In the past few days I have been seeing pictures posted on a SGM singer’s “page” on a “social networking” site.  Do not worry - I will not post the name of either the site or the artist.  At first they started out as just pictures of the artist with many friends of the same gender.  What has me convinced is that these same friends - all with arms snuggly around each other AND the singer - keep appearing over and over.  Now there are pictures of the person at a function that promotes gay, lesbian, bi, and transgender lifestyles.  There has been nothing “overtly sexual”, but those picts along with statments the person has made and a quote on the person’s page lead me to believe that the “closet door” is opening.  From other pictures on this person’s site, they are continuing to “minister thru song” in churches.

What do I do?  Do I contact the person privately (they wouldn’t kow me from Adam), and ask if this is the case????  I know we are to love the person and hate the sin.  But, if the “lifestyle” is being lived and “ministry” continues, I surely couldn’t support this person’s ministry suspecting what I suspect. 

Lastly, I guess (and it shouldn’t be last - it should be first) - we should all be praying for this artist.  God knows who it is.

oh - and before anyone gets hurt jumping to conclusions, it is NOT the name that might leap immediately to mind.

sallyh, I’m pretty sure I saw those same photos recently, too.  It just broke my heart. I was very much a fan back in the day. All we can do is pray that God will convict.  As far as whether or not to contact this person, I say go for it… I remember when I was just a little child, that hearing my Mom - praying for me - to God - out loud - in the back room - about my salvation - was very effective in my heeding The Spirit’s call when He let me know I was lost.  Who knows, if this person knows how you are praying, maybe God will use that for His good in this person’s life….

sallyh - 29 June 2009 05:41 PM

In the past few days I have been seeing pictures posted on a SGM singer’s “page” on a “social networking” site.  Do not worry - I will not post the name of either the site or the artist.  At first they started out as just pictures of the artist with many friends of the same gender.  What has me convinced is that these same friends - all with arms snuggly around each other AND the singer - keep appearing over and over.  Now there are pictures of the person at a function that promotes gay, lesbian, bi, and transgender lifestyles.  There has been nothing “overtly sexual”, but those picts along with statments the person has made and a quote on the person’s page lead me to believe that the “closet door” is opening.  From other pictures on this person’s site, they are continuing to “minister thru song” in churches.

What do I do?  Do I contact the person privately (they wouldn’t kow me from Adam), and ask if this is the case????  I know we are to love the person and hate the sin.  But, if the “lifestyle” is being lived and “ministry” continues, I surely couldn’t support this person’s ministry suspecting what I suspect. 

Lastly, I guess (and it shouldn’t be last - it should be first) - we should all be praying for this artist.  God knows who it is.

oh - and before anyone gets hurt jumping to conclusions, it is NOT the name that might leap immediately to mind.

Not only Totally disillusioned but “Totally disgusted” as well…..........................

That’s true too!

I agree with JChaz.  Go for it.  If the person doesn’t want to answer, s/he won’t.  Don’t ask don’t tell was the solution for the military but Christ’s church marches to a different drum.  We should be concerned and others need to know we are concerned.  I guess there’s a chance you jumped to the wrong conclusion but I think the best policy is to go with one’s gut. Apathy is not loving.

Sally I’ve recently had a similar experience with someone I know through gospel music but is not an artist.  I had lost touch and ‘through the internet’ made contact again.  Going to the website was a revelation as to how their life had changed since I had known them years before.

Sally, another choice you have is to mind your own business.  Perhaps that is the best choice.  Just pray for her or him.

Wouldn’t that be tantamount to passing by on the other side?

So far I have been minding my own business - especially since I’ve not mentioned the name or place where I saw what I saw.  Oh - I have been praying also - did that BEFORE ever posting anything, and have been for several weeks - since I saw the first pictures that were “questionable”.  Fear not, I’m not on a witch hunt.  I just really hurt for the person.

[quote author”]Sally, another choice you have is to mind your own business.  Perhaps that is the best choice.  Just pray for her or him.

Hey, Sally, looks like you’ve struck a nerve here, eh?  But truth is truth——

so right Sarah.  If I were really gossping - everyone would know WHO and where to look.

Very true, Sally.  I, personally, see nothing wrong with what you posted.

Sally, gossiping is still gossiping without naming names.  It is called a “blind item.”  The purpose of a blind item is to arouse suspicion and speculation.  I have no idea of whom you speak, but do wonder why you felt the need to publish a blind item.  This sort of thing can ruin reputations.  I also question the need to police the behavior of others and speculate about it publicly when one doesn’t know and is just “wondering.”  I still suggest the best choice for you and the others who are urging you to confront and “find out” is to mind your own business and pray for him/her.

I was actually asking advice - strange as it may seem to you.

Tylois - 04 July 2009 03:06 PM

Sally, gossiping is still gossiping without naming names.  It is called a “blind item.”  The purpose of a blind item is to arouse suspicion and speculation.  I have no idea of whom you speak, but do wonder why you felt the need to publish a blind item.  This sort of thing can ruin reputations.  I also question the need to police the behavior of others and speculate about it publicly when one doesn’t know and is just “wondering.”  I still suggest the best choice for you and the others who are urging you to confront and “find out” is to mind your own business and pray for him/her.

Tylois,

Sally is perfectly within bounds of Christian living to ask about how to confront another person about behavior that is contrary to the image they claim to be projecting (the image of Christ).  She was very careful not to mention names and really seems to be sincere in wanting to settle the issue.  As Christians, we are called to hold each other accountable.  There is a proper and an improper way to do this.  If Sally were on here placing links to the pictures and statements and calling names, then you would have validity to your point.  On the other hand, she has been respectful enough to ask for others opinions without putting others in the middle.  She is looking for advice in how to go about confronting this person.  It is wise for her to seek the council of other Christians in this matter. 

Sally,

I have always had more respect for a person if they came to me when they saw a potential problem in my life starting to surface.  I may not have necessarily appreciated someone calling me out when I am living contrary to the life God has called me to live, but it has always helped to put me back in my place in my walk with Christ and I believe God uses that to do such.  God expects us to lift each other up, but some think that is always done with positive endorsments.  They fail to see that sometimes we need to be confronted about issues in our lives that are holding us down before we are going to make a change.  Sometimes the chains become comfortable or a security blanket.  My suggestion to you is to confront them.  Do not do it in a judgemental way.  Make sure that when this person sees you, they see a broken vessel that has all the scars from their own sins but those scars are healed wounds and they see power of Christ in you to heal those wounds.  People say God uses broken vessels.  They forget that He puts them back together when He uses them.  Yes pray for them.  If they are receptive when you confront them, offer to pray with them.  If they are not receptive, pray for them anyway.

Tylois - 04 July 2009 03:06 PM

Sally, gossiping is still gossiping without naming names.  It is called a “blind item.”  The purpose of a blind item is to arouse suspicion and speculation.  I have no idea of whom you speak, but do wonder why you felt the need to publish a blind item.  This sort of thing can ruin reputations.  I also question the need to police the behavior of others and speculate about it publicly when one doesn’t know and is just “wondering.”  I still suggest the best choice for you and the others who are urging you to confront and “find out” is to mind your own business and pray for him/her.

1. YOu cannot gossip if no reference to an individual is given. As a matter of law, it is not gossip.

2. The purpose of a “blind item” is to bring a people, industry or entity to a realization of some fact, without giving away details that might otherwise harm, or give information that might bias a decision one way or the other. ie a blind test between two different products. This is where the term came from.

3. NO reputations can be ruined unless some individual is called out. Besides, if someone in Southern Gospel is suddenly become openly gay via some forum, they ruined their own reputation.

4. There is no policing of anyone’s behavior. To police someone would be to force by law to bring that individual within some legal guideline….that is not the case here.

5. The Bible does not teach “mind your own business” but instead teaches to confront your brother, and goes into great detail as to how best to do that.

Do we have gay men and women within the ranks of Southern Gospel? Yes we do. And regardless of how much we may like the individuals or appreciate their talent level, it is still wrong, and we as Christians should not be supporting “ministries” that are connected to this lifestyle. In fact, every effort should be made to distance ourselves from it. I have a friend or two who happen to be gay, but being friends with them and supporting, or being a part of their “ministry” is two totally different things. I know a little bit about how such dealings can hurt the cause of Christ, and believe me, nothing good will come from turning a blind eye to sin in any form. Having said all that, none of us are perfect, and all of us have sinned and fallen way short of a sinless life. But to live on in that sin while purporting to be within some minsitry as if it is the perfectly right thing to do, is simply wrong, and it brings dishonor to His name. Now, by and large the vast majority of Southern Gospel men and women are God fearing Christian people. The bad seeds are really few and far between. I do not doubt for a second that some of these we refer to our very sincere in their attempts to be a part of God’s great work. I am however, amazed that they cannot read for themselves God’s mind set on these lifestyles, and see that the two are not mutally engaged. It is our responsbility and Christian duty to try and help our fallen brothers and sisters in Christ. It is also our duty to pray for those in need of a spiritual awakening. It is also our duty to offer help and advice when asked upon to do so, just as Sally asked here. It is not our duty to dismiss the questions of another as if some agenda were involved.

Sally more are here in support than to disagree with you. This is a tough problem we as an industry face. Thus far, as an industry, we have done poorly in dealing with all such matters.