David Mahan: ‘Nobody Affirms a Lie’
Mahan said: “If you’ve got a child in here struggling with gender dysphoria, and you go over here to this clinic in this area, eventually you’re going to get down to the brass tacks of do you want a dead daughter or do you want a live son because the reason why so many kids are committing suicide is not because they’re trying to conform themselves into a form they can never become. It’s because nobody affirms a lie.”
Using a scenario to make his point, Mahan said, “Can we think of a kid who has anorexia or bulimia? She’s 60 pounds soaking wet [and she] comes in here talking about ‘I want to commit suicide because I’m fat!’” Mahan asked the crowd, “How do you respond? What is your loving response to that child?” Does giving affirmation to someone who’s not overweight show that person love? he asked. “Or do you get her dysphoric mentality to herself to line up with her biological reality?” Knowing that almost everyone would help her understand her biological reality, Mahan asked, “Why wouldn’t we do that with the same dysphoric condition with transgender?” His statement was met with applause from the congregation.
Crossroads Church Issues Apology
Crossroads Church felt it necessary to issue an apology on its social media pages, saying, “What was shared this weekend was never meant to hurt anyone, and we deeply regret that it did.”
You can read the full statement below:
“This past weekend, Crossroads hosted a guest speaker who broached the subject of children seeking to transition to a different gender. Unfortunately, there are many who have been hurt and are looking for clarity. Regardless of a person’s sexual or gender identity, we love them and welcome them, as does God. What was shared this weekend was never meant to hurt anyone, and we deeply regret that it did. This is a topic that warrants increased care and empathy and we’re sorry that didn’t happen this weekend. Crossroads also does not financially or otherwise support any political organizations and their platforms including the Center for Christian Virtue, where this weekend’s speaker is employed. We have no intention of being activistic in this or any other political space. Our main goal has and will always be to bring people to Christ.”
Church Critics Respond
A Reddit post getting a lot of attention offers this take on the sermon: “Crossroads is a bait-and-switch for the LGBTQ+ community. They will tell you everyone is welcome, and then crush you with the reality that you’re a ‘sinner’ and that your ‘lifestyle’ is unacceptable before God. Please, PLEASE avoid this place like the plague.”
A former worship leader at Crossroads Church, Brian Webb, criticized Mahan’s sermon saying he “can’t imagine the emotional toll it’s going to take on those kids,” and that Mahan’s comments were unacceptable. Webb called Crossroad Church’s apology “weak” because it sounds like they are saying, “We didn’t mean to hurt you. We’re sorry you’re hurt.”
LGBTQ and the Church
What does it mean to love someone in the LGBTQ community while not compromising what the Bible says? Can someone be gay and a Christian? Should we use someone’s preferred pronouns? How can pastors address these topics with care from the pulpit? These are all important conversations local churches must have.
ChurchLeaders.com recently launched an exclusive podcast series that features nine guests, including pastors, authors, and psychologists that tackle those questions facing the church today.
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J.D. Greear: Paul’s Teaching on Homosexuality Might Surprise You
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Jackie Hill Perry: God Is Not Calling Gay People to Be Straight
