The lazy theology of T.D. Jakes

On this Day of Silence it is important to remember that people calling themselves Christians have been the major inspiration for the bullying of homosexuals in our society. Jesus called us to love others as we would wish to be loved. By that criteria, often called the "golden rule," many in the Christian community have failed.

Here is a perfect example of the sloppy theology that gives rise to hateful behavior, courtesy of T. D. Jakes in an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

"I think that sex between two people of the same sex is condemned in the Scriptures, and as long as it is condemned in the Scriptures, I don't get to say what I think. I get to say what the Bible says," Jakes said.

What makes this view sloppy and spiritually lazy is that we are all sinners. Without exception. Jesus said we are not entitled to judge the sins of others (Matthew 7:1-5), but rather need to clean up our own spiritual houses. Some begrudgingly acknowledge that prohibition, but try to create a loophole to wag their finger and throw stones anyway. The reasoning goes something like this. If you succeed in removing the log from your own eye, then you are free to stick your finger in someone's eye to "lovingly" correct them. Here is an example:

Before you ever start to tell someone else what is wrong with their life, make sure you take a good look at your own life first. But notice, Jesus does not say, take the log out of your own eye and don’t say anything about the speck in the others persons eye. That would be the result of never judging anyone about anything. Instead Jesus says that after you take care of your own stuff, then go and help your brother. So you are to help then with their issue but only once you have done a personal spiritual check to make sure that you are right with God.

Some Christians, including T. D. Jakes, want to elevate homosexuals to a special class of sinners. What a clever way of pretending to be superior to others! We are both sinners, but you are worse and God loves me more.

It is interesting that only one sexual act made God's top ten list - adultery. Adultery harms other people. Adultery destroys trust in relationships. It is not homosexuality that is a threat to marriage. It is infidelity. So how come so much energy goes into condemning homosexuality when the real threat to marriage is largely ignored? Is that because very few members of a congregation are likely to have engaged in homosexual acts but at least half are likely to commit adultery at some point in their life?

You do have to wonder if someone actually believes that Jesus was God in human form, then why do they work so hard to get around His very simple command to love and respect others. And when you start mistreating people, regardless of how supposedly noble your intentions, then you have violated that command.