Kirk Franklin’s Take on Homosexual Relationships and Christianity
‘We can’t be hypocritical in our approach.
‘We can be loving in our approach.
‘Christ said that they will know you my disciples by your love.’ – Kirk Franklin
These are very poignant words I picked out from the video you will see below. This short piece was sent to me by Lanre Swagg, and what you will read below are his words. Read and check on the video thereafter.
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“I think I just heard the wisest response from a well-known Christian evangelist on the topic of homosexuality in this YouTube video, no less than Gospel Music Artist Kirk Franklin.
“Sounding very much the experienced street-preacher, he declined to give a pointed answer and suggested he would prefer to deal with individuals one on one, and give them the power of choice. He also said he felt that anything apart from this would be a polarizing debate.
“Kirk Franklin’s well-reasoned answer struck a deep chord within me.
“I have no conflict with spirituality versus sexuality, though I also understand that I’m in a rare place of peace. I wonder how the KD community would feel about Kirk Franklin’s response.” – Lanre Swagg
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38 Comments
King
September 28, 05:40Wise Man!
Rapu'm
September 28, 06:11Yes, he really is wise. He handled the question as diplomatically as possible. But I don’t like that he kept using the phrase “homosexual desire”; that doesn’t sound right at all, like he’s saying, “Your sexuality is not as valid as mine, so it’s a desire and not you, something that can be curbed.” But I do understand the conflict that so many Christians face when issues like this are raised; it doesn’t mean that they’re bad people. It’s just a conflict of what they feel emotionally as humans and what they believe is God’s will. A clear proof of his good intentions is the way he is able to distinguish hate and homophobia from belief; I think he said something along the lines of, “not because you think it’s nasty.”
That said, personally, I think on this note of sexuality, Christianity has to be preogressive. It’s not okay to preach love, and to suggest a heterosexual model for a young gay person, whereas you know intellectually that there is nothing that can be done about the person’s sexuality. After all so many things about Christianity have changed; the fact that there are now female preachers, whereas Paul asked women to hush and learn quietly from their husbands, is a proof that religious progressiveness is not impossible. In the end, Christians still do the cherry-picking that Franklin condemns.
#my one naira thought, though#
pinkpanthertb
September 28, 06:15A lack of Progressive Christianity due to the Cherry-picking propensity of Christians. That part I love about this comment. And it IS true.
gad
September 28, 09:08Pray, dear Pinky, when are you going to bring Islam and homosexuality to the table? Don’t tell me you are scared of extermination.N:B : I know that words like elimination,murder etc exists b4 choosing “EXTERMINATION”
Dennis Macauley
September 28, 06:47I have another theory!
I think it’s marketing. Now it’s politically correct to endorse gay rights or support it somewhat especially if you are an entertainer in the US else you won’t sell shit.
I think he is playing safe so he won’t loose his audience who buy his CDs, and pay for his mansion.
pinkpanthertb
September 28, 06:48Lol. Cynical much?
Dennis Macauley
September 28, 07:03Naturally
Lothario
September 28, 07:32Someone has got to be The Devil’s Advocate…. Before we all get carried away
King
September 28, 10:30Nah just too much shade
Khaleesi
September 28, 08:17@Dennis, lmao you sound like a sulky bitchy cynic. I love the way homophobes are forced to eat& choke down their homophobia in the west knowing how vocal gays have become as well as the damage they can do to your products/services if you utter a single homophobic comment …
gad
September 28, 09:09May I bring to your notice that Kirk Franklin is gay
King
September 28, 10:33And gad I just hope to God that you will not be judged with that statement…has he said it with his mouth that he is gay or you are spewing lies as Usual! Ow Please!
Khaleesi
September 28, 10:46I had heard rumors that he’s gay, but as far as I know he has a wife and kids and has never come out to address the issue if his sexuality, seeing as he’s so far projecting the image of the quintessential heterosexual, I guess I should believe he’s straight, at least until proven otherwise …
King
September 28, 11:34Thank You! ….now gad can you learn something here….pls
kendigin
September 28, 06:47wotever…..still love to see him naked!
kirk is hot!!!
T÷
September 28, 06:56Eww!
pinkpanthertb
September 28, 07:05Eww? He speaks truth nah. Kirk is hot abeg.
Lothario
September 28, 07:33He is????? How?
Khaleesi
September 28, 08:09smart guy, neither here nor there. you cant say he was homophobic nor that he was too gay friendly. this speech soothes both sides of the divide. I however found one comment a tad unsettling “if I dont invite a young gay man to dinner with me and my family so that he can see what a heterosexual family is like and start to yearn for that, then I need to shut up and put my bible on the shelf” … hmmm, that comment tho … nice looking guy, aging gorgeously. I used to have a crush on him in my teens which filled me With guilt and confusion knowing that he is/was a preacher.
pinkpanthertb
September 28, 08:11Yea that comment caught my attention too. It hinted at something-something in his heart.
Obatala
September 28, 09:16where is chizzie? missing him
Legalkoboko
September 28, 10:14As nice and as balanced as that interview sounds, I still have some issues with it.
This guy may feel a need to sit on the fence so as not to heighten the polemics…but I wonder what he really meant when he talked about inviting young gay men to his home to dinner with him and his family just to show them what a model heterosexual family looks like.
Crap!
Dude forgot we all grew up in Heterosexual families, and have seen them at their worst. Whats with this need for some private sugarcoated moment? No we don’t want to “choose” your heterosexual model of relationships. No we are ok with our homosexual relationships. Thanks and no thanks.
I find the interview subtly condescending.
Let me end with a quote I found somewhere concerning sitting on the fence “The enemies you make by taking a decided stand generally have more respect for you than the friends you make by being on the fence”
Lanre Swagg
September 28, 13:14I agree it is subtly condescending in that he insinuated the possibility of eventual conversion through a drawn out personal mentorship process.
On the other hand, I found somewhat touching his delicate handling of the issue, in line with his dual experience as a man of the streets and a fiery evangelist.
With the religion versus sexuality debate, there is no winning. Which is what makes Kirk Franklin’s soft approach remarkable.
Colossus
September 28, 10:46Your cynical theories, though your entitlement, is wrong. Kirk Franklin might not be a homosexual but he has battled a lot in his life. Drugs, porn, lack of a stable family. He can therefore relate to what it means to have internal conflicts. There is a reason why early on in his career, he was branded as way too radical because he preached otherwise. Listen to his songs and you’ll see a recurring theme, EVERYDAY PEOPLE BATTLING EVERYDAY PROBLEMS WHILE STILL TRYING TO KEEP A FAITH THEY FEEL IS IRRELEVANT.
I’m a huge Kirk Franklin fan, his songs took me out of a dark place and though i don’t ask you to be, cynicism right now ain’t really an attractive quality.
Another thing, of cos he has to be politically correct. He is a preacher, even Jesus was politically correct. Why do you think he spoke so much in parables?
King
September 28, 11:37Colossus Gbam!
tikky20
September 28, 12:34And he battled the effects of child molestation by his uncle and step father, he was an escort (gigolo) and used to be a GFS (Gay for sex) so please don’t act too smart with your theory of political rightness. He’s being hypocritic and self rightoeus as if homosexualism is a ‘demonic possession’ forgetting he “used to be” one according to him. So he can shove the fence-sitting-condenscending-self-righteousness down his throat. It wouldn’t be too big for him, I guess he used to have bigger things being shoved down there. Nonsense and inbetween!
Colossus
September 28, 13:19I did not act too smart and if i did, am i not entitled to brand that about? It is in short supply nowadays you know.
pinkpanthertb
September 28, 13:44Y’all can say what you want, but in a delicate matter of religion versus sexuality, it’s like Lanre said, this guy’s approach was the best anyone who doesn’t want to take sides can give. Period.
pinkpanthertb
September 28, 13:44Tikky, your vitriol is way off base. Now please have a seat (not several seats, just a seat), let me tell you why. When that boy, Mr. Universe was interviewed on his views about homosexuality (and yes, it’s homosexuality, not –lism) and he began to pour his condemnations on it, considering what we know about his sexuality, THAT was hypocrisy. Condemning publicly what you yourself practise, that is hypocrisy.
But Kirk Franklin who you are mouthing off is this and that and this, as though you two have had a very close friendship in years past, was asked about his views on homosexuality, and as one who has a public image, and is married, and is a preacher, instead of lashing out condemnations on homosexuality (because of course we know that will win him points with his congregation), he takes a soft-pedaled approach to his responses. He doesn’t condemn. He talks about love. He talks about tolerance. He talks about acceptance. He sits diplomatically on the fence. By God, how is that now hypocrisy? Is it until he heaps praises on the gay community to the detriment of his public image, never mind that he’s not even a self-proclaimed gay activist, would that be when you will see him in a shining light?
Jeez! To see you ranting, you would think Kirk Franklin made himself the persecutor of gays around the world. For a member of the populace that seeks tolerance from the society, you sure do have none of it to give.
pinkpanthertb
September 28, 13:46If tomorrow, you suddenly become famous for something, and you are in a clime where your career could be dented seriously by any pro-gay stance, and you’re asked your views about homosexuality, consider what your response will be in all honesty, before you go off on someone who has done the best he can.
Legalkoboko
September 28, 11:40Jesus was politically correct? Really? It was politically correct in those days to koboko the scribes and Pharisees in public the way he did? Tell me more abourit.
Colossus
September 28, 13:17“He who is without sin, cast the first stone”
How politically correct can that statement be?
pinkpanthertb
September 28, 13:51Very politically correct. Lol.
How about ‘Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God.’?
king
September 29, 06:45Wow oh my pinky and collosus I love you two right now! Gbam Gbam and more Gbam for all you’ve said here….#muchlove
#TeamKizito
September 28, 12:16Hmmm.
Ola
September 29, 14:12Well every 1 have made a strong argument, but remember you are who you are, the fact that you leave either an heterosexual or homosexual life is ur choice, and the truth about choice is dat if can be fulfilling or regretful. If u are an homosexual leaving an heterosexual life u may find it fulfilling of regretful. Nw who want 2 leave a regretful life. Al things being equal, Relationship is relationship, Kirk may be gay but he has chosen an heterosexual life, it’s is choice. It does not reduce the credibility of his preaching. Or his own credibility. Only that homosexuals are not having it easy, we are the pray of setup guys, liars all be cause of money.
king
September 29, 18:33Ola dear is this your first comment on this blog biko??? No ooo just asking shaaaa Oooh what’s wrong with u pipo sef! Pshew go jo? Kant sumbordy aks a quastion sef…
gad
October 26, 17:35You called him names? I never noticed. I have never heard him call gays names. Infact, the times I heard him talk about gayism, his focus seems to be on his western colleagues.He doesn’t seem to know that gays are here because he keeps calling on the church to pray for our brothers in the west.