If you are a regular reader, I think my position is clear- I rarely if ever bash Christianity wholesale. I find fault with those who use Religion as a weapon. But today, I want to take that a step further and say, this preacher isn’t only using Religion as a weapon but guilty of using his pulpit to spread hate speech.

A conservative Tennessee pastor and media pundit is making headlines after claiming that God is punishing gay men and lesbians by making them “effeminate” or “mannish” in video footage of a sermon.

As Right Wing Watch first reported, Rev. Larry Tomczak suggested that the behavior was an example of “God turning people over to their own desires … they receive in their own bodies the penalties for their sin.”

His effort is meant to blame and demonize adult gays and lesbians- to claim they brought it on themselves. Truly hateful.

Only clueless hateful people would be blind to the fact that children, far before they have the words to self-identify as gay or lesbian get bullied and treated horribly because they seem effeminate or mannish.

So I’d ask the charlatan pastor- how is it that these kids of 10 and 11 and 12 are guilty and therefor receiving in their bodies the penalties… you get my question?

Every kid learns the nursery rhyme:

Sticks and stones will break my bones

But words will never harm me.

But everyone knows it is a lie. Words harm and the many youth suicides that come after merciless bullying is all the proof anyone needs.

I can accept those Christians who cite Bible verse as their justification against homosexuals. They are entitled to their own opinions. But I have little patience for those who use hate speech and promote harm towards children.

This pastor doesn’t intend to be so hateful (even as he is). Rather, his intention is to identify gays and lesbians as “accepting a lifestyle” in a very very Old Testament type of way. He is perpetuating a myth that isn’t based in any reality. That doesn’t keep it from being hate speech or harmful.

Her’s the Bible passage, I’d encourage that pastor to study. Matthew 25:31-46. Here is a portion of it:

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

This pastor is less concerned about the Word of God and more concerned about spreading hate, lies and blame.

Hate speech.

via God Punishes Gays, Lesbians By Making Them ‘Effeminate’ Or ‘Mannish’: Pastor Larry Tomczak.