Careful not to raise the ire of some evangelicals

by Dan Grubbs

In an editorial in a major daily newspaper, I read where the pro-homosexual community is complaining that the Black religious community is not supporting them vocally. I find it curious that homosexuals are now crying out against Black clergy because they’ve been “silent” about homosexuality. Curious, because, if pro-homosexual
leaders rouse these Christian brothers and sisters, they’ll find they have fewer allies and cause pulpits focused on other issues to take on the issue of fornication without prejudice.

It’s been my experience, as an evangelical Christian for nearly 40 years, that Black churches will not be so willing to embrace fornication as an acceptable lifestyle. Evangelical believers, regardless of race, will call homosexuality a sin and, like Christ, advise their followers to hate the sin and love the sinner.

What pro-homosexuals have been very successful at doing is separating their so-called lifestyle from all other forms of fornication. However, I would wager that a large percentage of Black churches do not view homosexuality different than extramarital sex — both considered forms of fornication from a biblical perspective.

Most Black churches are not nestled in comfortable quiet suburbs where the households are more concerned about their investment portfolio than rocking some political or social boat. Not so, my urban brethren. Make no
mistake. These churches can easily mobilize at the grassroots level. And if so prompted, make a loud noise against what they view as immoral behavior.

I'm convinced the overwhelming majority of urban churches will not make a distinction between homosexuality and fornication. Contrary to comfortable White churches, there is no fear of losing members when a Black church is vocal about a social issue. With a higher ratio of women than suburban churches, they are not afraid of using their Afro-feminine power to stand firmly against this fornication. Even if members of Black churches have family who claim to be homosexual, they are more likely to follow their church leaders on this issue. But, ultimately, members of Black churches will stand firmly on the Word of God, our final authority for living and loving God.

I believe this is one of the more poorer thought-out strategies of the pro-homosexual agenda. If they are staking their hopes on a very few public figures of the Black religious community, such as Rev. Jessie Jackson, the pro-homosexual supporters have drastically overestimated his following when it comes to matters of true faith. They should understand that when it comes to biblical doctrine and eternal Truths, Rev. Jackson is not the pied piper of America’s Black community.

That same vibrancy that many of us experience when worshipping in a Black church will easily be migrated to vocal opposition to homosexuality if the pro-fornicators continue to decry against the urban churches in America. I, for one, encourage our Black brothers and sisters to not wait for the prodding stick of the homosexual community to take a stand against fornication and not be bullied by threat or rhetoric. Maybe we should send Rev. Herb Lusk, former NFL player, now a pastor in an urban church in Philadelphia, to reclaim the rainbow for God.