Ugh, what a pompous pastor. If my pastor spoke like that I would have left the church.

Edit to add:

Ugh, the Bible instructs Christians to discipline their children. It does not give them permission to use said discipline to try to change their children's sexuality. Sexuality, especially between the ages of 12-17, is a very tender thing and using physical discipline because your child is not acting in accordance to tradition (i.e. your son is not being a "man" or your daughter is not being "a woman") can have long term negative effects on the psychology of that child. Either they will be completely reclusive about their sexuality or the reverse in an effort to shrug off parental discipline they will become sexually promiscuous. Also I think 1 Corinthians 11:13-16 has something to say about this:

"Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 1Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her as a covering. But if anyone wants to argue about this, we have no other custom, nor do the churches of God."

If a child breaks tradition and you punish that child because it went against tradition, you are putting more faith in the tradition than you are putting in God. Breaking tradition does not equal sin.

Sovereign wrote:

Zwaarddijk wrote:"a special dispensation" - who the hell does he think he is?

That's more common in Evangelical churches than you would think. I've heard many a variation on that theme.

I've used it as a jest. "You guys have my permission to do what I just told you to do." But this guy was sounding serious.

petwo wrote:At the end did anyone notice the "On Knees for Jesus" graphic. WTF? That illustration would make a Catholic priest proud.

"On Knees for Jesus" is an anti-religion channel. Its slogan should give you a clue:

My life is all about getting on my knees and faithfully servicing Jesus until He comes.

That said, most of its videos are genuine.

He was joking...

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- A North Carolina pastor says he was joking when he told parents to punch their sons if they show any signs they are gay.

The Fayetteville Observer reports (http://bit.ly/IUR8m2) pastor Sean Harris was preaching at Berean Baptist Church about marriage before next week's vote on a state constitutional amendment.

It would make marriage between a man and a woman the only legal domestic union in the state.

Harris says he does not advocate hitting children and wishes he could take back the remarks.

He says he stands by his belief that "the word of God makes it clear that effeminate behavior is ungodly."

Gay marriage is already illegal and amendment opponents argue its language is unclear and could have wider consequences.

Source: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/02/446011 ... punch.html

The joker...