Gays Attack Lansing Church--Concerned Women for America Responds

I just received the following e-mail from Jamie Hope:

>I don't know if you have seen this on the internet I think Bill O'Reilly is going to do a segment on it on Monday. A church was attacked by this group...Attached is an open letter on the incident that I put together in response.

Hope's Letter Follows

An Open Letter on the Homosexual Attack on Mount Hope Church in Lansing, Michigan
Jamie Hope, Legislative Liaison, Concerned Women for America of Michigan

We as a Christian community in America are responding as a unified Body of Christ to the outrageous assault on Mount Hope Church in Lansing, Michigan, last Sunday, November 9, 2008, by a group of radical self-avowed anarchist gay and lesbian individuals known as “Bash Back.” We are addressing our American Christian community, law enforcement, the media and the groups responsible for and associated with this assault on our civil liberties.

For those in our nation that have not heard of this incident, below is a clip from an article by worldnetdaily.com that best describes the attack on this church:
"'Jesus was gay,' they shouted among other profanities and blasphemies as they rushed the platform. Some forced their way through rows of women and kids to try to hang a profane banner from the balcony while others began tossing fliers into the air. Two women made their way to the pulpit and began to kiss," he wrote.
He cited the Bash Back organization's own announcement of other items members brought into the church, including "a megaphone, noise makers, condoms, glitter by the bucket load, confetti, pink fabric ..."

According to the alternative Lansing City Pulse – which reported it was notified of the protest ahead of time and sent a reporter along instead of warning the church – the protesters also screamed at parishioners and pulled the church facility's fire alarm. Printed material protesters distributed said, "We specialize in confronting homophobia, transphobia and every and all other forms of oppression."
For the full article go to: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=80743

We as a Christian community in America would first like to address the group ”Bash Back.” While what you did was vile, especially in the presence of children, we forgive you. However, it is unfortunate that you have taken the message of a church and their Biblical beliefs and twisted them into a lie to benefit your cause. First and foremost, Mount Hope Church, and any true Christian church, does not preach hate. Yes, we preach the word of God that states homosexuality is a sin. Mount Hope Church upholds this belief. However, Pastor Dave Williams along with his associate pastors have stated many times that homosexuality is no more a sin than drunkenness, gossip, cohabiting heterosexuals, etc. Mount Hope Church is also very clear that we as Christians are to love one another Christian and non-Christian in spite of our differing views and beliefs. To promote this church as a “hate church” is a satanically-inspired lie to justify crude and lawless behavior. In fact we challenge you to buy or download Pastor Dave’s sermons and find one time where he preaches and promotes hate for homosexuals as people. You will find he condemns the sin not the person. And for any other church in this country that does preach hate, including for homosexuals, they are not of our flock, and we do not count them as Christians. They are counterfeits. Oh and on a side note, we are not a phobic group of individuals. Phobia is a fear. We are not homophobic; we are Bible believing Christians.

We as a Christian community in America would also like to address the media. Your slanted coverage and liberal bias toward our community is coming to an end. We are taking back our rights, our country and standing up for our God. The fact that the only local news coverage (other than the internet) was the Lansing State Journal is a sad testament to your journalistic integrity. The four local news stations, WILX TV 10, WLNS TV 6, WLAJ 3, WSYM 47 failed miserably in their ability to accurately report the news in their community. The fact that a supposed journalist from Lansing City Pulse was aware that this attack was going to happen in a church where children were present shows the selfish ambition and corrupt morals of people who look out for their own interests ahead of the safety of children. This was a heinous assault on a group of innocent church attendees by a radical self-avowed lawless group and not one station bothered to even report this story. If this were a group of church people that stormed a gay and lesbian rally with terrorist style clothing and defaced their property and told them they were going to hell for being gay, this would not only make local news but their would be a public cry from CNN, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, ABC, etc. There would be protests and riots in the streets. But because you have shown especially through the election that you are biased and liberal and no longer “just report the news” but push your personal agendas, we are firing you. You are fully discredited until you begin reporting unbiased news.

Law enforcement, where were you? You were at the church, but did you do your job? Why were there no arrests? We would like answers. From the story reported, it appears this group has already labeled themselves as not conforming to the laws of our society (anarchy). They assaulted a church, defaced property, disturbed the peace, potentially emotionally abused children for exposing them to a threatening environment and yet, no arrests. We as a Christian community are calling upon local law enforcement and the Attorney General to investigate this incident, arrest those responsible and charge them with the appropriate crimes. Just because we are a forgiving people does not mean these individuals should not face the consequences of their actions. We need to hold people accountable for their actions when they break the law. By your silence and lack of urgency in this matter you have sent a very clear and powerful message to radical groups and to every Christian in America.

For the true Christian church and not those counterfeit Christians who preach hate and false doctrine, it is time for us to unite with one another and separate ourselves from the counterfeits. We may vary in our denominations, but we all believe Jesus is the Son of God and the only way to heaven. For those churches and organizations that espouse these beliefs, we need to work together and come together to show the rest of America that we are a voice in this country, we are a community in this country and we deserve to enjoy our freedoms in this country without fear of persecution. It is a common characteristic for Christians to love their enemy, pray for their enemy and forgive. But do not let us forget the teachings of Jesus himself in John 2:13-17, Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-18 and Luke 19:45-46. When it was time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

Jesus was outraged. He did not walk into the temple and tell those people who were desecrating the temple, “I will pray for you brother; it’s okay.” No, he acted and destroyed what was an abomination in the eyes of God. He defended God and drove out all those that were discrediting God by their corrupt actions.

We as a Christian community in America no longer can afford to stay within our churches and act as “Sunday” Christians. We who are good are now being called evil, and those who are evil are now being called good. Some of this is due to our own inaction. It is time we revive our Christian beliefs and act as a unified Body of Christ. Speak out, act out, call your representatives, senators, news stations and write to your papers that this will no longer be tolerated among the Body of Christ.

Jamie Hope
Legislative Liaison
Concerned Women for America