To the Chicago tribune, Gospel singer Donnie McClurkin says he met up with Obama at an Oprah gathering and liked what he heard from the Senator.
“I believe in his stance. I believe in his platform and his agenda. So when they asked me if I would be a part of it, there was no problem,” said McClurkin, who has performed at both parties’ conventions and identifies himself as a Democrat. “We don’t have to agree on everything, but we do have to agree on the main thing: that there needs to be change and I believe he is the candidate to bring it.”
Regarding his stance on homosexuality, he says:
For years, McClurkin has talked from the pulpit about how he was raped by a male family member as a child. It was that act, he has said, that sent him into living as a gay man for the better part of 20 years. He now says he is straight and that his ministry is open to those who say they no longer want to live as a gay person. What he doesn’t do, he says, is crusade against homosexuality.
“There’s never been a statement made by me about curing homosexuality. People are using that in order to incite anger and to twist my whole platform on it. There’s no crusade for curing it or to convert everyone. This is just for those who come to me and ask for change.”
Elsewhere, the Human Rights Campaign weighs in to change the name of the concert series to “We Forced the Change.”
And this isn’t the first time that the Human Rights Campaign has crossed paths with McClurkin.
Tim…funny…
Arthur, you clearly need to do some reading on homosexuality as well as social graces. Although I have to say, reading your words reminds me how much work there is to do in educating the public about issues around sexual orientation.
In general, I’ve found that the presence of intellectually stimulating thought is inversely proportional to the number of exclamation points applied.
Ask the people in our jails and judicial systems, why or where did they go wrong….I would believe that the majority would tell you what they didnt have as a child or a series of events that influenced them negatively! Better yet, visit our churches (i am a God loving christian) better known as a hospital for the broken hearted and spirited, full of people in bad situations, comming out of situations, who have over come bad situations; ask them where did they go wrong…..
Actualy, I’m very aware of the words that I chose while comparing the three.(not to be offensive) Would there be a dispute to say that who we are is influenced at a very young age by the peolple around us and life or situations as it presents itself? My toddler son puts on his older sisters shoes, he walks on his tippy toes and even sings along with female singers on the radio…..could this become a problem ? could be….or not…
I correct him and his mom says He’s just a baby….Cause thats my job; to teach him to be a man/ to correct any behavior that I feel is inoprpriate (including masterbation, talking back, tempertantrums, feminine behavior, sharing, ect) Well contray to some beliefs if you don have the balance and lifes lessons applied apprpriately, well, thats when you have room for inapropriate behaviors, attitudes, and oreintations to become a mind set, inbedded in a personality, and then becomes a life style!….
Now don’t get me wrong, We all fall short (especially me) but just based on family members, associates, and your statements, I equivalize homesualism with a theif who started at a young age, sexual preditor who started off masterbating, people who have anger management issues…..it’s just a behavior that was not correct at a vital time and has spiraled into a life style!!!!!!!
Arthur –
You stated this..
“I meant the concept of homosexuality is just as crazy as marrying a family member…….” and then “Just like a child caught masterbating; its a emotion that should and has to be corrected , but, just like i said usually there is no one there to tell you its not appropriate…….”
Arthur, this is truly insulting, not to mention ill-informed. You are comparing homosexuality to incest? To a child masturbating?
Those who in same-sex relationships or marry the same-sex are not engaging in child-like behaviors, some are adults making very adult decisions based on their understanding of God, their faith, and well-reasoned soulful and intelligent decisions they believe are blessed by God.
If you ask anyone on this forum with their various perspectives about homosexuality, they would likely agree that it is not simply an “emotion” that needs to be corrected. Orientation is much more complex than this…and it cannot simply be “corrected,” as you suggest it can be. We have debated even the definition of what “change” is….and the various thoughts have led to endless discussions, thinking and evaluating on my part.
So please Arthur, consider your words before you speak them. Consider that you write to a varied audience with various orientations, family structures, and perspectives. Consider that you write to a well-informed audience, and please reconsider your words before slandering what others hold very dear.
Ah, yes. The spin on words
Arthur,
Please note the spin on words –
“I’m sorry that you feel that you are getting away from God’s intent.”
When you actually said this –
“People are getting further away from Gods intent and getting comfortable with going with they’re own feelings,(every man is just in their own eyes)”
This took the prize though –
“I’m sure we would all be willing to pray for you so that you return to God’s intent”
This was an easy one to read as it was short but no different in the self serving message.
Arthur,
I’m sorry that you feel that you are getting away from God’s intent. If you like, I’m sure we would all be willing to pray for you so that you return to God’s intent.
Tim, Tim, Tim,
So much you need to learn! Knowledge is one thing and understanding is another, and that’s why Jesus was so angry, because they had knowledge and religion, but they had no understanding or love for rightiousness……. Remember that the days of Genesis and the laws of the land were definatly diffrent than what they are today, thats why Jesus came and we don’t have to sacrifise sheep and goats any more……Lets not get too deep; People are getting further away from Gods intent and getting comfortable with going with they’re own feelings,(every man is just in their own eyes) and this has been happening since Adam and Eve. Although distruction is clear people don’t see it! No one wants to be a failure, so since it’s so hard to live rightiously we make our own individual rules to justify our short commings and feel proud.
I’m sorry Arthyr. I didn’t realize that you were talking about masturbation.
In that case I would have discussed the Biblical story of Onan, in Genesis 38. Although that is the only place in Scripture in which masturbation is discussed, God certainly set clear what he believes about masturbation in that story.
Onan should have impregnated his brother’s widow rather than masturbate. We know that impregnating your brother’s widow is very very important so that she can have children.
We all need more spiritual education on impregnating widows. I’m glad you are setting that as your goal.
I, myself, don’t have any widowed sister-in-laws. And both sister-in-laws already have children so I think your comments may not relate to me.
But, nonetheless, I support this new campaign of yours. Amen.
Timothy, You took it wrong! I meant the concept of homosexuality is just as crazy as marrying a family member……. every one has emotions and impulses rather right or wrong, it’s the people or things in our path that put a definition on it as exceptable or not. Not in all cases but in most I believe, at that critical time (which is different for everyone) this behavior has got to be correctected approriately and effectively……Just like a child caught masterbating; its a emotion that should and has to be corrected , but, just like i said usually there is no one there to tell you its not appropriate……. Obviosly this is a dominoe effect from a hell bound sosiety; 1) PRE-marritial sex, 2) one parent in home= lack of supervision or direction, 3) child melestation, 4) confusion 5)homosexualism, 6) exceptance by sosiety……… I love and pray for all people but, just like everyone stood up for the gena 6, people- mostly christians, should stand up for whats right and make a stand on this issue. p.s I’m not talking about using hatred or seclusion, i’m talking about spiritual education.
You’ve been on a roll lately Timothy! Nicely put!
Ann, just do a google search for Donnie/gay and you’ll find a wealth of information.
j.
Better yet; if it is ok to love the same sex for what-ever reason and marry them even thogh genetically you cannnot reproduce, why can’t we marry our family members?
Arthur,
I agree with you!! If Abraham could marry his sister Sarah, then why can’t a same-sex couple marry?
Very good point. And it’s based on the whole word of God, too!!
It’s nice to see someone use the Bible to support civic equality for gay people. Thank you for your excellent argument in favor of gay marriage.
Let me ask you all a question? How can people say they believe in heven or hell (because there existance in the bible) but, they don’t believe everything about the bible? Better yet; if it is ok to love the same sex for what-ever reason and marry them even thogh genetically you cannnot reproduce, why can’t we marry our family members? Well, even though we do love everyone, these ideas are dumb! Donnie was right when he said being gay is a choice! Call it a desease and let someone get rich off the prescription when all we really need to do is get back to the whole word of God!!!!!!!!!!
Jonathan,
What things has he said in the past? I am not familiar with this man or his background but have read the article Dr. Throckmorton posted and the links on the AP article as well as the one Mike sent. Any information you can give me I would appreciate.
Let’s not perform strenuous mental gymnastics to find a way to support McClurkin’s statements.
If he no longer is conducting war against the freedoms and equality of gay people (what he refers to as “the homosexual agenda”), then good. If he no longer accuses gay people of “trying to kill our children”, then I’m happy to hear it. If he no longer thinks that mega churches should “stand up and fight”, then I’m glad he had grown.
But let’s not pretend he was just defending himself (perhaps against gay highshoolers?) or that he was looking out for the best interest of gay kids (and his outrage that the school was publically funded had nothing to do with his anti-gay ideology).
Mike,
I just read the article and have a different perspective on what he wrote than you do. He was pointing out that a school which is exclusively populated with children proclaiming a gay identy is more dangerous to them than a regular school because it is being advertised as to what it supports rather than the students who attend it. Also, his comments on “all out war” can be interpreted as a stance he has taken to defend his position against all those who have unjustly villified him. He could have chosen to stay quiet but instead is sticking up for himself and his beliefs – I don’t see anything wrong with that. Why is it being considered a threat to others? I believe in recent days, if not hours, he has clarified his position and it seems very reasonable and fair.
Sounds to me like there has been some shift in McClurkin’s views. I’m actually willing to give him a little bit of leeway. I mean to say that he believes in Obama’s “platform” shows that some shift has been made. I’m certainly uncomfortable with things he’s said in the past. Then again, I’m uncomfortable with some of the stances I’ve had in the past…even regarding homosexuality.
j.
I posted a moment ago, but a link was broken and the comment seems to have vanished in any case.
Here is an archived copy of the CBN/700 Club article in which McClurkin declares war against same-sex-attracted persons and objects to a safe school for bullied students.
Shame on you Alvin! If you had been raped as a child by an adult gay male that would be your perspective as well. Unfortunately, that is McKlurkin’s experience and yes gays are pedophiles -too – just as are heterosexuals. McKlurkin is just telling his experience. As he said – he has no crusade to curing others or th change others – stop taking things out of context.
Oh yeah, Mr. McClurkin has been “misunderstood” alright.
Especially about that statement he made on the 700 Club about gays wanting to harm children.
Apparently he conviently omitted talking about that.