I’ve never heard this man speak or preach–just sort of avoided him, kind of like I do Osteen and the other big boys. Is he normally this tongue-tied? Maybe, because he’s so influential, I anticipated more eloquence…

Where did he get the 2% figure? I’ve always heard GLBT folks make up 8-10% of the population. If he does have data to support that number, I would question its legitimacy. I also question his qualifications to speak about something which, just from his bungling the numbers, it seems he has little knowledge.

And you’ve got to like that every religion in the world believes marriage is a man-woman thing. Notice he failed to mention that some of those religions believe it’s a man-women thing.

I’m sorry, but he disappoints me. I expected something more challenging and credible than this. All I saw was a pudgy man talking out of his hat.

I wanted to leave a comment asking him what’s his definition of equal rights under the law. Or for that matter, shouldn’t there be a difference between how a court views marriage and how a church does? How soon before we lose the separation of church and state? Unfortunately–though predictably–his “blog” doesn’t welcome comments.

Finally, I can’t help picking at one other blatant omission in his little chat. Yes, it’s true that both President-elect Obama and John McCain have held the line that marriage is a hetero institution. What this man neglected to add, though, is that both men have repeatedly called for all couples in America to be entitled to the same legal rights and benefits.

Perhaps he thought about adding that to his talk and decided against it, thinking it was more information than his people could handle. I wouldn’t doubt that’s true, either, because if this is any indication of his leadership style and depth, the people following him can’t be too bright. The intelligence and compassion I hoped would surface within his congregation may not be there. Now that I’ve seen and heard him, I feel like my earlier comment was ridiculously naive and optimistic.

P.T. Barnum said there’s a sucker born every second and he made millions by pitching his circus tent and rounding them all up. If he were alive now, my guess is he’d be giving Pastor Warren a run for his money in the megachurch/entertainment business.

I apologize for all the sarcasm, but it’s this kind of foolishness that continues to give Jesus and all He represents a bad name. Moments like these always bring back something Max von Sydow says in Woody Allen’s Hannah and Her Sisters: “If Jesus came back and saw what all these televangelists are doing in His name, He’d never stop throwing up!”

I’m going to love this man anyhow, but right now I sure don’t like him.

thanks for your thoughts straight-friendly

I think we can safely say that Rick and anyone else for that matter….but particularly preachers who espouse the one man one woman model of marriage….actually dont’ know any gay or lesbian couples. of course if they did they would know that the foundations of those successful relationships is the same for heterosexuals and homosexuals. The only differences being gender and the mechanics of what goes on in the bedroom. To speak disparagingly is rude and cruel……and certainly not something a minister of the gospel should be doing……especially to those he has been called to reach out to. No wonder gay and lesbians have developed an intense hatred for the church or Christianity. They rarely hear we love you except when it is tagged with but we hate your sin.

Regarding the number of homosexuals. Originally Kinsey suggested 10% which of course shocked everyone as in many western countries it was still a crime. That figure is no longer accepted by most people as being reliable.

the most common figures these days are somewhere between 4-6% of the population. Of course we really do have know way of knowing until their is no stigma at all attached to being gay.

BTW……in my suburb….its 35%…..hehe.

Yeh I agree Tim, our spirits filled with God make us beautiful 😀

The point I guess I was trying to make with the UK Pastor was that in comparison to the overdressed “show off” evangelists that have no grace or even truth at times, this man who was just your boy next door, knew where his riches lay and he decorated himself with the annointing of grace and love from God, not the decoration of materialistic things because his ministry was financially successful.

(not that being well off is a bad thing but it isnt everything, reminds of how Jesus was ticked off with the Rabbis dressed elaborately eating the fat of the land yet they were empty white washed tombs, sprouting nothings and expecting everything, we need to pray for people like that because they end up hurting themselves and others too)

You wouldn’t be able to move around as the place would be knee deep in sequins and glitter.

LOL 😆 and Pink and kd lang cd’s 😉

its obvious that his thinking is that the fewer of them there are the less we should be concerned about them or even listen to them……not very christian is….when you consider the parable of the lost sheep. Apparently in the kingdom one individual is important.

I’ve been following his stuff for some time now……after a while the communication lets you know exactly what camp he belongs in…….pharisee not disciple.