I read the other day that Pastor Louie Giglio had been invited to give the benediction at Obama’s second inauguration. Now I don’t know anything about Giglio and apparently the left didn’t either. So they started digging and found that he preached against homosexuality back in the mid-90s and considering Obama’s newfound love for gay marriage during last year’s election cycle, the left has created a scandal out of it – so much so that Giglio has now withdrawn from the inauguration.

I was alerted to this when I noticed Kirsten Powers tweeting this:

Kudos to Powers for calling them out.

Here’s Huffpo’s writeup on it:

The Rev. Louie Giglio, the Atlanta pastor scheduled to deliver the benediction at President Barack Obama’s second-term inauguration, said Thursday he is withdrawing from the ceremony amid questions about an anti-gay sermon he gave in the mid-1990s.

The sermon, in which he spoke against the “aggressive agenda” of the gay rights movement, would make his inaugural prayer “dwarfed by those seeking to make their agenda the focal point of the inauguration,” Giglio said in a statement. “Neither I, nor our team, feel it best serves the core message and goals we are seeking to accomplish to be in a fight on an issue not of our choosing.”

The sermon that caused the controversy, “In Search of a Standard – Christian Response to Homosexuality,” is posted on Discipleship Library, a Christian website that archives sermons. In it, Giglio tells listeners that being gay is a sinful choice and that gay people will be prevented from “entering the Kingdom of God.”

The “only way out of a homosexual lifestyle … is through the healing power of Jesus,” he says in the sermon. “We’ve got to say to the homosexuals, the same thing that I say to you and that you would say to me … it’s not easy to change, but it is possible to change.”

I disagree with little in Huffpo’s characterization of Giglio’s speech. He’s right about most of it and it’s simply the truth that the world needs to hear. People absolutely can change and there are homosexuals who have changed and can testify to it.

But even if one disagrees with Giglio’s words, as I would imagine Powers does, she’s still okay with letting bygons be bygons without creating a scandal over it. After all, even Giglio admits that this was one sermon years ago and isn’t the focus of his ministry.

“Clearly, speaking on this issue has not been in the range of my priorities in the past fifteen years. Instead, my aim has been to call people to ultimate significance as we make much of Jesus Christ.”

Here’s Giglio’s full statement:

I am honored to be invited by the President to give the benediction at the upcoming inaugural on January 21. Though the President and I do not agree on every issue, we have fashioned a friendship around common goals and ideals, most notably, ending slavery in all its forms.

Due to a message of mine that has surfaced from 15-20 years ago, it is likely that my participation, and the prayer I would offer, will be dwarfed by those seeking to make their agenda the focal point of the inauguration. Clearly, speaking on this issue has not been in the range of my priorities in the past fifteen years. Instead, my aim has been to call people to ultimate significance as we make much of Jesus Christ.

Neither I, nor our team, feel it best serves the core message and goals we are seeking to accomplish to be in a fight on an issue not of our choosing, thus I respectfully withdraw my acceptance of the President’s invitation. I will continue to pray regularly for the President, and urge the nation to do so. I will most certainly pray for him on Inauguration Day.

Our nation is deeply divided and hurting, and more than ever need God’s grace and mercy in our time of need.




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45 comments
Elizabeth
Elizabeth

Personally, I found the reverend's comments a bit squishy. It almost sounded as if he were trying to distance himself from having spoken the truth in the past by saying: "message of mine that has surfaced from 15-20 years ago." My first thought at reading those words was....what, you don't hold the same thoughts as you did 15-20 years ago?

And what in the world does he mean by a friendship with Obama fashioned around ending slavery in all its forms? Huh?

No personal offense meant but the reverend sounds a bit like the average modern Christian (both of the protestants and Catholics) cleric. Trying to just get along with the devil and share common goals. Please.

tinlizzieowner
tinlizzieowner

But, but, but, Remember Obama was against it, before he was for it, right?

It's hard to pin the real Barack Obama down, if there actually IS a 'real' Barack Obama, in the first place.

;-)

bobemakk
bobemakk

Good for you Rev. Giglio. Obama practices no religion and many say he is a Muslim.

Alex
Alex

He's giving Obama's second inauguration. Tell me, if this schmuck were a real man of God, would he do that? Of course not.

We tear into the RINOs, we should do it to these CINOs too.

Alex
Alex

Why should I care ONE BIT about a schmuck "pastor" who's perfectly willing to give Obama's second inauguration? I don't care what he thinks about gays (Muslims really hate them, Obama probably does too secretly), he pals around with Obama, so he's serving Satan just like that fraud Rick Warren.

WHOOOO CAAARES? I can't feel sorry for this 'pastor'. He's NOT a man of God.

911Infidel
911Infidel

I'm just wondering if little Ms Marker (Kirsten Powers) still thinks that she can fire a semi-auto as fast as I can fire my old M-16A! on full auto. She seems to think that the rate of fire of one is equal to the rate of fire of the other. Inquiring minds want to know.

Alex Bury
Alex Bury

Kirsten Powers is one good reason to watch Fox. And Megyn Kelly. And Greg Gutfeld. And Brett Baier. Lets face it Fox has the other channels beat when it comes to anchors man.

PVG
PVG

Class act......and smart!!

kong1967
kong1967

I don't agree with Powers on most things, if anything, but she is one Democrat that I like. She doesn't carry the bucket for them at all costs, and she will speak out against her own party if she feels they are wrong.

Jaels_Song
Jaels_Song

The Left thinks God is wrong... no wonder they denied him three times at their convention. I bet they'd like to accuse Jesus of being a sinner and crucify him once again.

Maybe they imagine they have a stone big enough to prevent the resurrection this time around.

bjohnson55
bjohnson55

Obama is the gay rights, welfare recipient, Socialist's President. He is not President for all citizens in this country.

12grace
12grace

May G-d bless and protect,Louie Giglio. He is the real deal, he preaches G-d's word not G-d's word as interpreted from a leftist perspective.

badbadlibs
badbadlibs

Unless he was there to proclaim the Gospel Of Jesus Christ, and call bo and this nation to repentance, he nor any other minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has any business being in the same building with this God hating man about to be sworn in for a second time.

Richard Drakos
Richard Drakos

I tend to take the Libertarian approach to Gay Marriage. I don't agree with Giglio, but and this is something the left needs to understand, he has every right to preach what he believes in. For the left, it's their way or the highway.

Ray
Ray

My kids just went to Atlanta to hear him and others at the Passion event. The left is a bunch who want freedom, TO SIN IN THE MOST EGREGIOUS WAY. They are NOT tolerant of those who choose to use their freedom to bring peace and joy to those they serve.

aposematic
aposematic

Hmmmm.... common goals and ideals... ending slavery in all its forms.... Meanwhile back at the ranch, Obuma and his Cabal of American Constitutional Republic haters are desperately working to impoverish and enslave all Americans.... Don't know this Giglio, but he sounds like just another brainwashed socialist dreamer, knowingly or not, facilitating 0's evil.

johnos2112
johnos2112

Do you not support the intolerant left Ms Powers?

NYGino
NYGino

Since the impostor, in his second term, is feeling free to drop all pretense and show his true colors why not get a Muslim Mullah and be done with that charade?

ApplePie101
ApplePie101

Those who dance with the devil shouldn't complain when they get burned.

Randi Starr
Randi Starr

The left don't want religion they self anointment and narcissism. No preacher is required for any reason.............except to pray for the middle class that is going down to pay for the takers.

Conniption Fitz
Conniption Fitz

So, Giglio should count his blessings for that reprieve. He should never have been involved with Obama in the first place.

If I were a pastor, being associated with Obama's inauguration would be the last thing I would want.

Obama has invited a gay Cuban-American to do a poetry reading.

He has invited a civil rights activist widow to do the sermon instead of Giglio.

The National Cathedral has approved 'gay' 'marriage' just in time for the inauguration. Look for a gay wedding and loud cathedral bells on inauguration day.

Obama has no respect for the Law of God nor for this nation's Constitution.

colliemum
colliemum

So 'thought crime' applies to something said twenty or so years ago now?

Excellent proof that the 'progressives' are moving ever closer to pure Stalinism.

NanNJ
NanNJ

Yes, her brain works in waves. Sometimes she makes sense, others not so much.

kyle m.
kyle m.

Giglio fills arenas and stadiums with college age Christians. When i saw he was invited to the inauguration, I assumed this was the left's play to influence the next generation of evangelicals. The irony is Giglio could have served the gays purpose by appearing on stage and giving a tacit approval of Obama's anti-God policies to the millions of young evangelicals that look up to him.

lambfound
lambfound

Shouldn't the president insist that Hagel do the same thing? You have to wonder what Hagel has on Obama.

Watchman74
Watchman74

He's better off not going to the inauguration aka national kiss Obama's butt day.

sjmom
sjmom

I'm surprised the Left is tolerating any Christian at the Inauguration and isn't demanding an Imam.

PapaLouie
PapaLouie

These leftist hypocrites would be ecstatic to have an imam give the inaugural benediction. It wouldn't matter to them if there are clips of him saying all gays should be stoned or beheaded. As long as the imam hates Christians too, he's one of them.

aposematic
aposematic

Shhhhhhhh.... That's supposed to be kept secret.

LIBERTYUSA
LIBERTYUSA

...who cares ,

NOT WATCHING the instalment of DEAR LEADER PART II Mao Hussein Obama for it will make me VOMIT ."

Jaels_Song
Jaels_Song

No kidding, I've witnessed enough grief in my lifetime. I know too intimately what grieving feels like and many times, these past four years, my heart has grieved the loss and maiming of our precious America.

stage9
stage9

Well, at least he had the sense to withdraw his name.

Of course with these new preachers, I never really understood these sorts of comments:

"to call people to ultimate significance."

I'm not really sure what that even means. How do you call someone to significance? Why can't he just say, "lead someone to a relationship with Jesus Christ?"

Isn't that what he means?

badbadlibs
badbadlibs

Exactly. Where did Paul ever call people to "ultimate significance"??? good grief...

Paul called people to sacrifice, holiness, repentance (that first), Godly love and giving of one's self.

Paul nor any of the other disciples talked about personal significance", he talked about dying daily.

I heard someone once say, forget about room AT the Cross, it should be said, there's room ON the Cross. words to that effect. And we wonder what has happened.

c4pfan
c4pfan

Now I'm at the point I wonder why we have these.

AmericanborninCanada
AmericanborninCanada

The first time I ever heard of him was a couple of years ago when I was shown this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7lL_kmGs_w

While dear leader needs prayers, and I have respect for Louie Giglio for standing on the truth of Christ, it's not surprising the left would "nail" him for something like this. It's a pity.

Alex
Alex

Why would you respect Gigilo? He lays down with Satan giving support to Obama, no matter what he said in that tidbit. I say good riddance to him.

You're a reasonable person, he's just the Devil's mistress.

AmericanborninCanada
AmericanborninCanada

I have to hope that when any pastor or Christian would visit or meet with dear leader, they would give the Gospel. Not that I expect dear leader would listen... he is too involved in the devil's work- but the guy still ought to be prayed for that he'd come to know Christ.

Alex
Alex

This is different. They're swearing him in. They endorse and are complicit in everything Dear Leader does. I don't have an ounce of sympathy for Giglio.

....Muslims execute gays in their countries. Obama has more Muslim sympathies (holds them near and dear) than gay ones (oh, I'm taking this position months before an election because it's politically convenient for me). That said, I'm not saying Giglio's a Muslim, but he's no Christian with the people he chooses to promote, more of a teacher of false doctrine.

InaudibleNoise
InaudibleNoise

Honestly, I don't know why any freedom loving American would want anything at all to do with his inauguration anyway.

badbadlibs
badbadlibs

UNLESS, I'll say it again, UNLESS a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is attending ANY function of this WH is doing so in order to proclaim the Gospel, witness to all in attendance, plead for repentance, they should NOT attend.

12grace
12grace

We should be working on obama's impeachment and removal from office.

Conniption Fitz
Conniption Fitz

Freedom-loving, Law-respecting and God-fearing people would not agree to participate in Obama's inauguration.

It is unconstitutional anyway for an alleged son of a foreign national and adoptive son of another foreign national and someone who went to school as a foreign national to be POTUS.

ryanomaniac
ryanomaniac

Shows the priorities of the Left. They don't care about PSY entertaining president Obama when the guy had a song that said "Kill the Yankees, kill the soldiers in Iraq" or something like that.