Tyler Perry & The Place Of Parted Company

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What Has The Church Become? Pt. 3

This week playwright and comedian Tyler Perry was on the Oprah Winfrey Show detailing, for the first time, his history of physical abuse, sexual abuse and the adult life struggles that ensued as a result. Tyler described times when beatings were so severe that he once blacked out for 3 days, and sexual abuse from both men (3 before age 10, including one minister who performed oral sex on him) and at least one woman that also wanted to fulfill her lust with a child. Here's a video excerpt of one of the events of physical abuse that changed Tyler forever: Opra.com

Tyler Perry's description of his early years:

"[It was] a living hell,"...(When shown this picture) "That's hard for me to look at,"..."I feel like I died as a child."..."I could go to this park [in my mind] that my mother and my aunt had taken me to. ... I'm there in this park running and playing, and it was such a good day," he says. "So, every time somebody was doing something to me that was horrible, that was awful, I could go to this park in my mind until it was over."

Tyler Perry on coming to know God: 

"I thought, 'What is the point of living?'" he says. "My mother was truly my saving grace, because she would take me to church with her. I would see my mother smiling in the choir, and I wanted to know this God that made her so happy. If I had not had that faith in my life, I don't know where I would be right now."

Let Me Be Clear:

At first, I was under the impression that this interview would be like the Kirk Franklin interview simply outlining the numerous sins and hypocrisy of yet another popular gospel personality. After viewing the show and listening intently to what was said, I can only say that I have a new, deeper and more profound respect for Tyler Perry and what he has endured. I part ways with the punditry that continues to criticize and mischaracterize this man's experiences and desires. Although there is legitimate, ongoing conversation that must be encouraged, I hear LOUD and CLEAR, by his own testimony that Tyler is not nor has ever been a homosexual.

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Pastor Burnett, 877 Blessed & Chicago Radio

Sunday Oct. 17th 2010 Pastor Harvey Burnett, founder of New Bethel Ministries and The Dunamis Word blog, will be the featured Pastor on "The Power That Worketh" radio broadcast on station WSRB Soul 106.3 FM Chicago at 3:30 PM CST. 

This will be a 15 minute segment and there will be a live internet stream. So please tune in. Simply click the WSRB link above and the "Listen Live" tab and you're in. 

This segment, on a secular station, is called 'The Pastor's Round Table' where there will be discussion about the mission of the church in the communities in which we live. The host of the show is Mr. Curtis Green the founder of 877 Blessed. 877 Blessed is a church locator designed to connect individuals with churches in their area all over America.  

Be sure to tune in. This is bound to be a powerful 15 minute

segment. 

Blessed! 

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Homosexuality & Biblical Condemnation...Does He Really Mean Me?

Recently at the Parchment & Pen website, one of the commentors recently rendered a comment that I found to be extremely pertinent to many current issues regarding the church, society and homosexuality. I thought I wanted to share it with you and have some conversation addressing many of the current issues dealing with the subject. Here's the comment:

cambusken

"I am very struck by the (for the most part) sincere efforts most of your commentators are making to find a loving way of seeing or dealing with homosexuals, given that Paul clearly links them with thieves, perjurers and enslavers (though he does seem to think they have "abandoned" heterosexual activity in favour of being "inflamed with lust"). I am (very slowly, and stumblingly) making my own progress towards God, with the help of the Holy Spirit and Holy Scripture. My trouble is that I have been in a same-sex relationship for some 40 years now. I never abandoned heterosexual activity, as I never really tried it (apart from a few teenage fumbles). I am no longer inflamed with lust (I doubt I ever was) so I could quite easily forgo any abominable (or is it unclean?) physical activities anyone cares to list. I can also think of many things during our live together which I regret and can repent. However, either I, or the devil, or something, have managed to percieve that life together as the absolute epitome of God-given love. It would be the most monstrous ingratitude - on the spiritual as well as human level - if I were to regret the merest glimmer of the love I have received and felt. I wish to praise God for it and to thank him with all my heart - which is why I am seeking a pathway to him. But I stumble at Paul's obvious disdain for rampaging perverts. Does he really mean me?"

As you can see the commentor poses some very interesting questions and statements. What I would like to do with this post is take the time to address issues and misconceptions, especially in light of the current state of affairs often presented by media, that religion and Christianity in particular is intolerant to what we would consider sinful lifestyles and is responsible for much psychological pressure against homosexual individuals.

The Acceptance Of Sin

The writer makes the comment that Paul links homosexuality with the worst that humanity has to offer. What we should ask is the linking of "perversion"  as he identifies it, unique to the naming of homosexual behaviour, and is the homosexual especially or unusually singled out in Paul's writing.

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