Reblogged from Stand Up For The Truth, with permission…
Former ‘Archbishop’ Desmond Tutu: I Much Rather Prefer to Go to Hell Than a ‘Homophobic Heaven’
Desmond Tutu
CAPE TOWN – During a news conference introducing a United Nations homosexual rights campaign, former African Angelican archbishop and anti-apartheid activist Desmond Tutu told reporters that he would rather go to Hell than a “homophobic Heaven.”
“I would refuse to go to a homophobic Heaven. No, I would say, ‘Sorry, I would much rather go to the other place,’” Tutu, 81, stated. “I would not worship a God who is homophobic and that is how deeply I feel about this.”
He made the comments Friday at a news conference for the UN’s “Free and Equal” campaign in Cape Town, South Africa, which was spearheaded by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The campaign seeks to gain equality for homosexuals worldwide, including in Africa, where most nations oppose or criminalize sexual activity between those of the same gender.
“I am as passionate about this campaign as I ever was about apartheid,” Tutu said. “For me, it is at the same level.”
Read the rest of the article here.
What an inexcusable display of biblical ignorance and man-pleasing this is from someone who once held a position of great responsibility within the Body of Christ, and who has such influence in the global village. Very disappointing, yet hardly surprising in today’s blasphemous environment. Fear of the Lord truly is the beginning of wisdom, and both are lacking in these comments.
To even hint that God is homophobic in regarding homosexual relations as an abomination is nothing short of blasphemy, a subtle attack on the character of the God of the Bible. I expect the bishop is on his way making up his own god, one to better suit his tastes. Not unlike the emergent church, new apostolic reformation and other groups have done when they can’t accept some aspect or other of the God of the Bible. I make no boast of spiritual superiority…I did it for a while too. Yet the true God is so magnificent, it now boggles my mind how people can be satisfied with a poisonous facsimile.
Sadly, issues become unnecessarily polarized due to such statements. Christians abhor the cruelty and abusiveness that has been shown to gay people in certain times and places, including the present day. This does not give us permission to condone this sinful behavior. We have to seek alternatives ways to prevent abuses, but cannot deny the very word of God in this matter. Bishop Tutu has had every opportunity to display his compassion for gay people from a biblical standpoint, and has willfully chosen to ignore Scripture and please his fellow man instead. This is not loving.
May I also just add, this also illustrates the increasingly cavalier attitude (if not outright rejection) towards the doctrine of eternal punishment and hell. It is an evil thing that hell is being made light of. No one who truly understands, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the horror of eternal separation from God could ever profess that they would prefer to go to hell than to some unbiblical view of heaven they have conjured up in their head. Not even in jest. Careless words, but not harmless.
My response may seem harsh, but we have to be willing to speak out against those who profess to be Christians yet promote false teachings. Particularly when they are as influential as Desmond Tutu. This is serious stuff, and will lead many to hell. Which, apparently he would prefer. Don’t assume these comments are made in error or from misunderstanding the Scriptures! I find false teachers often speak the truth about themselves and their motives, they just don’t realise we can see it clearly.
Original Article at Christian News here.
I agree with the Archbishop, and could also say, “Yet the true God is so magnificent, it now boggles my mind how people can be satisfied with a poisonous facsimile”- except my idea of which is the poisonous facsimile, and which the magnificent God, differs from yours.
So my question to you is, how important is this issue? Is it the issue which makes you deny another’s Christianity? Or can you accept we are Christian, though you believe we are in error?
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Hi Clare,
Welcome, and thanks for your questions. This issue is of the utmost importance, as it relates to the eternal salvation of souls. The thought of others perishing, particularly because they have believe a lie that is designed to make them feel better about themselves in this life, makes me weep. Truly. Holding to an error in core doctrine is a serious matter, and we should constantly seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, praying that He would teach us to understand and love God’s truth. However, to remain in sin that leads to destruction is more than an error in doctrine. It is fatal. If I love you as a fellow sister-in-Christ, or even as an unsaved ‘neighbour’…and I do…how could I tell you otherwise?
However, before we can truly converse on matters of the Almighty God, I agree that we would benefit from clarifying which God we believe in. So, before we start our discussion, I have to ask you what you believe about the Scriptures?
The reason for my comment relating to a ‘poisonous facsimile’ is that as the Bible prophesies, there is a sweeping movement from within the visible church to attack and dismiss the authority of the Scriptures as the Word of God. The emergent church and its leaders (amongst many others) are very open about this, and are also very vocal in encouraging Christians to ignore or allow the sin of homosexuality. They have denied what God says in his holy and perfect Word, and have created a god of their own making. Yet, Romans 1:18-32 is very clear about homosexuality and other sinful behaviour. The Scriptures are clear about God’s holy, perfect and just character, and about his perfect law that is written in our hearts and minds. It is also clear about the consequences of sinning against God. Sadly, there is much in current emergent, charismatic and ‘word of faith’ theologies that is blasphemy, and in direct contradiction to the Scriptures and God’s laws.
I will state my position clearly. In accordance with what God himself tells us (e.g. Psalm 19:7-11, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – please read these!), the Scriptures are the infallible, inerrant Word of God, able to instruct us in all aspects of the Christian life. Paraphrases such as Eugene Peterson’s “The Message” do not qualify as Scripture, for reasons which I can explain in another comment or article if it would be helpful. You can also read my statement of faith on my blog if that clarifies things further. Please prayerfully read the whole book of Romans if you want the Scriptural context. And note what it teaches…we were all once such sinners. I was. I am. But when we are truly a new creation in Christ, we hate our sin. Hate it. We desire his righteousness over human self-esteem. We esteem Christ instead, and die to ourselves. It is truly painful. It is our sacrifice in response to Christ’s.
So, if you accept the Scriptures as God’s word, then you must accept that homosexuality, adultery and all other sexual immorality is sin. If you don’t believe these things then it is very possible that you are not a Christian. That doesn’t mean that you are not being saved. It just may mean you aren’t there yet.
Before I was truly convicted by the Holy Spirit of the awfulness of ALL of my sin and my need to repent as the helpless, wretched sinner that I am, I spent my life believing that I was a Christian. Maybe I was, but I certainly wasn’t following the God of the Bible for much of my adult life. As doctrines became difficult for me to accept or follow, I was easily led away from the Scriptures into believing the very things that Desmond Tutu is teaching others. I began to believe that things in the Bible must have just been relevant to the culture of the day. I began to justify the enormous sins of my life in this way, not to mention the sins of others. Living with my partner, alcohol and drug use, lust and adultery, and anger and bitterness are not really sins in a modern world…that’s what I told myself. I had self-esteem issues, deep wounds and psychological problems…that’s what I told myself. And that’s what the world told me.
Yet deep in my heart I knew what sin was and that I was drowning in it. The spiritual and psychological cost of ignoring God and continuing in my sin grew over the years to become almost unbearable. I even went and got a psychology degree, perhaps to prove that these things were not sins but just part of the ‘human condition’. Yet the more I learned, the less proof I had. No one ever told me the cold hard truth. No one got up in my face and challenged me to repent. I wish they had. I was dead in my transgressions. Yet when the Holy Spirit finally opened my eyes, there is was, as if in neon lights, in the Scriptures.
I believed as perhaps you do that we must have made a mistake about homosexuality. If people are born this way, then how can it be their fault? Even if it is the result of early trauma, how could we say it was a sin? I have both a neurological disorder I was born with (ADHD), plus trauma in my life. I too felt I couldn’t help many of the things I did (and they were some terrible things), and believe me I tried in my own strength to change. But I was who I was, or so I wanted to believe. Then I was gradually challenged by the Lord to read his Word through his eyes, not the world’s. It has been a very painful process over the past three years. It also challenged me in my parenting, as I have children with ADHD, Tourette’s syndrome and Asperger’s Syndrome (high functioning autism). I have to teach them to walk in the ways of the Lord, yet be understanding of their limitations and challenges. I have to teach them that how they were born is not an excuse to sin, then I have to hold them close and comfort them as they grieve at their own sinfulness and mine. I thank the Lord every day that we can do this in his strength and not my own.
Several of my most precious friends are gay, and not Christian. They no longer choose to spend time with me. I grieve for the loss of them and all that they contributed to my life, and for my failure to share the gospel with them. They simply moved away as my life became more quiet and Christ focused. They did not want to hear God’s truth. Since I did nothing to deserve or earn my salvation, I hope for the salvation of all. But I accept that God says in his Word that not all are chosen for salvation. Since we don’t know who these people are, we need to keep praying for others and showing Christ’s love to them. But we must never condone their sin.
I am sorry for the grief and pain you have had to bear in your life. The lack of grace we show to each other is sometimes breath-taking. I too have been hurt deeply by the sins of others. I have also in more recent times felt the sting of a brother or sister in Christ calling me on my sinfulness, rebellion and self-deception. However I now prefer that sting to the false comfort of a lie, and the never-ending quest for self-esteem. The peace that passes all understanding, the Lord’s peace that comes with resting in Christ as he refines us in the fire, is what I wish for all souls including yours. It is the only true peace in this life and the life to come, and it is a balm for the soul. It is the only identity we need.
Please stick around if you want to chat more. May the Lord richly bless you with His wisdom and understanding in this journey you are on.
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“Clare”, it is obvious you are a man living as a female. What TNP has said in reply is true. Hope it gives you something to think about.
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You speak of Tutu as one who once held a position of great responsibility within the Body of Christ…
Was it within the body of Christ, or within the visible “Church”? There is a tremendous difference.
You also said… “the true God is so magnificent, it now boggles my mind how people can be satisfied with a poisonous facsimile.”
Part of the reason is that God’s people have ALWAYS wanted the smooth, easy, enjoyable things… and refused the straight, narrow path that He says must be followed.
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Geno, you make an excellent point. If we make this assessment by the body of doctrine he holds to, and the fruit that this doctrine bears (and truly this is the only reliable measuring stick we can use) then the Bishop is travelling on the broad way. As a highly influential public figure who has also taken on the responsibilities of a minister of God, he is accountable to the Great Shepherd for how he is shepherding the flock. It would appear to me his flock has many goats in it. And perhaps he is not the sheep he would profess to be.
The road is indeed narrow. Thorns grab at us from both sides of the path, and seek to prevent us from progressing further. Many wonderful distractions are set up along the roadside. My hope is that this blog helps you and others stay on the narrow path, and is not a thorn or distraction instead!
Thanks for your contribution. Stay awhile if it is helpful to you.
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Soooo, if I’m against adultery, does that make me an adultrephobe 😀
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Touche (that’s French by the way, but I can’t make the thingy above the ‘e’ work).
That has gotten me thinking about the correct structure, meaning and use of words. Since homophobia implies an irrational fear of homosexuality, it shows the carelessness of Bishop Tutu’s words. How can there be a homophobic heaven? That would by definition require irrational fear, which we know from the Scriptures cannot exist in heaven in the presence of the Almighty One. Does God fear anyone or anything? Of course not. Is he ever irrational? That is absurd and blasphemous to even hint that it might be so.
I vehemently deny the charge of homophobia so frequently leveled at Christians. I have no fear of homosexuality or those who choose that path. I fear the Lord though, and do not wish to see others come under his wrath.
So, in answer to your question dear sister, unless you have an irrational fear of adultery, you can be assured that you are not adultrephobic. However, some might say you are a self-righteous backwards right-wing judgmental prudish killjoy. So be it. Me too. Except just a bit left of right.
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Yes, I have been labeled those things in your last paragraph and more that are not acceptable to repeat. It is interesting to me just how many labels those against God’s Word throw at us. They “think” they are tolerant in their thinking, but if you step back and look at it, they are some of the most intolerant ones. As Voddie Baucham so eloquently has said, “The new tolerance is inherently intolerant, they won’t tolerate my intolerance.” This is spot on!
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Voddie Baucham…what a blessing he is! It is always nice to find another good preacher out there. Heaven knows we need them. 🙂
Tolerating the intolerance of the new tolerance is certainly intolerable at times. I fail to see the logic in accepting everything as true and equally valid. It can’t all be true. That’s just dumb. Yet for years I just nodded and smiled, whilst shaking my head on the inside (a tricky thing to do actually). However, I have grown intolerant of indiscriminate tolerance and have decided to occasionally express my intolerance of all current theories of relativity…moral, social, linguistic, cultural (except Einstein’s). Will let you know how that goes.
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I agree with with you brethren, Geno and Narrow path
It is almost unbelievable to see how the “visible church” of this world is beginning to deviate very significantly from the TRUE BODY OF CHRIST.
And like you said, Tutu was a leader of the visible church, not the true Body. Before this event, I also heard him say this once, just take note:
“You have to understand is that the Bible is really a library of books and it has different categories of material,” he said. “There are certain parts which you have to say no to. The Bible accepted slavery. St Paul said women should not speak in church at all and there are people who have used that to say women should not be ordained. There are many things that you shouldn’t accept.”—-Desmond Tutu
WHAT? This was blasphemously, outrageously unbiblical
It is impossible to be A True Believer, Holy Spirit-filled and not believe that the Bible is 100% Perfectly GOD’s word. This is a DIVINE Conviction.
The Bible is HOLY, Written by humans DIRECTLY FROM GOD as they were led by the SPIRIT (2Peter 1:21)
Yes, there will be many passages that we wouldn’t understand, but the Holy Spirit will Empower us to search and understand only by GOD’s Grace.
That’s why GOD said HIS Ways a far above our ways (Isaiah 55:9)
Brethren, unbelievers come in so many flavors in society today, there are moral, moderately moral and immoral unbelievers. But CHRISTIANITY is a Relationship with THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, nothing less. Morality is a Fundamental component of Christianity, but Morality is not Salvation.
It is possible to be Moral, yet unsaved. It is possible to be moral, yet not a Christian. But it is not possible to be a Christian and not Saved, filled with the Holy Spirit.
By biblical definition, a Christian is a Human Being who is born again, who has being filled with the Holy Spirit, who is Saved (John 3)
Unfortunately, Christianity in society today has being transformed into an empty religion. Many unsaved, unbelievers are bishops, priests, pastors, leaders of churches with large flocks who worship a god they don’t know; the god of this age, satan.
This is what is called the laodician church in the New testament
There is so much deceit in today’s world, due to the strong delusional power of satan to blind the eyes of man (2Corinthians 4:4), if possible, even the elect
(Matt 4:4).
Brethren, read your bible and ask JESUS to reveal Himself to you; don’t listen to people just because they seem to have religious backing of the fleshly world or titles accorded to them by worldly institutions.
Don’t get caught up with accomplishments of man. Just because somebody won a noble peace prize doesn’t make them Saved; if so, then the Dali lamma will be saved.
THE BIBLE IS THE HOLY, 1000%, INFALLIBLE, PERFECT WORD OF GOD
Anybody who doesn’t believe this, is not saved and needs the Holy Spirit to know the Truth. JESUS ALONE is the Truth (John 14:6)
GOD BLESS
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Hi Ulysses,
Thanks so much for your contribution!
A hearty amen to the Bible as the perfect, inspired Word of God, and to your testimony of the work of the Holy Spirit in convicting believers of this fact! What a joy it is to know that God has revealed himself to us in the Scriptures and ultimately through his son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, and the only answer to what ails this world. Thanks for helping to spread the good news of the reliability and inspiration of the Holy Bible, and of the need for Christians to stand firm in the Word of God in these deceitful and wicked times. As you so rightly point out, we can trust the Holy Spirit to guide us into knowledge and understanding of God’s word (note to my readers: versions such as’The Message’, ‘The Voice’ and the ‘New Living Translation’ actually belong in the fiction section of any bookstore).
Conviction of the truth of the Bible as God’s Word was a significant step in my own conversion, and a humbling one at that. It meant I had to let go of my own versions of the Bible, God and humanity that I had been fabricating in my mind to suit my worldly, pseudo-Christianity (if there even is such a thing!!) and apparently unregenerate heart. I walked away from what is now popularly and disparagingly called ‘fundamental’ Christianity only to be converted to, well…fundamental Christianity.
Statements like the one made by Tutu, quoted in your comment, are shocking to read yet truly reflect the prevailing view of the Scriptures in the modern ‘church’. For many, the Scriptures are little more than ‘wisdom’ literature to inspire you in your life’s journey and show you how bad life used to be (i.e. the OT) before we evolved and became more enlightened. For others like Hillsong and similar cults, the Bible rates slightly higher in importance being a practical self-help manual or life ‘road map’ with a set of principles for a successful life, complete with your own personal deity/force (which of course is you and/or a familiar spirit) to power you along in achieving your destiny. Sigh…
The tragic and deadly consequences of taking ANY part of the Scriptures and denying its truth or authority is playing out all over the world as the false religions and the ‘visible church’ converge into one murky soup of mysticism and nature worship, ‘global consciousness’, false ‘unity in diversity’ (surely an oxymoronic phrase if ever there was one) and futile attempts at saving the planet and humanity. I understand the genuine heartbreak and confusion people are experiencing as they survey the state of the world, and it truly grieves me that they seek everything and anyone but Christ as the answer. Given the current state of the world, one has to wonder what these ‘noble/Nobel peace makers’ like Tutu have achieved. Hmm. Crying ‘peace, peace’ where there is no peace?
Also, as an aside… having just watched a documentary on the demon-consulting Dalai Lama it makes me shudder to think how many people are being deceived by these so-called ‘great spiritual leaders’.
God’s blessings to you. Drop in any time!
In Christ’s Service,
Sherryn
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Desmond Tutu is a sold out leftist sock puppet, he’ll bend over backwards to support anything the leftists are supporting. If the leftists start normalizing and glamorizing pedophilia and bestiality, you can bet your bottom dollar that Desmond Tutu will become a staunch supporter of pedophilia and bestiality.
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The progressive agenda is becoming rather unpalatable, to say the least. Recently there was an article in one of our local newspapers discussing a professor’s research and views on cannibalism. The bizarre thing (apart from the man himself) was the completely neutral way in which the article was presented. I couldn’t help but shudder at the world’s return to darkest paganism,there in full view. I guess even Paganism has its priests so thus Tutu has a job. Ugh.
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