By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Bahamas Christian Council president Bishop Simeon Hall has lashed out against those who criticise the lifestyle choices of homosexuals.
Admitting to The Big T that as a younger pastor he too “acted in ignorance” by constantly chastising gays and lesbians, Bishop Hall said it was now evident that homosexuality was a fast growing subculture in the Bahamas.
He said every homosexual should be treated as a human being. Yesterday Bishop Hall, who serves as pastor emeritus at New Covenant Baptist Church, in a press statement said everyone stands in need of God’s grace.
“The demonisation of homosexuals by some pastors is the greatest hindrance to any positive dialogue or efforts the church might establish with them,” he said.
“The Bahamian public in general, as well as pastors in particular, must be careful of what we demonise and protest. Psychologists tell us that sometimes the things we strike out against, we do so because a bit of it lies within us on a subliminal level.
“I also believe that of the 133 sins listed in the Bible, if a pastor can only preach on one of them it could very well be that he has that problem – if not in practice then perhaps dormantly.”
Just last year, Bishop Hall took a different tone toward gays and lesbians. In response to newly released HIV/AIDS statistics in November 2011, he urged them to “seek help in turning away from their non-productive and deadly practice.”
“This sexual practice cannot produce anything and now we are seeing that, according to these latest statistics, it is deadly,” Bishop Hall said at the time.
“Homosexuality…is anti-family [and] it goes against what God has ordained. It is deadly.”
Bishop Hall insisted that the church must consider changing its method of outreach.
“If the Christian church is to reach the un-churched as our Lord commands, then, without changing our message we must change our methods and affirm our common humanity with all persons.”
Now he says that without a revamp, the church will fail in its mandate to reach all.
“If we see them and we treat them as human beings it would then be easier for us to treat the other problems that they might have. But if from the onset we treat them as sub-human, then we, the church, have already lost the battle.”
Comments
solace 11 years, 3 months ago
someone finally gets it...
John 11 years, 3 months ago
Touchy topic but lemme touch it anyway. When God made 'Man" he made them male and female. .Now some people will debate whether God made gays and lesbians but we need not debate that now. As long as a man in this country acts like a man he will be treated like a man and likewise for the woman. While the good pastor ackowledges that the gay and lesbian culture is growing in this country he fails to inform us that the bible says that this is what will happen in the last days (as was in the days of Noah). And if you see the way in which many of these non-hetrosexual persons conduct themselves in public and at many social functions. especially the butch females, who want to break every rule and challenge every male on the planet..it is the hetrosexuals whose rights are being trampled on and whose sexual preference (male with female) is being challenged. Gays and lesbians may not have to stay in the closet but they don't have to be all 'in ya face' about who they wann sleep with either so as to demand that you be down wit and accept their lifestyle as being normal.. The next thing you know is the good pastor is gonna be askin us to support gay and lesbian marriage!!
d_sleepy71 11 years, 3 months ago
Any one who proclaims to be a man of God knows that the Bible condemns the life style of homosexuals, In fact any one who reads the bible knows this. Simeon Hall should also know the only way to revamp the Church is to rewrite the Bible as we know it.
Shirley 11 years, 3 months ago
The good Bishop hasn't been relevant for quite sometime. Based on his actions of late he has zero credibility. Perhaps he should hang up the robe and go fishing.
John 11 years, 3 months ago
Maybe if the good bishop and others took time to reach out to and teach homosexuals and lesbians why God is against their lifestyle then thier popuation will not be growing by leapos and bounds in this coun try and around the world. ANYTHING that goes against the grain of nature is perversion. God's command to 'man' on the earth was to replenish the earth, 'to go forth and multiply'. Sex is the means by which man reproduces( makes offspring) and this can only happen when a man and woman copulates..not two men together or two women together. Therefore homosexuality and lesbianism is not just about whom you chose to love (male or female) but it is engaging in prevision that goes against nature and against the laws to the Creator (GOD). When God promised Sarah that she would bear a child in her old age she laughed. When God gave her husband the instruction to "know' his wife to produce a child Sarah doubted GOD. and she laughed in a mocking way. She said she did not have children when her body was young and strong and now that she was old and feeble she doubted that she could have a child as GOD has promised. In fact she went even further and said she believed two men (homosexuals) could have a child before she and her husband. So God cursed homosexuailty. Sarah brought forth a child with her husband but God's word says the earth will pass away before two men together will bear a child. Just like gambling, and stealing and sweethearting and the other sins (131 according to the bishop) listed in the bible, homosexuals and lesbians will always be tempted. Their choice is to resist temptation. Their strength, like all other humans, who beileve, is in GOD....HIS word still stands and is never void. amen
concernedcitizen 11 years, 3 months ago
yes go forth and multiply ,like the 9 million in haiti that can,t feed themselvse ,or the millions in africa that starve to dead before the age of 5 becuase of no food and decade upon decade of civil war ,,,,,,,,,,,,lmao
loopkelly 8 years, 9 months ago
These people are often underestimated. They deserve a chance to be happy and to start a family. There are good in many fields, for instance, these people really know how to dress themselves and even their children, they don't need the last edition of clothing items because with some old clothes they can do wonders. Also, when they feel the need to buy a clothing item, they prefer to buy a quality one, to last longer, like these http://www.babyfans.com/baby-redsox.aspx">Red Sox baby clothes, which are perfect for little babies of all ages.
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