Since the Supreme Court made same-sex “marriage” legal throughout the United States, black pastors across the country have been grappling with a difficult question — does a biblical stance against homosexuality equate with racial discrimination?
Pastors of predominantly black churches in Alabama say they are not hearing this question asked in their congregations, at least not yet. However, they are ready with an answer when the question does come — absolutely not.
Charles Autery, pastor of Christian Way Baptist Church, Camden, in Pine Barren Baptist Association, said likening a biblical view of marriage to racial discrimination is an ineffective comparison.
“I am totally against the ruling, and I don’t see that opposition as discriminatory,” Autery said. “Gay ‘marriage’ supporters are using the civil rights issue because we made such strides with that stand. They’re saying, now let’s use it again. But they’re talking about apples and oranges.”
‘Irrational’
D’Linell Finley, pastor of Southlawn Baptist Church, Montgomery, agreed.
“As far as I’m concerned, trying to link the struggle of gay ‘marriage’ to the struggle of black people to overcome racism based on the color of skin, which they had absolutely no control over, quite frankly is irrational,” Finley said. “There is no comparison to be made because a lifestyle issue is just that. You can make a choice to change your lifestyle any time you want to, but you can’t make a choice to change your race.
“I was born black, I am going to die black. I don’t have any control over that. That’s how God created me. For individuals to claim that their craving for a particular lifestyle is equal to my fight as a black man to end racial discrimination is something that undermines the credibility of their argument,” Finley said.
He said those who engage in commerce, like restaurant and business owners, are on “softer ground” in terms of selecting which customers to serve and which to refuse. However, in the community of faith, the issue is very clear, he said.
Even as pastors maintain a biblical opposition to gay “marriage,” they also acknowledge the need of all people to experience forgiveness of sins through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
Strictly saying, “I don’t agree with same-sex ‘marriage’ is not enough,” said John Cantelow III, pastor of Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, Birmingham, in Birmingham Baptist Association. No matter what sin an individual struggles with, building relationships with people as Christ did is essential to sharing the gospel.
“Understanding the brokenness we all have experienced in different aspects of our lives is so important,” Cantelow said. “If you’re broken in terms of your sexuality, many of us know how complicated that can make our lives. Pornography, adultery and fornication have afflicted many.”
Emphasizing the sin of homosexuality above other sins pushes people away, said Ron Martin, assistant director of church and community ministries for Calhoun Baptist Association.
“We know we are all born into a sinful condition. I thank God that the sins I have dealt with are more socially acceptable, but I have to ask, how would I respond if I were dealing with a less socially acceptable sin? Years ago, alcoholism was a great stain of evil, but now it’s an illness that we are compassionate about. Pastors will agree it’s a lifelong struggle. At no point do we say, ‘No, you’re an alcoholic, we won’t do business with you or withhold salvation from you.’”
The struggle for the church is in our thinking of marriage as a rite with religious implications rather than a legal right, Martin said.
“We see marriage as a spiritual union between a man and a woman. However, for many Americans, it’s not just a spiritual thing. It’s financial, making sure my significant other is covered by insurance or parental rights. If our government was a theocracy, gay ‘marriage’ should absolutely be illegal. In a democracy, the government is going to be a mirrored reflection of who the people are,” Martin said.
Martin, a former pastor himself, said he encourages fellow pastors not to be disheartened by what the world is doing.
“The Bible is proving itself true. Men will become lovers of themselves. People will turn away from sound doctrine,” Martin said. “It sears our consciousness that America is going in a different direction, but America has always had its oppositional direction when it comes to the Word.”
The political arena is not the place to fight the battle anymore, he said.
“Jesus didn’t start in Herod’s kingdom or Pilate’s palace. He started in the little town He was raised in, teaching them about salvation. The picture we have is not of a hammer-fisted Savior but a loving Savior who would leave the 99 to find the one, who stands at the edge of His yard waiting for the prodigal son to return. If we focus on that image more, we will see change through the transformational love of God and what the government does will no longer matter,” Martin said.
‘Live the Bible’
“Personally I believe we will see greatness out of this if we take it as a challenge to claim our country for Christ. If we can just live the Bible, live by the basic tenets of our faith — Love Me, Love people — I believe we can change the demographic of America back to Christian beliefs.”
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