Following in the footsteps of Christ: Parents Should Punch Their Gay Kids
This report is from The Church Report, a conservative Christian online publication. I have the dubious honour of being on their mailing list because of my one-time project of making rosaries and membership in several rosary-crafting groups.
The report is from a recording by a minister at a rally who exhorts his parishioners to punch their sons who are exhibiting effeminate behaviour and to "crack" any "limp wrists" that they see. It's a very sad thing to be sharing and the fact that while the Report says this senior minister is on "the hotseat", it does NOT criticize his behaviour or decry the use of physical violence against a child.
Let's consider for a moment the dictionary definition of "punch." The Macmillan Dictionary says: "to hit someone or something with your fist (=closed hand), usually as hard as you can."
The minister supposedly said later on that he may have gone too far. My concern; however, is how many children were physically abused that afternoon and since because of his urgings? Should he not be charged with advocating violence or exposing children to injury or danger?
I know there are many good Christians out there; however this type of language makes me fear that the constant and unprovoked physical abuse many Catholic school children suffered in the 50's, 60's and 70's is still going on and is advocated by ministers who profess to be following in the footsteps of Christ, for is that not what being a Christian is all about -- being Christlike? When you add in the fact that gay marriage is more a wedge political issue than a genuine conviction for many of these conservative leaders, the actions encouraged by this man become even more heinous.
Rant over. Here's the text. Remember the source, I've even provided a link for those doubting Thomases among you:
http://www.thechurchreport.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=siteContent.default&objectID=153651
Pastor: Parents Should Punch Their Gay Kids
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
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Pastor Sean Harris
A North Carolina Pastor is on the hot seat for taking his support of the proposed ban against same sex marriage too far in recent comments made at a rally.
Sean Harris, senior pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Fayettesville, spoke at length in support of North Carolina's proposed Amendment 1, which would define marriage in the state constitution as between one man and one woman and would outlaw civil unions and domestic partnerships, during an hour-long sermon on Sunday. In this clip, provided by Jeremy Hooper of the blog Good as You, a man identified as Harris is heard urging his congregation to attack their children if they appear to be exhibiting behavior outside of gender norms.
Harris can be heard saying:
"So your little son starts to act a little girlish when he is four years old and instead of squashing that like a cockroach and saying, 'Man up, son, get that dress off you and get outside and dig a ditch, because that is what boys do,' you get out the camera and you start taking pictures of Johnny acting like a female and then you upload it to YouTube and everybody laughs about it and the next thing you know, this dude, this kid is acting out childhood fantasies that should have been squashed.
Dads, the second you see your son dropping the limp wrist, you walk over there and crack that wrist. Man up. Give him a good punch. Ok? You are not going to act like that. You were made by God to be a male and you are going to be a male. And when your daughter starts acting too butch, you reign [sic] her in. And you say, 'Oh, no, sweetheart. You can play sports. Play them to the glory of God. But sometimes you are going to act like a girl and walk like a girl and talk like a girl and smell like a girl and that means you are going to be beautiful. You are going to be attractive. You are going to dress yourself up.'"
After reflecting on his comments, Harris took to his blog to say he had misspoke. In the blog post, he says" "For the record, I want to ensure everyone that I do NOT believe physical force is capable of fixing effeminate behavior or homosexual behavior. Parents should not punch babies or children. (Ultimately only the gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to deliver one from sexual immorality and behavior including effeminacy.)"
North Carolina residents will go to the polls on May 8 to vote on both the same-sex marriage measure and to pick a Republican presidential candidate.
Last week, however, Public Policy Polling reportedly released a new poll showing that support among North Carolinians for the proposed anti-gay amendment has dropped to a record low.
The report is from a recording by a minister at a rally who exhorts his parishioners to punch their sons who are exhibiting effeminate behaviour and to "crack" any "limp wrists" that they see. It's a very sad thing to be sharing and the fact that while the Report says this senior minister is on "the hotseat", it does NOT criticize his behaviour or decry the use of physical violence against a child.
Let's consider for a moment the dictionary definition of "punch." The Macmillan Dictionary says: "to hit someone or something with your fist (=closed hand), usually as hard as you can."
The minister supposedly said later on that he may have gone too far. My concern; however, is how many children were physically abused that afternoon and since because of his urgings? Should he not be charged with advocating violence or exposing children to injury or danger?
I know there are many good Christians out there; however this type of language makes me fear that the constant and unprovoked physical abuse many Catholic school children suffered in the 50's, 60's and 70's is still going on and is advocated by ministers who profess to be following in the footsteps of Christ, for is that not what being a Christian is all about -- being Christlike? When you add in the fact that gay marriage is more a wedge political issue than a genuine conviction for many of these conservative leaders, the actions encouraged by this man become even more heinous.
Rant over. Here's the text. Remember the source, I've even provided a link for those doubting Thomases among you:
http://www.thechurchreport.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=siteContent.default&objectID=153651
Pastor: Parents Should Punch Their Gay Kids
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
More Sharing ServicesShare
Pastor Sean Harris
A North Carolina Pastor is on the hot seat for taking his support of the proposed ban against same sex marriage too far in recent comments made at a rally.
Sean Harris, senior pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Fayettesville, spoke at length in support of North Carolina's proposed Amendment 1, which would define marriage in the state constitution as between one man and one woman and would outlaw civil unions and domestic partnerships, during an hour-long sermon on Sunday. In this clip, provided by Jeremy Hooper of the blog Good as You, a man identified as Harris is heard urging his congregation to attack their children if they appear to be exhibiting behavior outside of gender norms.
Harris can be heard saying:
"So your little son starts to act a little girlish when he is four years old and instead of squashing that like a cockroach and saying, 'Man up, son, get that dress off you and get outside and dig a ditch, because that is what boys do,' you get out the camera and you start taking pictures of Johnny acting like a female and then you upload it to YouTube and everybody laughs about it and the next thing you know, this dude, this kid is acting out childhood fantasies that should have been squashed.
Dads, the second you see your son dropping the limp wrist, you walk over there and crack that wrist. Man up. Give him a good punch. Ok? You are not going to act like that. You were made by God to be a male and you are going to be a male. And when your daughter starts acting too butch, you reign [sic] her in. And you say, 'Oh, no, sweetheart. You can play sports. Play them to the glory of God. But sometimes you are going to act like a girl and walk like a girl and talk like a girl and smell like a girl and that means you are going to be beautiful. You are going to be attractive. You are going to dress yourself up.'"
After reflecting on his comments, Harris took to his blog to say he had misspoke. In the blog post, he says" "For the record, I want to ensure everyone that I do NOT believe physical force is capable of fixing effeminate behavior or homosexual behavior. Parents should not punch babies or children. (Ultimately only the gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to deliver one from sexual immorality and behavior including effeminacy.)"
North Carolina residents will go to the polls on May 8 to vote on both the same-sex marriage measure and to pick a Republican presidential candidate.
Last week, however, Public Policy Polling reportedly released a new poll showing that support among North Carolinians for the proposed anti-gay amendment has dropped to a record low.