Southern gospel singer Kirk Talley has opted to downplay the antigay extortion committed against him early this year — and to go silent about the details of his exgay restoration, perhaps fearing retaliation by those in the Southern gospel community who harshly criticized Talley rather than the extortionist.
Amid the silence and the hate, however, Southern gospel music blogger Avery points out that there are also voices of people like Bill Gaither, who “has fought the toxic hatefulness of so much contemporary evangelicalism and offered a corrective alternative to that toxicity” with his welcoming comments about songwriter and inspirationalist Marsha Stevens, who is lesbian.
It’s great to hear that Bill Gaither has taken the high road and has chosen to be inclusive with artists such as Marsha Stevens. I have enjoyed his music for many years.
Kirk Talley was always a very visible performer in Gaither’s “Homecoming” and his other gospel videos and concerts. It will be interesting to see if Gaither enbraces Kirk Talley now that all the dust has settled with his lawsuit and “restoration”. The same “christians” that villified Talley on this site and others are the same people who purchase Gaither’s videos and attend his concerts.
Money do make da worl’ go roun’ da worl’ go roun’ da worl go roun’
Money do make da worl’ go roun’….
I believe you get the idea.
Does all this mean that Gaither openly supports gay and lesbian performers…that we are to just “forget” what they are and have them sing in our churches and concerts while they drag the Word of God through the filth of their sin? When do you draw the line…yes, love the sinner, hate the sin..but also do not allow them to make a mockery of God’s Word…God’s pronouncement of homosexuality is one of judgement and He calls upon them to repent and be restored to Him, or He will give them over to a reprobate mind. This is the wrong message at the wrong time in our nation. God does not and will not condone a sinful lifestyle, no matter what it is…some things ARE black and white…this is one of them.
Gayther’s had his wife beard for decades. Most of the southern gospel scene is filled with cheaters and swingers. It’s as bad as politics.
“that we are to just “forget” what they are and have them sing in our churches and concerts while they drag the Word of God through the filth of their sin?”
What exactly are they? Sinners? Sinners like everyone else? Sinners like you and me? I don’t think they would be dragging the word of God through the filth of their sin any more than any other person would. Everyone sins, Steve, some people just choose to treat some “sins” more harshly than others.
>God does not and will not condone a sinful lifestyle, no matter what it is…some things ARE black and white…this is one of them.
I’m just amazed at the people who appear to claim to have a pipeline to God. To claim to know what God will condone. To claim to know what God won’t condone. George W. Bush claims to have a pipeline to God. Frankly, so do the Islamist terrorists. Who is someone supposed to believe?
It strikes me as being the height of arrogance to say what God will or will not condone. Or to claim to have a pipeline to Him.
“God does not and will not condone a sinful lifestyle, no matter what it is…some things ARE black and white…this is one of them.”
So, Steve, your “God” makes people gay, gives them the capacity for fulfilling, loving, committed relationships, and then expects them to remain celibate? That is the “God” you believe in? Sounds like the work of His opposite number to me.
Not to mention, given the venal, sinful lives of so many “evangelists,” e.g., Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggert, Pat Robertson, Jerry Fallwell, it appears the real, true God does not limit which sinners can drage His name through the mud as they actively engage in their sinful lifestyles while preaching their version of the “word of God.” Or do you think Robertson, for example, gets a pass on making economic deals with genocidal tyrants because he only screws women?
Steve’s post just goes to prove my point. Bill Gaither may want to appear to be tolerant, inclusive and even accepting of gay christian gospel singers. But if the people who attend his concerts and buy his videos are like Steve, I wonder how supporting Gaither will be. My personal wish is that he tells his critics to shove it–but only time will tell.
Bottom line is…is he still gay? Is he really delivered from this? If not, there’s no possible way that he should be allowed to minister.
Chris, there are many places where he is not only “allowed” to minister, but welcomed and invited. In fact, many denominations are open and inclusive. If he’s called to minister in music, it’s up to his own God to sort out the details of his personal life, not for other people to “allow” him or not.
This just goes to prove the point “not much Gospel in Southern gospel music”.
This page is a joke. Most of you folks need to get into God’s word and read what it has to say about “unnatural affections”. Yet we as Christians shouldn’t allow or disallow? If we don’t stand up for what is morally right, then who will? Sounds like there are actually more current gays on here than ex-gays.
Bob said:
Sounds like there are actually more current gays on here than ex-gays.
Didn’t you get the memo, Bob? There are no ex-gays, we’ve just been fooling ourselves. There is a big party Friday night to celebrate. Like to come?
Sorry, but one should really know where one is posting.
David Roberts