homosexuality were called homophobes.
I sense that this pastor was serving back the ad hominem bilge that liberals liberally cast on conservatives, calling them “homophobes.” If Christians are homophobes, then those with the opposite agenda must be homophiliacs. I’m not saying that this tit-for-tat is right, of course. It’s childish and divisive.
But it was enough to stoke the fire for Romney. Given your passionate response, it looks like you were sucked in, Ama, “hook, line and sinker.”
It defies logic to infer that if you are not for Romney then you must be an “Evilgelical,” (as one blogger elsewhere commented) who is a raving homophobe, who does not care about “people who struggle with homosexuality.”
It is a logical fallacy, actually a non-sequitor, to say that just because Christians are against homosexuality and homosexual unions that they don’t care about “people who struggle with homosexuality.” That is like saying that those who are against abortion don’t care for those struggling with an unexpected pregnancy or that those who are against radical environmentalism want to destroy the earth. I hope you agree that is lunacy.
I will not fall prey to that passionate dichotomy. I oppose Romney because he openly plays to both side of the issue. As governor he VOWED to Planned Parenthood that he would never oppose a woman’s right to choose, and would even go so far as to let a girl get an abortion apart from her parent’s permission (via a judge or justice). He instituted Romneycare which is very similar to Obamacare. He rallied for homosexual unions and granted them. He speaks to conservatives what they want to hear and then sneaks off to his liberal PACS and assures them that he’s with them. I have heard all his back-pedaling explanations, but am certain that he is as liberal as Obama on every social issue–and actually, I really doubt that he would keep taxes at bay or roll back many regulations at all. He MIGHT let oil drillers drill; he MIGHT ease the present restrictions of coal, imposed by Obama. Romney is a progressive in conservative dress.
Let those who are liberal continue to be liberal; let those who are conservative continue to be conservative. If Romney succeeds in getting the GOP nomination, I probably will sit this one out.
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January 28, 2012 at 8:34 am
ezra
Sorry to have killed the mood. I bounced my thoughts off a brother. His response was more measured and professional. My friend wrote:
I’d like to make two points from my perspective:
1. the nature of sin. I think that there are those who hold to a position on sin that does not reflect the true nature of our rebellious spirit. They are then able to rank-order sins and to use that rank-ordering to condemn someone as falling short of a minimal Christian position. The nature of sin and of our will in sin is such that the scale is so huge that we can never actually to the bottom-most marking let alone achieve the vison to be able to rank-order. Those pastors (whom you reference) fall into that category of failing to understand that Jesus came for the fallen (everyone) and that Mitt is fallen. The question for Christians in the next election is whether or not he can deliver justice. The ministry to the homosexual community is a large on at our parish since we live in a district of homosexuals (the gay rights parade goes past the church every year – shudder).
2. the nature of President Obama. In his years of office, he had an ironclad majority in the Congress to pass a budget for over two years. Now, as a result of his failure to lead, DoD funds are being sequestered and many people will soon be cashiered from the army. It is vital to the nation’s survival to stop this horrendous inability to deliver justice.
Hence, I could vote for Romney because I see a world of lost sinners for whom the Kingdom of the Left must deliver justice. I believe that he could do much better than President Obama.
Romney is not a great choice but the Republican alternatives have so much media hostility that they will be bled to death before the election.
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January 28, 2012 at 8:45 am
ezra
“…the Kingdom of the Left must deliver justice.”
“Kingdom of the Left” is a theological term for “any secular government,” just as “Kingdom of the Right” refers to God’s government through the Church. It is a long-held position that the kingdom of the right must not unduly interfere with the kingdom of the left–and visa versa–but help to uphold and respect it. Each has its own God-given responsibilities.
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January 28, 2012 at 10:40 am
Jettboy
Ezra, I think you are over-reading what Graceforgrace is saying. In fact, I think he is actually agreeing with you. If its over the top and one-dimensional to call someone “homophobic,” then its just the same for the term “homophilia,” and very bad form to call any religion a “cult” no matter how much you disagree with them.
Personally, however, I disagree with Graceforgrace that homosexuals are struggling with anything other than wanting to be popular and rebellious. On the other hand, I don’t believe Romney is pro-homosexual just because he didn’t go against the U.S. Constitution when the courts in his state made a decision. From what I understand he didn’t sign anything into law that was pro or anti homosexual, but the issue came up during his administration and was forced on the citizens, Romney included.
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January 28, 2012 at 5:03 pm
graceforgrace
Hi Jettboy,
You are right in that Romney didn’t sign a law that promoted same-sex marriage or abortion. What he did was leave things up to the courts and the coursts of Mass. ruled in favor of abortion, etc.
When abortion bills came onto Romney’s desk, he vetoed them. Those who say he was a very liberal governor are those who are trying to attack him and paint the picture that he’s not that conservative.
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January 28, 2012 at 5:00 pm
graceforgrace
Hi Ezra,
Thanks for taking the time to leave a few comments and even round one up from a friend.
I completely agree with what you said about the ranking of sins. I think that Mormons do the same thing and I disagree with those who think there are levels of sin. Sin is sin.
Therefore, my point is that alienating someone or a group of people and calling a certain group names like “homos” or stating one should be “homophobic” is a sin that we can lump into the category of judgement.
(I called the guy a “wing-nut” so therefore I should be lumped into those who judge others as well!)
Therefore, we all should take a step back and realize we all have different life experiences and struggles with sin and therefore shouldn’t judge others and let God be the judge, which is the conclusion it appears you came to after talking with some people. Also, when we commit sin in all the various forms, pray for forgiveness and thank the Good Lord for the Atonement!
We can disagree with people without judging them or condeming them.
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January 30, 2012 at 9:17 am
willworkforfoodgirl
Judge not lest ye be judged. It’s a sin to spread so much hate around and loathe your fellow man. It’s honestly a sad thing to come across this morning. This kind of rhetoric gives Christians a bad name. Look within and see your own sins. Once you can forgive yourself, maybe you can begin to see the world in the way that Jesus did.
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January 31, 2012 at 12:12 pm
graceforgrace
Willworkforfoodgirl,
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your insights. Are you referring to the article mentioned about spreading hate around or some other comments posted here?
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