Louie Giglio has had an exciting few weeks.
First it was 60,000 college students and young adults packing out the Georgia Dome for Passion. Worship, teaching, and mobilizing thousands to put a dent in stopping modern day slavery. I didn’t attend but I watched portions via the free stream that they made easily available.
Later in part because of Giglio’s work to end slavery he was asked by the President to deliver the closing prayer at the Inauguration later this month. While I am confident this announcement was preceded by lengthy conversations and vetting by the White House it went public this week and Giglio accepted.
That is until some LGBT groups found a sermon recording from 15-20 years ago in which Giglio speaks on homosexuality, calling it a sin and encouraging those who identify as homosexual to seek change and healing through the grace of Jesus Christ.
After a few days of building news coverage Giglio declined the offer to participate in the Inauguration. You should read his eloquent response here.
There have been the predictable responses in the hours and days since the announcement. And I am not here to parse the decision Giglio made in accepting or subsequently declining the President’s offer, I do think of the pushback Rick Warren received for participating in the first such Inauguration.
I do think we should do two things:
Acknowledge this is complicated.
Playing armchair pastor or politician makes it very easy to oversimplify this situation. We don’t know the full story and we don’t know how we wold handle it if we were in this position.
Anyone who has ever tried to faithful communicate the Gospel in relation to homosexuality knows how delicate the topic is. Even if you have full confidence in your position you have people in your community who personally struggle with this or they are care for someone who does.
Google is forever.
Learn that what we say, write, and do is a matter of public record. I think about the sermons I preached a few years ago and cringe. About a year ago I sat down to read the thesis I wrote for my Master’s less than 4 years ago and couldn’t finish it because I was embarrassed by the content.
What we put out can be accessed down the road. So don’t lose integrity, increase it. Say what you believe, but be sure you believe it. Speak from your convictions but be confident your convictions have been fully prayed and thought through. Write with passion, but don’t believe passion excuses lazy and underprepared arguments.
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It certainly was embarrassing but there could have been more dialogue about it. I’m even sure Louie would not give that sermon again. He has changed in the last 20 years
embarrassing how so?
I know I don’t want to be held to something I said 20 years ago, well I’d be a 10-year old but you get the idea
In the sermon, it wasn’t just an attack on homosexuality. Upon reviewing Louie makes the statement that we are all sinners and that change is possible (through the healing of Christ). I don’t think it should be labeled as embarrassing to Louie. He acknowledge something pastors today do not speak about. He also acknowledge the strength of the Cross and the healing through the grace of Christ. His integrity was there and though homosexuality isn’t his high priority today, his integrity about it still remains. The White House gave an apology for embarrassingly choosing Giglio as the person to close the inauguration. Proving that there is a new moral McCarthyism.
Thanks for your comment James, but I disagree on the McCarthyism charge.
Nor do I think that Giglio should be embarrassed. He had to make a decision as to what would best serve his agenda, which he clearly states is advancing the Gospel.
I don’t see a grand conspiracy. I see a complicated issue with a big PR component.
Josh,
Thanks so much for the post and interaction.
Regarding James comment on this being a “new moral McCarthyism” I don’t think he meant a “grand conspiracy” but took the term from Al Mohler’s article: http://www.albertmohler.com/2013/01/10/the-giglio-imbroglio-the-public-inauguration-of-a-new-moral-mccarthyism/.
I come at this from a bit of a different angle as I say under Louie’s preaching/teaching for years in Atlanta in the mid-late-’90s in his 7:22 Bible study and got to do some ministry with him (no we aren’t friends, just old ministry acquaintances). If you listen (or read) all the sermon clip that is available, it is solidly biblical, grace-driven, and points to the gospel. Part of the problem is it is always difficult to pull something out of context no matter what the topic.I may have even been at this message he preached. Regardless, I was there for a series he did over 8-10 weeks on marriage, dating, sex, singles; and he didn’t shy away from tackling the tough issues. That series was available for years & he preached through it at least 2 other occasions and it was easily available on the web or through MP3 before they ended 7:22 and started Passion City Church.
You said in your comment to Alan that you didn’t “want to be held to something I said 20 years ago.”
Just what do you mean by that? That you’ve changed theologically or that you’ve improved in communication/style? Certainly, as gospel ministers we should improve in our preaching/pastoring (Paul’s admonition to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:15 to “Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.” emphasis on progress). But if we are trying to unpack God’s Word we don’t have to apologize for content.
I’ve rambled enough, thanks again for the post.
Grace & truth,
Jason
I think this is clearly connected to your next blog about partisanship. I think what’s interesting is the comments of “embarrassing,” not wanting to be held to past comments, and the White House’s statement all point to an issue Louie notes in his statement,
“the collective right to hold differing views on any subject is a critical balance we, as a people, must recover and preserve.”
A conspiracy is not at foot but certainly what is accepted in the public square has clearly changed.
I loved how a comedian put it this morning on the radio, “I’m so glad the election is over because I lost so many friends on Facebook because of it.”
Well said JJ,
Of course what is accepted will experience change. Sometimes we participate in these changes and sometimes we react responsibly to the changes.