76th Live Stream with Carlton Pearson - Can we pray or pay the gay away? Michael Sam Annoucement

About this sermon

The Michael Sam recent "coming out" announcement as a gay man remains an interesting conversation in the media and in many Christian circles today. Not just that he came out, but that he risked losing a lucrative income normally associated with being drafted into the NFL. He could have waited to announce much later or never, but he went ahead and announced his sexuality just days before the greatest opportunity for incredible income as a professional athlete was in the offing. How many other athletes are gay or have the tendencies, but won't, haven't or wouldn't dare come out so as not to lose their income? It's like "no gay, mo pay" for some and that is understandable, but disingenuous. According to news reports, since Michael Sam has come out, other professional athletes, some active, some non-active or retired, have admitted to him that they're gay or bisexual. Same is true when you consider Ted Haggard, former president of the American Association of Evangelicals, of the Christian world and graduate of my alma mater Oral Roberts University. And who knows how many other high profile ministers or lesser knowns? There are obviously many Christian professionals (ministers), and not just in music, who are gay or bi-sexual, but would never come out in order to save their income sources and possibilities for the same. Same is true with regard to overall human sexuality and not just homosexuality. There are far more ministers involved in what Fundamentalists and the Bible call adultery and/or fornication (sexual promiscuity), but that too is "don't ask, don't tell," which in no way means "no ass, no tail" (pardon the French). The macho environment that exists in football along with the hypermasculinity promoted by sportscasters make it difficult for a player to come out. Heterosexuality (sexual promiscuity) is flaunted in NFL locker rooms with the passing of pornographic magazines and videos and visits to strip clubs, etc, even among married athletes. Gay slurs are sometimes used in the locker room, in some cases, presumably, to deflect away from the obvious but unspoken high physicality and sensuality connected with the contact sport itself. Most locker rooms, like most churches, particularly African American ones, have a "don't ask, don't tell" policy, and there are few openly gay male athletes in hyper-masculine sports like American football. On the other hand, female athletes in sports are seen as masculine and often come across as being gay; same is often true with regard to women in the military. Very little attention is given to this in the media or common gossip. It's just assumed and accepted as a normal probability. Would any of these professional people be any less professional or gifted were they not gay or bi-sexual? Would Ted Haggard or Bishop Eddie Long be any less "anointed," called or gifted as preachers and/or pastors were they not gay or alleged to be? Are they any less anointed now that you know about them, since they already were who they were when you didn't? Same with athletes. Jesus said love your neighbor as you love yourself. What if your neighbor is gay or your favorite athlete, teacher or televangelist? And don't say love the sinner and hate the sin. Where does truth stand in this debate or discussion and how do we as a society and the "church" face or confront it? It seems that in general, the secular world can handle our truth as people of faith, but not our hypocrisy. However the church seems incapable or unwilling to handle its truth, but seems more comfortable and tolerant of the hypocrisy. Visit our Youtube Channel for more video! Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/bishoppearson Website: http://www.bishoppearson.com Join Email List: http://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?llr=cqgwpvn6&p=oi&m=1011112155650

Topics

• Prayer