Doing the Devil's Drudgery in Christ's Livery

cyberhog

George A. Rekers is not a household name, but if you own an anti-gay book the chances are his name is in your household, buried deep in the book's endnotes. While Rekers keeps a low public profile, his fingerprints are on almost every anti-gay effort to demean and dehumanize LGBT people.

He is the author of numerous books including, "Shaping Your Child's Sexual Identity" and "Growing Up Straight: What Every Family Should Know About Homosexuality." A major anti-gay figure that used to work at University of South Carolina, Rekers is a founder of the Family Research Council, a board member of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality, (NARTH) and testified as an expert witness in favor of gay adoption bans in both Arkansas and Florida.

Recker's façade came crashing down this week after Miami New Times reporters Penn Bullock and Brandon K. Thorp discovered that he had vacationed with a hooker in Europe. When the anti-gay doctor and his "pay pal" arrived at Miami International Airport, reporters photographed them with a little pink camera.

When confronted with the evidence, Rekers said he learned that his companion was a prostitute only midway through their vacation. However, he had met the escort on RentBoy.com, so saying he was unaware of the man's profession is a little like walking into a Dunkin Donuts and claiming that you had no idea they sold donuts - until after you ate a half dozen.

...

Reker's defense became surreal after he compared himself to Jesus Christ and John the Baptist, claiming he hired an escort because he likes to help sinners.

"I have spent much time as a mental health professional and as a Christian minister helping and lovingly caring for people identifying themselves as gay," said Rekers. "My hero is Jesus Christ who loves even the culturally despised people, including sexual sinners and prostitutes. Like Jesus Christ, I deliberately spend time with sinners with the loving goal to try to help them."

http://www.fcnp.com/commentary/national/6465-george-rekers-delusional-downfall-is-a-familiar-tale.html

No one does hypocrisy better than Christians.

antiskeptic

cyberhog wrote: »

http://www.fcnp.com/commentary/national/6465-george-rekers-delusional-downfall-is-a-familiar-tale.html

No one does hypocrisy better than Christians.

Which is but a roundabout way of saying that there's no higher standard than Christ to fall from. I couldn't agree more.

Gross hypocrisy: an occupational hazard for the Christian

Gurgle

cyberhog wrote: »

No one does hypocrisy better than Christians.

Not true, there are plenty of non-christian hypocrites out there. I think its fair to say that hypocrisy is religion independent.

This guy for instance is obviously motivated as an anti-gay by the 'need' to stay buried in the back of the closet.

Classic case of the Lady protesting too much

Nothing whatsoever to do with religion.

cyberhog

Gurgle wrote: »

Classic case of the Lady protesting too much

Classic case of a "Christian" practicing the opposite of what Christianity teaches.

johnfás

cyberhog wrote: »

Classic case of a "Christian" practicing the opposite of what Christianity teaches.

Indeed, it is a classic case of that. We are a world full of hypocrites, why would you expect that the Church would not have its fair share? One could elucidate plenty of examples of hypocrites from all walks of life where someone publicly states their principles or convictions. Stating one's principles, whether it is a commitment to Christ or simply a commitment to anything else, opens one up to becoming a hypocrite. It seems a poor argument against people standing up and stating their principles though. I would argue our society might have functioned far better over the past decade had people stood up and done so, irrespective of what might come out in the cleaners from time to time in respect of some.

I don't see how this guy being a hypocrite, or his using Christian teachings to create deflection in order to hide his lifestyle, is a particularly strong argument against anybody else standing up and stating their point of view.

wolfsbane

johnfás wrote: »

Indeed, it is a classic case of that. We are a world full of hypocrites, why would you expect that the Church would not have its fair share? One could elucidate plenty of examples of hypocrites from all walks of life where someone publicly states their principles or convictions. Stating one's principles, whether it is a commitment to Christ or simply a commitment to anything else, opens one up to becoming a hypocrite. It seems a poor argument against people standing up and stating their principles though. I would argue our society might have functioned far better over the past decade had people stood up and done so, irrespective of what might come out in the cleaners from time to time in respect of some.

I don't see how this guy being a hypocrite, or his using Christian teachings to create deflection in order to hide his lifestyle, is a particularly strong argument against anybody else standing up and stating their point of view.

Well said.

It is true that hypocrites will have strong opinions, to hide their real nature. But it's illogical to think everyone with strong opinions must be a hypocrite.

Christianity is indeed a magnet for them - we can be very gullible, and generous with our money and fellowship. Good to be the latter, bad to be the former.

_________________________________________________________________
2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Zombrex

wolfsbane wrote: »

Well said.

It is true that hypocrites will have strong opinions, to hide their real nature. But it's illogical to think everyone with strong opinions must be a hypocrite.

Christianity is indeed a magnet for them - we can be very gullible, and generous with our money and fellowship. Good to be the latter, bad to be the former.

It shows the danger I suppose of elevating a person above what they are saying.

PDN

People who spend their time condemning others usually have a few skeletons in their own closets.

That applies to folks in general, not just to Christians.

johnfás

PDN wrote: »

People who spend their time condemning others usually have a few skeletons in their own closets.

That applies to folks in general, not just to Christians.

Precisely. And beyond that, Christians should be preaching from the top of the rooftops that we are not a people who wander arounding condemning every person we disagree with. This is not the experience of most people who interact with Christians in their day to day life. Nor is it my experience, as a Christian, that my friends who do not share my faith, wish to drag me and my faith, my convictions or my right to live my faith, through the mud or to deride me at every moment.

The problem with being a rational, loving person, no matter what your belief, is that hypocrites tend to shout far louder. There comes a time when those of us who reject this have got to shout louder still.