• Home
  • About This Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Subscribe
  • Comment Policy

Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
Home Christianity and Culture Isn’t it ironic? Thoughts on the Donnie McClurkin controversy

Isn’t it ironic? Thoughts on the Donnie McClurkin controversy

Posted on August 15, 2013 Written by Mark McIntyre 4 Comments


Donnie McClurkinRecently, a singer had his invitation to appear at a civil rights rally revoked because he is a former homosexual. Donnie McClurkin was uninvited because he acknowledged that God delivered him from homosexuality. You can read the story here.

Isn’t it ironic that a black man gets uninvited to perform at a civil rights concert because he acknowledged his ex-gay status? I find dark humor in the fact that those who preach tolerance the loudest are often the most shrill in their intolerance.

Those in the homosexual community rightly expect society to treat them with the respect they deserve as human beings. We are asked to treat them no differently than we would treat heterosexuals. This is a legitimate request.

But in this case, the homosexual community did not reciprocate and acted on their intolerance in an appalling way.

Are they concerned that the “ex-gay” bug is catching? If Donnie touched them would they be instantly converted to heterosexuality? That would be a shame indeed because it appears that sexual preference is the center of their self identity.

There are some of us in the church that are willing to cry foul when the church is in the wrong. We openly admit that some in the church are wrong in the way they respond to the culture around them. Should not the homosexual community do the same? Are there not those in the community who know that this type of intolerance is exactly what they are fighting against?

Here the Christian has the advantage. We acknowledge and understand that all of us (homosexual and heterosexual alike) are broken and in need of repair. As Jeremiah writes, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9, ESV)  We understand that there is a gap between our principles and our behavior and we look to God for the power to close that gap. It is precisely this that Jesus came to do. He came to close that gap and provide the means of becoming what God intended us to be. It is only through Jesus that we have any hope of being consistent in our word and deed.

Perhaps the intolerance of those who most loudly preach tolerance is a clue that the Christians indeed have a better understanding of the human condition.


Filed Under: Christianity and Culture

About Mark McIntyre

A follower of Jesus Christ who shares observations about how Scripture should impact the church and the world. Mark is the original author and editor of Attempts at Honesty.

Follow Attempts at Honesty

Honesty in your Inbox

Sidenotes

Sidenotes – A new feature at Attempts at Honesty

Update: Attempts at Honesty is no longer using Livefyre or Sidenotes for comments. This change was made for several reasons; the main reason is the negative effect Livefyre had on page load speed. Also, Livefyre limited commenting to those who are willing to create a Livefyre account and Livefyre controls all the comments. I’d rather […]

Gagged Man

Love and apologetics

But all of us, through impatience or pride, sometimes fall short of the command to love the one with whom we disagree. If love of God and love of neighbor is not our motivation for engaging in the discussion, then we are better off remaining silent.

Different tools lined up

The enemy’s best tool

Church leaders have the opportunity to deprive our great enemy of his best and most effective tool. What is that tool? It is us when we are more concerned about our own glory and reputation than we are of God’s glory and reputation.

Stony Heart

Living in the not yet: dealing with a stony heart

So living in the not yet, we struggle with the pieces of the world (including ourselves) that are not in submission to Christ. That is the bad news.

The good news is that one day Jesus will return and set everything right, including my stony heart.

Herod was conflicted about John the Baptist

Mark 6:20 is an interesting verse. The best manuscripts of this verse tell us that Herod was conflicted about what to do with John the Baptist. Herod’s wife, Herodias, wanted John dead, but Herod feared John and was at the same time intrigued and confused by John. (Note that the KJV and NKJV tell us […]

Post Series

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
February 2023
SMTWTFS
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728 
« Jan    

Categories

Archives

Blogger Grid
Follow me on Blogarama

Copyright © 2023 · Focus Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in