Thursday, November 4, 2010

Mega Church Pastor Jim Swilley After Coming Out...

Bishop Jim Swilley, founder and pastor of the Church In The Now in Conyers, Georgia recently came out of the closet this week, famously declaring that "being gay isn't a choice."  This is one of those times when we all get excited that a person of faith finally acknowledges something that the rest of us have known for some time.  That being said, Swilley is a savvy veteran of the mega church industry, and he realizes the challenges that lay ahead.  On his blog this week, Swilley took time to thank all of the people that continue to support him, and advertise a little about his church.

Whether or not you agree with it, the reality is that these massive mega churches need a lot of money to sustain what they've built, and they count on the contributions of their thousands of members to pay for everything.  One of the big risks that Swilley has made by coming out is the reality that he could be risking his congregation, and therefore his 43 acre "worship center" that looks a lot more like a roadside attraction than it does a church.  At a time when much attention is focused his way, Swilley is opportunistic enough to post an 18 paragraph summary of his church, their mission, their future aspirations, and an explanation that the church needs to grow in numbers in order maintain what they've built.  He also takes the time to thank atheists and agnostics for their "beautiful messages of support," which is nice.  He says the experience has led him to see God's love like he never has before.  

I'm wishing Swilley the best, but I remain critical and skeptical of mega churches and their true aspirations.  Though Bishop Swilley claims to have always preached an accepting message, I maintain that the message of secular humanists is supremely accepting.  Every time a church preaches an accepting message, they're considered enlightened, but as I said earlier they're usually a few steps behind the rest of us.  Don't forget that they still believe that we're going to hell, as that is an uncompromising position amongst Christians, however accepting they may be.  

Maybe the overwhelming feeling of "God's love" that Bishop Swilley is experiencing is really a genuine love and empathy that humans are capable of?  Maybe these sentiments he's experiencing are nothing more than the accepting attitudes and encouragement of good people?  

6 comments:

  1. With or without "God's Love," coming out is a significant moment in any person's life. The fact that "God's love" prevented this guy from declaring his sexual preference makes me shake my head. Where I come from, love is unconditional. "God's love" should have helped and supported this man in coming out, not hindered it...right?

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  2. I agree. Real love comes from real people.

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  3. 1 Corinthians 13:7-8
    7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
    8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. #Bible

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    1. hey buddy I'm a Christian. And I read that chapter the entire chapter. Quoting the Bible is not always a good thing because you are taking only a piece of its true meaning you forgot the other words I love rejoices in the truth. And the truth of God was that's sin will be punished in hell. Not because God hates you but because you or anyone has refused him and has refused to stop sinning homosexuality is a sin just like murder and theft God is not see one less than the other. Sin is sin. All sins will be punished.if you choose not to repent then you won't go to heaven. God sent His Son to die on the cross for your sins and it's highly disrespectful to reject him after he showed you that amount of love. When Jesus returns he will judge the world. For its Sin. people like you are scared of the Bible because the Bible is like a mirror showing what you really are.if you read the Bible chapter by chapter in cover to cover you would get a whole new perspective of God. Love does not tolerate evil. If love tolerated evil then every criminal would never go to prison or be put to death. How do criminals get to go free if a good judge decides to show mercy? A criminal will get to go free if he wants to turn over a new leaf if he has sincere remorse for his crimes. If you desire is to change. God wants us all to humble ourselves before him to admit that we are wrong and that he is righteous.your pride is keeping you from him. Wake up before it's too late.

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  4. I got pointed to the Bible quote courtesy of my friend Folasike Oyinade.

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  5. Good points Davis, you bible quoter! No doubt Bishop Swilley has referenced the same verses, as he should.

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