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Faith

Pastor Louie Giglio Withdraws From Obama Inauguration Following Furor Over Past Sermon About Gays

Jan. 10, 2013 11:41am

Pastor Louie Giglio made headlines numerous times over the past few weeks with his Passion 2013 Christian conference and, subsequently, the announcement that he would be delivering the benediction at President Barack Obama’s Jan 21. inauguration. It is this latter development that sent some progressive and gay rights groups into a tailspin after left-leaning blogs discovered a controversial sermon the preacher once gave about sin and homosexuality.

Pastor Louie Giglio Withdraws From Obama Inauguration Over Gay Comments

Pastor Louie Giglio (Photo Credit: 268Generation.com)

The reaction to Giglio’s past statements was so intense that the pastor has now officially withdrawn from the event. In a statement issued after he alerted the White House and the Presidential Inaugural Committee that he will no longer be participating, Giglio said that he was honored to be selected — but that he feels compelled to step aside. Here’s the statement in its entirety:

I am honored to be invited by the President to give the benediction at the upcoming inaugural on January 21. Though the President and I do not agree on every issue, we have fashioned a friendship around common goals and ideals, most notably, ending slavery in all its forms.

Due to a message of mine that has surfaced from 15-20 years ago, it is likely that my participation, and the prayer I would offer, will be dwarfed by those seeking to make their agenda the focal point of the inauguration. Clearly, speaking on this issue has not been in the range of my priorities in the past fifteen years. Instead, my aim has been to call people to ultimate significance as we make much of Jesus Christ.

Neither I, nor our team, feel it best serves the core message and goals we are seeking to accomplish to be in a fight on an issue not of our choosing, thus I respectfully withdraw my acceptance of the President’s invitation. I will continue to pray regularly for the President, and urge the nation to do so. I will most certainly pray for him on Inauguration Day.

Our nation is deeply divided and hurting, and more than ever need God’s grace and mercy in our time of need.

This explanation came after numerous outlets ran stories about the sermon. ThinkProgress (TP) offered one of the more comprehensive coverages of the message, claiming that it appeared to be from the mid-1990s. The outlet dubbed Giglio’s sermon, entitled, “In Search of a Standard – Christian Response to Homosexuality,” as “vehemently anti-gay.”

Here are some of the tidbits that TP transcribed from the sermon (these two quotes focus on the notion that homosexuality is a sin):

(9:20) [God] says very clearly in [Leviticus], verse 22, after he talks about a lot of different kinds of relationships, he says in verse 22: “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female. It is an abomination.” Now if you would look forward into the New Testament context, to the passage that most of us know most commonly with this issue, into chapter one of the book of Romans, let’s read a few verses together beginning in verse 18. If you’re taking notes tonight, you might make this the note of Leviticus 20:13 and the book of Jude, we won’t look at those passages but there is some support and encouragement there to this topic.

(17:37) Men, women, I can’t say anything other to you tonight than this, that if you look at the counsel of the word of God, Old Testament, New Testament, you come quickly to the conclusion that homosexuality is not an alternate lifestyle… homosexuality is not just a sexual preference homosexuality is not gay, but homosexuality is sin. It is sin in the eyes of God, and it is sin according to the word of God. You come to only one conclusion: homosexuality is less than God’s best for his creation. It is less than God’s best for us and everything in our lives that is less than God’s best for us and his plan for us and his design for us, is sin. That’s God’s voice. If you want to hear God’s voice, that is his voice to this issue of homosexuality. It is not ambiguous and unclear. It is very clear.

You can listen to the sermon here. It was discovered on a web site that lists pastoral messages.

This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.

–

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Comments (169)

1 2 3
  • Bucky_1
    Posted on January 11, 2013 at 3:47am

    can I comment?

    Report this comment

    Bucky_1  
  • youshuthehellup
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 11:30pm

    the freedom lover – us nut is another xerox copy of the same blabbers that open mouth and insert foot! they try to sound intelligent when in fact they are super IGNORANT! we must waste no precious time on such idiots. The reason he stepped down is because he knows obama is secretly gay and you can read all about his past under the rev. jeremiah and how he belonged to a group of bi’s. look it up. the pastor cannot blot his conscience if he is sincere so he did what he had to do.

    Report this comment

    youshuthehellup  
  • Mom for freedom
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 8:18pm

    Louie Giglio is my pastor. He probably doesn’t share my feelings here at all but I believe this asking him to give the benediction and then he getting attacked everywhere is definitely an attack from the pit of hell with the blessings of the godless left and this godless administration. I know him well enough to say he is a wonderful leader and follower of Jesus, therefore the attacks. I know and very much love several gay people and I do not wish them any ill or harm. I don’t want to tell them how to live because they have free will which God gave them. Why cannot the rabid part of the Gay and Lesbian community reciprocate? It is because they are intolerant of anyone who disagrees with them. They hate diversity. They are becoming like the Nazi’s. They are becoming what some of them hate.
    Louie Giglio is a preacher of the Gospel. He follows what God tells him. And God is truth no matter what I think or anyone else thinks. This is the real God who created everything and holds everything and everyone together by His immensely powerful love and grace. I will pray for Louie and hold him up. God continue to bless Passion City Church! Put a hedge of protection around the church and all of the people who work and worship there. Let this church be a light of Your love and grace to a dying world.

    Report this comment

    Mom for freedom  
  • DEPORTOBAMA
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 8:16pm

    So, tolerance is great if you agree with gays and their gay leader, Obama?
    Have a different POV (homosexuality is wrong and is a sin) , and tolerance and inclusion go out the door?
    LIBERALS ALL SUCK

    Report this comment

    DEPORTOBAMA  
  • charles116
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 8:09pm

    Maybe he could just sing ‘Louie Louie”
    Or ‘Just a Giglio’

    Report this comment

    charles116  
  • CathyvanDyke
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 6:06pm

    I do not believe that homosexuality is a choice … I do not believe that pedophilia is a choice … I do not believe that beastiality is a choice but … I believe that there is a choice in regards to acting on what the Bible defines as sin.

    We all have a free will to act or not to act … a free will that we exercise in regards to right and wrong when sinful emotions/desires/temptions present themselves in our daily walk.

    Choosing to right in accordance with scripture is not always easy when emotions get involved but it is alway right.

    Leviticus 18:22
    You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. 23 And you shall not lie with any animal …

    Report this comment

    CathyvanDyke  
  • DeathRattle
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 5:54pm

    The left carries no love for Judeo-Christian beliefs, the left sees them as 1) a tool to sway the uninformed, 2) a message that constantly convicts them of the sin they live in daily. I believe in the next few months to years we will begin to see Evangelicals jailed for speaking of God’s word. Obama’s re-election shows that we are in a free fall where God is being actively and vehemently pushed out of the collective conscience of America.

    According to Jesus, Christians are the salt and light of the earth. We see this country and the world degenerating into rampant greed and immorality now, imagine it without the restraining, tempering influence of the Holy Spirit through Christians. I have read the end of the book and I know then end and where I am going, do you?

    Report this comment

    DeathRattle  
  • Via Dolorosa
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 5:47pm

    A true man of God (preacher, pastor) preaches God’s WORD – His Gospel – he does NOT preach what his church wants to hear – or not hear.

    This man needs to either preach from God’s Word or start calling his building a “social club”.

    Report this comment

    Via Dolorosa  
  • Via Dolorosa
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 5:44pm

    Mr. Giglio maybe needs to decide who he is working for – God or satan.

    Does his church sing/play “Highway To Hell” by Ac/Dc, also?

    False doctrine and blasphemy all rolled into one. Sad.

    Report this comment

    Via Dolorosa  
  • Paroikos
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 5:19pm

    Let’s try to reclaim the language of this debate.

    Consider the phrase “gay rights.” From where do rights originate? From our Creator. He gave us certain inalienable rights. Did He give anyone “gay rights?” Of course not. Let’s replace the phrase “gay rights groups” with “sadly mistaken dupes.”

    Also, TP applied the adjective “anti-gay” incorrectly. Pastor Giglio is clearly advocating God’s best for every person, including those who have the desire to misuse body parts. That category includes each person who has compulsions to walk about on his/her own hands “handwalkers/manambulants”* and includes so-called “homosexuals.” Thus, Giglio’s sermon is pro-compulsive-part-misusing-persons. Misusing parts is not God’s best. Giglio’s sermon is pro-part-misuser because it is against part misusing.

    The actual anti-gay groups are the sadly mistaken dupes and Machiavellian political panderers who promote the gay lifestyle. The gay lifestyle is clearly not God’s best.

    *Source of analogy: http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=18-10-036-f

    Report this comment

    Paroikos  
  • righthanddrive
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 5:16pm

    Withdrawing from the ceremony was the wrong move. You should have stayed and performed the benediction as requested. You WERE invited simply to give the LGBT crowd a forum to express their opinion.specially during the inauguration ceremony. By withdrawing your participation you handed a victory to the LGBT crowd. Nothing has happened since those words were written to cause a re-write of Leviticus verse 22. Politicians chose to exploit people frailties for their own self gratification. Those politicians must be exposed and marginalized.

    Report this comment

    righthanddrive  
  • vaman
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 4:47pm

    Once again, a christian preacher who acts like the devil. The standard evangelical hate speech rejected by Americans. That is an important factor. Radical christians showing their true intentions and thought once again. Horrible people.

    Report this comment

    vaman  
    • CathyvanDyke
      Posted on January 10, 2013 at 5:20pm

      Just curious. Would you submit a similar post replacing the word “Christian” with “Islamic”? If not; why not?

      REMINDER:

      [Sûrah al-A`râf: 80-81]
      Allah says: “We also (sent) Lût: he said to his people: “Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds”

      [Sunan al-Tirmidhî]
      “Whomever you find doing the act of Lût’s nation, then kill both parties.”

      Opponents of gay-marriage law get unexpected aid: from Muslims
      published Thursday, May 24, 2012
      http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2018282329_gaymarriage25m.html

      Report this comment

      CathyvanDyke  
  • CathyvanDyke
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 4:22pm

    Will there be a double standard? Will a follower of Islam be bestow an honor at the nauguration of the Islamic appeasing Barack Obama despite embracing similar convictions as Past Giglio regarding the homosexuality issue?

    Pastor withdraws from Obama inauguration after sermon on homosexuality surfaces
    Published January 10, 2013

    But the website ThinkProgress subsequently published a lengthy sermon of Giglio’s from the ’90s.

    In the sermon, he purportedly said: “If you look at the counsel of the word of God, Old Testament, New Testament, you come quickly to the conclusion that homosexuality is not an alternate lifestyle… homosexuality is not just a sexual preference, homosexuality is not gay, but homosexuality is sin. It is sin in the eyes of God, and it is sin according to the word of God. You come to only one conclusion: homosexuality is less than God’s best for his creation.” …

    “We were not aware of Pastor Giglio’s past comments at the time of his selection and they don’t reflect our desire to celebrate the strength and diversity of our country at this Inaugural,” committee spokeswoman Addie Whisenant said in a statement. “As we now work to select someone to deliver the benediction, we will ensure their beliefs reflect this administration’s vision of inclusion and acceptance for all Americans.”

    http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/10/pastor-withdraws-from-obama-inauguration-after-sermon-on-homosexuality-surfaces/?test=latestnews

    Report this comment

    CathyvanDyke  
    • Sparky101
      Posted on January 10, 2013 at 5:33pm

      Cathy, thanks for including Addie’s statement. Very carefully she has said that “in keeping with this administration’s misuse of power, we will separate out everyone who does not agree with us, allowing in only those we like, and then we will look down from above on that small gathering of our acceptable subset of America, and attribute only to them the lofty rehtoric of tolerance and acceptance.” She left out the unspoken words “but we will watch them very carefully because we know they may someday learn the truth of what we are doing.”

      Report this comment

      Sparky101  
    • charles116
      Posted on January 10, 2013 at 8:11pm

      The concept of sin is just silly.

      Report this comment

      charles116  
  • Margyt
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 3:32pm

    I am so glad Giglio didn’t apologize. Someone had to do a lot of research to ferret out a 20 year old sermon reference. It is fair that he states he hasn’t focused on anti-gay preaching and that his affinity with BO relates to anti-slavery issues. He gracefully bowed out without denying Christ or scripture. I know nothing else about him but on this I think he did fine. Probably better if BO gets sworn in with a compromised Christian doing the invocation. The rest of us can pray with sincerity from our desks, our cars and our couches.

    Report this comment

    Margyt  
    • CathyvanDyke
      Posted on January 10, 2013 at 5:02pm

      I respectfully disagree. My take is that Pastor Giglio attempted to distance himself from the truth regarding the topic … the truth he revealed in his past sermon.

      Giglio Responds to Inaugural Prayer Controversy
      June 10, 2013

      Due to a message of mine that has surfaced from 15-20 years ago, it is likely that my participation, and the prayer I would offer, will be dwarfed by those seeking to make their agenda the focal point of the inauguration. Clearly, speaking on this issue has not been in the range of my priorities in the past fifteen years. Instead, my aim has been to call people to ultimate significance as we make much of Jesus Christ.

      http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/giglio-responds-to-inaugural-prayer-controversy.html

      Revelation 3:16
      So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.

      Hebrews 13:8
      Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

      Report this comment

      CathyvanDyke  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 3:29pm

    What kind of preacher would attend Obama’s innaugural and pray for that anti-Christ dumbazz anyway? I pray for obama every day…..I pray that he fails in everything he does and that he is caught in bed with a live boy or a dead woman. Louie wanted fame…not righteousness.

    Report this comment

    thegreatcarnac  
  • CathyvanDyke
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 3:01pm

    Pastor Louie Giglio:
    “I am honored to be invited by the President to give the benediction at the upcoming inaugural on January 21. Though the President and I do not agree on every issue, we have fashioned a friendship around common goals and ideals, most notably, ending slavery in all its forms.”

    Revelation 3:16
    So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.

    Report this comment

    CathyvanDyke  
    • CathyvanDyke
      Posted on January 10, 2013 at 4:40pm

      Pastor Giglio needs to be reminded that the legal slaughter of babies from conception to birth … a legal slaughter upheld by Barack Obama … is nothing short of slavery … slavery of those who are unable to defend,

      Pastor Louie Giglio:
      I am honored to be invited by the President to give the benediction at the upcoming inaugural on January 21. Though the President and I do not agree on every issue, we have fashioned a friendship around common goals and ideals, most notably, ending slavery in all its forms.”

      Jeremiah 1:5
      “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.”

      Report this comment

      CathyvanDyke  
  • rltnspd
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 2:21pm

    Homosexuality is sin. It is very clear. I completely agree with this pastor. It is time to tell the liberal progressives to take a hike and realize what God really wants us to do.
    Only 1 1/2 percent of the people of this country are “Gay”. Why is 1 1/2 of the population trying to RULE Our Lives?
    I don’t care what those people believe or what they do as long as it does not affect me. Now that they continue to push their “standards” on me and you, I believe that they are Out of Line” and they need to BACK DOWN relax and live their lives quietly and stop trying to push their lifestyle on all the rest of us!

    Report this comment

    rltnspd  
  • mcsledge
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 2:19pm

    Test:

    Are you offended by the following:

    1) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

    If yes, the Holy Spirit is not in you.
    If no, proceed.

    2) Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

    If yes, the Holy Spirit is not in you.
    If no, proceed.

    3) And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

    If yes, the Holy Spirit is not in you.
    If no, proceed.

    4) Thou shalt not lie with mankind [speaking to man], as with womankind: it is abomination. [and vice versa]

    If yes, the Holy Spirit is not in you.
    If no, proceed.

    5) For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

    If yes, the Holy Spirit is not in you.
    If no, proceed.

    6) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

    If yes, the Holy Spirit is not in you.
    If no, proceed.

    He/she that is offended by these eternal doctrines may wish to ask do they really believe in God. God has not and will not change. That leaves the changing in your court.

    Report this comment

    mcsledge  
  • Modern_Cicero
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 1:45pm

    But the President is not divisive and openly accepts all faith traditions, right? What a joke.

    Report this comment

    Modern_Cicero  
  • sooze0711
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 1:42pm

    Mat 10:32-34 “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

    ‘Pastor’ Louie is either deceived, or being deceitful. For his sake, hope it is not the latter. Denying Jesus isn’t just denying His Name, but His Word. It is sad to see how America has turned into a nation of litte ‘c’ christians like Europe. Big ‘C’ christians (true believers) will see increasing persecution. Now is the time to stand firm!

    Report this comment

    sooze0711  
  • Remember_Benghazi
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 1:28pm

    Let the Christians have their beliefs. Stop trying to change them. Let them hate gay people. Let their hate be heard. More and more people will turn away from the nonsense that way.

    Report this comment

    Remember_Benghazi  
  • neverending
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 1:26pm

    Don’t know why he should step down and with so many he will soon be supporting gay marriage. Disgustingly, so many are coming around to that stance.

    Report this comment

    neverending  
  • Grace1798
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 1:24pm

    John 3:17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.

    18 He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation—he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.]

    Report this comment

    Grace1798  
  • Grace1798
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 1:22pm

    Because God is Who He said He is. God’s Word is true and we all can see the prophecies coming to pass and more shall come to fruition. Only a fool argues with God. Why would God be angry? Because God gave up His Only Begotten Son who died to pay for our sins, yet many deny Christ, curse Christ with blasphemy after blasphemy and then many commit the sins of idolatry by creating a god to suit themselves. We are in the age of Grace,…a period of time to humble ourselves and get saved from ourselves and be transformed by God’s Love and Holy Spirit. But once you are dead, it’s too late. Then, yes, we face an Angry God….because there is no grace but judgment if you are not saved, if you have rejected the only ONE GOD sent to save you. Read the Gospel of John for a deeper understanding. Please stop listening to so many voices and read the Bible for yourselves. Find out for yourself!

    Report this comment

    Grace1798  
  • Grace1798
    Posted on January 10, 2013 at 1:10pm

    Matthew 24:34 Truly I tell you, this generation ([a]the whole multitude of people living at the same time, [b]in a definite, [c]given period) will not pass away till all these things [d]taken together take place.

    35 [e]Sky and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

    36 But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

    Report this comment

    Grace1798  
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