*In the United States black churches are diverse in character, spanning vast differences among many dimensions including theological tradition, style of worship, music, urban/rural location and socioeconomic status (Ward, 2005).*
The song below, Leviticus Faggot by Me’Shell NdegeOcelo, is one of the most realistic looks at the impact of religious based homophobia in the black church. Religious based homophobia is the use of religious doctrine and teachings to accommodate homophobic and prejudiced b
ehaviors. Religious based homophobia is dangerous because it allows some to blame their internal and socially influenced negative feelings about those in the LGBT community on their religious beliefs and God. They take no responsibility in their behavior and they believe that changing their behavior would be jeopardizing their relationship with God. This way of thinking is not just exclusive to the African American Christian; some non-African American Christians have the same stance on homosexuality and may show the same homophobic tendencies which include verbal disdain for the homosexual and the support of anti-gay propaganda, organizations and legislations.
However, research shows that African Americans disapprove of homosexuality more strongly than whites, and this disapproval has been linked to historical exploitation and race survival consciousness (during the upcoming weeks we will explore both of these).
For many regular readers of TWO, this may be the first time that you have ever heard the name G. Craige Lewis. G. Craige Lewis the founder of EX Ministries while unknown in the mainstream has made a name for himself in the Black Christian community (strictly underground) by peddling conspiracy theories, half truths and outright lies in the form of his Truth Behind Hip Hop DVD series. In a 2005 article in the Dallas Observer, G. Craige bragged that his Truth Behind Hip Hop part 1 and 2 were selling 100 copies a day; he is up to part 8 now. These videos not only in his words “expose” hip hop, they also “expose” the secrets of the gay agenda and the illuminati. In the world of G. Craige Lewis, any successful black entertainer, preacher, or athlete has given their soul to the devil and/or the gay agenda and are part of the illuminati, (the secret society set to overtake the world). In his latest DVD Error of Man which sells for $20, G. Craige Lewis offers, “healing and freedom for those bound by homosexuality”.
G. Craige Lewis has been generally ignored by mainstream media (except for this story from WPTY in Memphis Tennessee in 2010) and yet he has managed to not only make a decent living by selling his videos and speaking across the globe, but he has also managed to gain a cult following with over 8 million views on his EX Ministries page and 33,000 followers on facebook. This weekend while at the barbershop I was exposed to his latest DVD, The Truth Behind Hip Hop 8. His reach and appeal is unreal as his followers cling onto his every word and feed off of his blatant hate. Hate is contagious and does not stay dormant; it spreads and in the case of the religious based homophobia in the teachings of G. Craige Lewis, they add to the pain that many black lgbt people have endured.
Since September 2012 I have been following Lewis on Twitter to track his disregard for; his fellow human, the truth and common decency. Many of his ramblings can be characterized as; conspiracy theories, homophobic rants against celebrities, heterosexism, transphobia and sexism.
Conspiracy Theories
Obama with an ascension master. Influenced by effiminant spirit guides (explaining how President Obama won reelection).
Every president inAmericais antichrist. That’s the only way to get votes.
Doesn’t matter. The president has already been selected. Demons chose him, not mortals.
millions of guns, a handful of mass shootings. Why not outlaw liquor to stop drunk driver deaths?
Before the yr ends every1 better buy guns because they won’t be available much longer. Our govt is lying thru their teeth about Sandy Hooks
it is soon coming a time where to call someone a faggot, queer, sodomite (as I call them) will get you arrested
TD Jakes and others
TD Jakes was talking about how great he (Tyler Perry) was to work with. That TD loves him some broken wrist men!
Plus Jakes and his gay entourage always up in Nick and Sams eating. Probably bcuz it’s named after 2 men. Lol
He (TD Jakes) can’t pray that with those bent wrists he has
These same people go to churches led by homosexuals. Their choirs are led by gays. Tyler P. is their favorite actor. Etc
Why does John Legend sing like he just put a spoonful of grape nuts in his mouth? Lol #effiminate
He (Tyler Perry in the movie Alex Cross) should get an academy award for this. playing a real man. almost believable. Lol
I’d rather have forks jammed in my eyes than watch Tyler P. try to imitate a real man in that movie
What do you expect from a lonely lesbian (Rosanne Barr)? She is just trying to get some attention. Must be a lonely life
Just a couple downlow preachers trippin. Don’t be mad at me cause u can’t stop hiding the secret sausages (his response to me questioning him on his claiming Jesus Christ and yet shows no love for his lgbt brothers and sisters).
You don’t even want a DL brother talking on your timeline. your wife might see it. Lol
Just heard j moss n hezekiah song The Prayers on the radio. I think my stereo is HIV Positive now!!
anyone apart of Jakes man buffet is off my list
Heterosexism
The downlow frat has been exposed. Wives of Kappa’s, check their drawls when they come back from the frat reunion. Skidmarks in the front? *Speaking on Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity*
No strong man allows his son to wear braids, long or short. It’s always an emasculated male with them.
Of all the seats on this plane a gay couple sits nxt to me. Can’t wait to pull out the retina mbp and work on Part 8 while they observe. :)
Just saw a dude with earrings at the top of his ear. Walking with some girl in denial. Lol #RealMenDontWearEarrings
I wouldn’t b under a pastor that supports a homosexuality advocate. That’s a huge contradiction i must protect my family from
I can’t tell u how it braked my heart to see beautiful young girls acting desperately like young thugs. It’s heart breaking. And strong black boys w/ an effiminate spirit all over them. I pray for my children, pray for yours.
The LGBT can deny all they want but that they are the main cause of Aids because of their risky life style. two men and two women should not be lying together. just sick and nasty.
What is the point of having a Black president if he if supports gay sex and abortion, ironically the very thing that is destroying us.
I heard a SODOMITE man get upset at God because he contracted AIDS from some other SODOMITE. He thought because he attends church, pay tithes, sing in the choir, and his Dad is the Pastor that he should be exempt from God’s judgment.
I am especially angry with these gay advocacy groups promoting the destruction of our young people this way.
I know this prophetic word: it is soon coming a time where to call someone a faggot, queer, sodomite (as I call them) will get you arrested. It’s coming a time where the average homosexual will have more rights than a normal human.
Young black boys and some girls embracing the very thing that is destroying our race!
i question any man that wears 2 earrings. The spirit behind that desire troubles me
Raised by women, eating soy, BPA, effeminate role models, etc. *His answer to one of his followers who asked why there are so many black gay men*
well, while everyone is watching the homos, folks are missing the lesbians. *Commenting on lesbian women in Gospel music*
Who let this nasty queer on my timeline? Dude, go bother someone who cares. *His comment towards my questioning him about his hateful words toward the gay community*
Transgender
These men wants to look and dress like women because of the feminime spirits inside of them. Enough of the talking and cast the foul spirits out.
Sexism
You were made for a man, so don’t let society or the world change your focus
Feminist spirit is strong in many black women. Because of the lack of male leadership, most black women struggle with God’s plan
Unfortunately, it’s the women that are creating these hybrid men that are overly effeminized
G. Craige’s EX Ministry website claims that, “You will be enlightened, inspired, and strengthened by the powerful words of Eld. Lewis”.
The truth is that I have been inspired by his words. I have been inspired to continue to speak out against men like him who use the cover of religion to unleash their insecurities, their isms and self hate onto others. Let’s put men like G. Craige Lewis out of the hate business.
Fabulous article Rev. Although, I would expect no less from you! Thanks for analyzing some of this man’s bile and breaking it down for folks.
Zoinks. Never heard of C. Craige Lewis before. The tweets are mind-shreddingly un-Christ-like.
So interesting to see black men use Christianity to justify homophobia when not so very long ago, white men used Christianity and the bible to justify racism and slavery.
Yikes!
So, this guy Craige Lewis, has built himself quite a long list of hate comments. And it appears that he is no friend of TJ Jakes.
I was in a 10 day Christian Sexual Help Class in Colorado with TJ Jakes and his wife. I had no idea what his sexual problem was at the time. I just knew that I was gay and this preacher my wife had sent money too was trying to fix our marriage at the time. He was unsuccessful…..we divorced and went separate ways. But since then TJ Jakes sure has been in the news a lot. Seems the black community has some issues with homosexuality that it needs to confront. I hope they figure it out. They cannot let screwball pastors run their lives with this kind of hatred in their hearts.
I think it is a problem that we all have to work out together.
Thank you for this insightful article Father Palmer.
I find it stunning for two reasons. The first is that it sheds some light on Jason’s mother’s church I think. I ended up with custody of him in his early teens after her church (and I feel like I should use quotation marks) attempted to exorcise him of the “demon of homosexuality.” I could not wrap my mind around that idea in this decade. I know a fair number of mainstream Christian and Jewish clergy, including a number of Episcopal priests very well — and NONE of them actually believe that demons exist — demons are bronze age interpretations of things that were damaging to the “tribe” and personifications, anthropomorphic representations if you would, of mental illnesses — nothing more or less. Scary in movies and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but certainly not to be taken seriously – but her church (a COGIC parish) took the idea seriously enough to risk injury to a boy, which boggled my mind — however, reading this man’s comments made me realize that maybe that is more widespread as something more than simple rhetoric that the clergy themselves don’t believe than I thought. Secondly, and allowing me to “get” what I just wrote at the end of “firstly” — many clergy in the fundamentalist movement are apparently uneducated entirely. I spent a few years in a fundie church as a young man, but the pastor was educated (two earned doctorates) and subsequently I went away to school and then left the church. This guy you are talking about though – an IMPORTANT figure in the church and he can’t write a real sentence or use proper English? A man who is a leader who sells thousands of his dvds and he uses the basest insults – things I would only expect to hear in the docks to attack men he scarcely knows? A man with so little understanding that he argues against boys having long hair?…. I cannot stress how eye opening reading those comments was for me.
Thank you again for all that you do. I have to say as an aside that it also may explain why Jason’s former pastor refuses to meet me at all under any circumstances, particularly for a debate on the nature of religious authority, which I have offered to have with him.
I look forward to your posts as among the most informative that I read, and although I don’t believe Jason will ever go back to religion (he turned completely radically atheist after I got custody of him, and I am ok with that, he needs that now — he has over the last 4 years gotten to the point where he no longer tries to talk his mother out of her faith when they talk, and he allows me mine in peace (I think because he sees it as so fantastic and kind of cool that we love the earth and try to preserve it and things, so he’s “ok” with it), this helps me understand the religion that he had to endure when he was with his mother — although it is something that he does not like to talk about at all.
Have a lovely day.
WOW this guy is horrible! Unfortunately I was raised in church hearing this kind of foolishness on a regular basis; I was raised in the Church of God in Christ from a child until adulthood in PA. As a young man I moved to Atlanta, GA to attend school and somehow I ended up at Bishop Eddie Long’s New Birth Baptist Church as a member to hear more ridiculous anti-gay homopobic sermons until I began to evolve and resist the inconsistant un-godly scriptural rhetoric.
I began to write about it and share it with my now former pastor Bishop Long and the church’s staff via email to no avail… http://sonofabishop.blogspot.com/2011_09_01_archive.html
A few years later out of nowhere Bishop Long was exposed (I take no credit for that). These guys rant and take verbal shots across the pulpit at obvious and suspected gay people like gossiping women…
Truth is patient and it moves very slowly but once it arrives; there is no stopping it or turning it around.
It is now my life’s mission and heart’s desire to see people like this guy exposed nationally for the venemous hatred that they spew in the name of God and to eradicate the homophobic ignorance that dwell in so many places of worship.
It is indeed a huge problem in the African American churches. The other people that commented on this post are spot-on in there observations and assessments of this vulgar “preacher”.
Pastor, G Craige Lewis adresses issues that were always bothering me in the church and in the world long before I knew of his existence. What I admire most about him is how he preaches about us being closer to God and being Christ like, unlike these mass churches that preach prosperity and neglect God. Revelations 22:8-21. In the name of the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit
Collette thank you for your comment. With that being said, I don’t see much Christ-like behavior in G. Craige’s comments.