Leaders in the Gospel Community Discuss Obama’s Support of Same Sex Marriage

Recently, President Obama announced he supports same sex marriage, and his decision doesn’t affect his Christianity. It’s well known that same sex marriage is not only a sin, but condemned by the Bible and Christian community. It’s clearly written in the Bible that homosexuality is an abomination. Obama claims that by supporting same sex marriage, he doesn’t affect his Christian beliefs because of the “golden rule”, to treat others the way you want to be treated. However, golden rule or not, many Gospel leaders strongly oppose Obama’s views on the matter and are openly speaking out against him.

Such as Pastor Jamal Bryant, who told NewsOne, “The church at its core is to be a refuge for all of God’s children, including homosexuals. There is a gay community within the Black church. We can’t ignore them or bash them. However, the church has no shades of gray when it comes to marriage. Our faith reserves marriage for a man and a woman. President Obama, as a product of the Black church, is fully aware of that. Knowing this, the President made this endorsement without calling or preparing any of us.  For many of us, it felt like a betrayal.””

Yet, while many leaders in the Gospel community are against Obama’s decision, some are encouraging others to support Obama, such as Civil Rights Activist, Rev. Al Sharpton, who believes civil and equal rights should be granted to everyone. Rev. Sharpton told NewsOne, “This is not about mine or anyone’s personal or religious views. It is about equal rights for all. We cannot be selective with civil rights. We must support civil rights for everybody or we don’t support them for anyone. I am prepared to fight, as I have since 2003 in the faith community, about the rightness of the position that the President has now taken.”

Two black pastors with opposing views towards same sex marriage talked to CNN’s Fredricka Whitfield this past Sunday. Bishop Harry Jackson, Senior Pastor at Hope Christian Church, opposes Obama’s opinion. He doesn’t quote the bible to prove his point though; instead he focuses on the values of marriage in general. He believes that the church needs to be a voice of conscience to both Democrats and Republicans. Bishop Jackson wants to ask the President to be more specific about his support of same sex marriage. In regard to Obama’s decision affecting his chance of re-election, Bishop Jackson believes supporting gay marriage will cost Obama votes from the black and Christian communities, thus causing him to lose the election.

Bishop Carlton Pearson, Pastor of New Dimensions Chicago, support’s Obama and his decision. He quotes the Apostle Paul by saying, “It’s better to marry than to burn with lust.” Bishop Pearson says Obama is President of the United States and not Pastor of the United States. Thus, meaning Obama’s responsibilities are constitutional, not personal or religious. He believes that everyone is entitled to the normal pursuit of happiness and prosperity, that we should have justice for all. Finally, Bishop Pearson believes this entire situation will pass, just like prohibition and interracial marriage.

Watch the video below to see the Pastors discuss the sermons they delivered in regards to Obama’s announcement:

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON THE SITUATION?