Pastor Leaves Church After Sign Talking About Bruce Jenner, Homosexuality Sparks Outrage
Should a pastor have been forced out of a California Presbyterian church after a controversial sign involving Bruce Jenner and homosexuality had members threatening to quit the small congregation?
Or, more specifically, should someone be run off for saying what the Bible says?
Pastor Justin Hoke of Trinity Bible Presbyterian Church in Weed, California, posted on Facebook Saturday that he was all but forced to leave the church after putting up a sign that said “Bruce Jenner is still a man. Homosexuality is still sin. The culture may change. The Bible does not.”
“The ultimate purpose was to say that while the culture may change, the Bible does not,” Hoke had said shortly after the sign was posted.
“The culture is now demanding that we call ‘good’ what the Bible calls evil.”
Soon afterward, however, the church was hit by two separate Sundays of protests by individuals who identified themselves as being in support of local LGBT individuals, according to The Sacramento Bee.
“We’ve really had to refine our message to be one strictly of love and support for anyone who feels like they are the target of the sign,” rally organizer Amelia Mallory said. “Debating religion is unproductive, for one, and we also don’t want anyone to feel like we are against Christianity as a whole. People are welcome to their own beliefs, but can’t be surprised if people take action against such a public display.”
On Jan. 9, Hoke said the sign had been vandalized. “They broke not only the plexiglas and stole some of the Letters, they also busted the power box,” he said.
On Saturday, Hoke announced he was leaving the post, even though he didn’t want to.
“I was informed by our other elder that he felt he could no longer follow my lead as Pastor of TBPC,” he posted on Facebook. “I was informed that essentially all but one couple in membership would leave the church if I continued as pastor of TBPC. Our other elder and the couple felt that those who left would likely return if I would leave.”
“I did not want to leave, I did not quit and I was willing to stay,” he added in an update Sunday.
All three statements on the sign might seem controversial in today’s climate, but the fact is that they are what the Bible says. The idea that this is suddenly so outrageous to spark protests “of love and support” and alleged vandalism — whether concomitant or simply coincidental — is indicative of the fact that the culture has changed to the point that Christian religious beliefs are considered on their face offensive to some.
“We believe love warns, and the best expression of love is to be willing to be hated so that others might have the chance to hear truth,” Hoke told The Siskyou Daily News.
These are not hateful words. This may not be your way of approaching the matter, but it’s still a legitimately held religious belief.
“We live in a time in world history where the truth of the Bible about how men can be reconciled with God has been so distorted, that while most have heard some presentation of the facts, they have not heard the true gospel,” Hoke posted on Facebook.
“It is not enough to know that Jesus came to earth, was born of a virgin, lived 33 years, died on the cross for sins, and rose again,” he said. “Yes these are important facts, but unless you understand why Jesus came and what he actually accomplished through his life and death on the cross, these bare facts can be useless to you.”
Is the first part all that all you’ll be allowed to preach without resistance from outside groups, however? One gets the idea that might be the case in the not-too-distant future.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
