I remember it clearly almost three years ago I interviewed Minister Tuan Ngai concerning homophobia and the Church on our radio show "A Closer Look".
Let me do this first, picture this a weekly gospel talk radio show which addresses HIV/AIDS in the Black Community. Add to the show a location of the Midwest, Bible Belt country and very Baptist and Pentecostal and yest don't forget traditional gospel broadcast radio.
Now with that in mind add one minister interviewing another minister but this minister is gay and out and blasts the traditional church for their homophobia. Man all I wanted to do was get another view on homophobia and I did not realize the pit that I was digging.
During the show the station manager was pacing nervously, the program director censored our guest a couple of times and the calls would not stop. Of course the callers were blasting brother Tuan but he held his own.
I tried my hardest to stand on the side line and just be a mediator however the callers would not have it that way. For even bringing a show like that on the air I was accused of being a closeted gay by one of the callers who made sure I knew who he was. In fact when this Pastor called the show; remember we were live, the program manager left the studio with me talking to this Pastor with no way to hang up.
Oh he qouted the Bible and on and on, to get him off the air I told him we could talk after the show; what a mistake. After the show he explained that mothers make their sons gay when they baby them and then he stated that AIDS was a punishment from God directly pointed toward those gays!!
What!!!!
I was truly disturbed by what was happening and yes I was very nervous about the consequences of taking a stand against homophobia in the Black Church. The biggest fear was what would happen to those connected to me; my family, church family, my Pastor and other mentors.
So I tried my best to tackle other issues but God kept bringing me back to homophobia. The more I tried to run the more God kept bringing me back.
So the rope was placed in my hand, the rope to pull out those who have been lost in the big ole pit of homophobia and of course we tackle other issues on the show and of course my main focus as a minister is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to bring others closer to Him.
So many of us have wandered far from Christ because of the damage done by those who claim to represent Him. And yes this is seen so clearly when it comes to homosexuality. And you know it is about time we say Enough is Enough!!
Let God be the Judge and let us become our Brothers and Sisters Keeper not the Judge!!!
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