There are some things in life I need help understanding. Anthony Tyrone Evans, Sr. is one of them.
Tony Evans is certainly a committed Christian man. He is also a highly educated man. He has a Doctor of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary.
Dr. Evans is a wildly successful pastor as Senior Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship which claims to have 9,700 members and over 100 ministries.
He is the founder and president of The Urban Alternative, a national organization that seeks to bring about spiritual renewal in urban America through the church. His daily radio show is heard through over 500 outlets in the US and in over 40 countries worldwide.
I am pretty sure Tony is a wonderful husband to his wife of 42 years and a spectacular father to their 4 children and grandfather to their 11 grandchildren.
But in a May 4 “Christian Post” interview, Dr. Evans espouses ideas that I find it hard to imagine a thoughtful intelligent man sincerely holding, let alone broadcasting to the world.
In the interview Dr. Evans is asked why he thinks the “issue of homosexuality and same-sex marriage seems unavoidable nowadays.”
He replies,
I think this issue has taken a dominant position in the Church and in the culture because it does infringe on the re-definition of the family. With that redefinition, it’s weighted heavier in terms of its implications both for, not only the family, but then how the Church functions in light of it, and how the Church interacts with the culture in light of it. It seems to have a than other sins, and that’s why it gets the dominant attention it’s receiving.
Think about that. Same-sex marriage or homosexuality in general has “a much greater potential impact” than child abuse, rape, murder, genocide. I do not know how to respond to that argument.
The issue of impact, was one of the turn-around considerations in my thoughts on same-gender relationships. Seriously, who is being hurt if George and Joe feel genuinely called to commit themselves to a life-long monogamous same-sex intimate relationship? Even supposing George and Joe are wrong in their deeply held conviction, who is being harmed? What precisely is the desperately harmful “impact” on the well-being of the human community?
In response to the second question Dr. Evans and I actually agree…. at least in the beginning.
He is asked if people are right to accuse “Christians that (sic) harp on homosexuality of being hypocritical by appearing cold on other issues, like divorce and adultery?”
Dr. Evans surprisingly responds,
I would say to a degree that they are correct.
Of course he then proceeds to say that the proper response to this failure on the part of “Christians that harp on homosexuality” is not to stop harping on homosexuality but to harp equally on other “sins”.
Asked, why it is so important for Dr. Evans that “homosexual sin” be firmly and tenaciously nailed to the wall, the doctor responds, because
there are illnesses and diseases that are more poignantly connected to homosexuality than typically heterosexual relationships.
I wonder if the good doctor tackles gluttony with equal zeal. The US epidemic of obesity is certainly causing irreparable damage to the physical well-being of millions of Americans.
But perhaps most tragically of all, when asked what Christians are supposed to do in response to the experience of same-sex sexual attraction, his pastoral advice seems to be that they should suck it back, get over it, repress their desires, get healed.
It’s a sin, no matter how you feel about it or what your orientation is. I’ve talked to men who feel like they’re overly sexual, and therefore are attracted to any female who walks down the street. I will not excuse his activity with every female just because he feels driven in that direction. We’ve got to bring that passion under the lordship of Jesus Christ, like we have to bring any passion under the lordship of Jesus Christ, and that includes same-sex attraction.
I find it incomprehensible that a man, who does not share or understand another person’s most deeply felt experience, can condemn those experiences when they harm no one and seem to be the source of light and beauty in their lives. The counsel to deny, ignore, or repress your most sincerely held feelings is a counsel that has the potential to afflict more harm on the human community than any same-sex loving relationship has ever caused.
Tony Evans is my brother. I am sure he sincerely believes the things he says. I wish I could understand this man and his damaging beliefs.
11 comments
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May 5, 2014 at 6:38 am
Jennifer.
Homosexuality is not a sin.
And as regards other sins…does harping really transform the sinner?
May 11, 2014 at 10:37 am
jaqueline
“…does harping really transform the sinner?”
nice one, Jennifer!
May 5, 2014 at 12:35 pm
robbarcruises
All sins have equal value and none of us are exempt but we all have the saving grace of Christ as he alone atones for us.
It is true that a person exposure to the bible over time will get challenged as we listen more to Christ’s teachings.
I have to admit that when it happens on your doorstep to a friend or family member then in truth love for one another is the key. It does not mean you might agree or sanction but it does mean with Christ in your heart you will support them in their decisions and life together.
I wonder what would happen if the gentleman in question was informed one of his children was in love with a member of the same gender. Certainly a test of knowledge versa Christ’s teachings and love above all.
My muse for today
May 11, 2014 at 11:23 am
jaqueline
“it does infringe on the re-definition of the family. ”
Absolutely it does!
Because of the identification of “Family Values” being ” Christian Values” since the eighties, marriage equality challenges the notion of family AND what is Christian.
The gay community lives out the idea that love and marriage are not just for procreation, and that family is not just about who you are genetically related to.
In fact the gay community may be much closer to what Jesus was getting at when he challenged our presumptions about family saying:
” who are my mother and my brothers? “…..” there is not greater love than one who lays down his life for his friends” …and ” what does it profit you if you love your family,? I tell you love your enemies”
It seems to me that Jesus family values were based on love in the spirit….that spirit which binds us all and teaches to love one another as brothers and sisters, related or not. In fact it calls us to remember that we ARE all related.
The gay community may in fact be showing up the Family Values movement claim to be Christian for the lie that it is.
May 11, 2014 at 5:26 pm
Jennifer
Beautifully said Jaqueline. Your comments reminded me of the first paragraph of a tribute to Farle Mowat printed in the Vancouver Sun….
“Farley Mowat was a spiritual man, who even went to Anglican church. He believed animals, and some humans, have extra-sensory perception (ESP), that Jesus was a “socialist revolutionary,” that there is a force in the universe that provides purpose and that “love is the glue that holds us together.”
May 11, 2014 at 10:45 pm
jaqueline
THAT’s going up on Facebook! Here is the link to St Phil’s Facebook page if you, or anyone would care to ‘like’ us 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/stphilipoakbay
May 12, 2014 at 4:55 am
Jennifer
Jacqueline,
I’m glad you liked that quote. Here is the full article. It’s quite lovely.
http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2014/05/07/farley-mowat-i-believe-in-god-the-way-my-dog-does/
July 24, 2016 at 10:07 pm
Robert
I see no reason to be drawn into this canard. Dr. Evans is a man with the courage to speak what he believes is the truth, despite it being unpopular and unfashionable. I applaud his moral courage, whether he is “correct” or not. Agreeing with current opinion is about the easiest thing there is. No amount of verbiage will make it into a virtue or even an act of courage, though this blog certainly tries.
Fornication is fornication, period. Most of us quite enjoy it; doesn’t change what it is though. Sorry, the Gospels are not about making us feel good, affirming our lifestyle choices or putting some spiritual glitter on our day to day lives. It’s a challenge and different people are challenged in different ways. Tough luck, but as least we don’t get flogged half to death, beaten up by the soldiery, have a ring of thorns jammed on our heads or get nails driven through our limbs. Cry me a river.
August 22, 2016 at 7:31 am
Sherri
God is the God of love and peace.
That’s all anyone wants to say.
But, there is a side to God that people don’t want to acknowledge.
He is the God of chastisement. A God who will punish for all sins All.
We are all born into sin and shaped into iniquity.
Sin is sin. Adultery, lieing, smoking drinking. Not disciplining our children.
If you continue to practice any sin you will be punished period.
We’re not perfect but everyday we’re to take one day at a time and strive for perfection. We have to work on our relationship with God, Daily.
In this flesh dwelleth no good things.
That’s why we have to take one day at a time ask God what he wants us to have and who does he want us to be with.
Consult God about everything in your life.
Cause her cares about the things that concerneth you.
God’s word strictly prohibits sin including homosexuality.
God calls it an abomination.
So if that is your sin of choice then it and like all other sin. We will be punished and sent to he’ll for our sins of choice.
We all need to read the bible but ask God himself to reveal his word to us.
When we sin you have to repent get away from the people and placed and things that are making you sin.
Daily communication with God.
He will direct your path.
August 22, 2016 at 4:22 pm
Christopher Page
Thanks Sherri for your comment. If you are interested in my response see: https://inaspaciousplace.wordpress.com/2016/08/22/same-sex-marriage/
August 22, 2016 at 4:20 pm
Same-Sex Marriage | In A Spacious Place
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