MEGACHURCH “LIKES” CONSERVATIVE TWEET, GETS BOOTED FROM CITY OF BIRMINGHAM
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MEGACHURCH “LIKES” CONSERVATIVE TWEET, GETS BOOTED FROM CITY OF BIRMINGHAM
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The ministry of a Birmingham, Alabama megachurch has been brought to a screeching halt in parts of the city after one complaint.
It all started when one woman complained about Pastor Chris Hodges “liking” conservative tweets, including one that featured President Donald Trump. She said it was “culturally insensitive” and “troubling.”
“I’m not saying he’s a racist. I’m saying he likes someone who post things that do not seem culturally sensitive to me,” local English teacher Jasmine Faith Clisby told the media.
One of the posts she found offensive was a meme with a photo with Donald Trump standing alongside Muhammad Ali and Rosa Parks back in the 1980’s. The meme questioned those who accuse Trump of racism.
Then Clisby shared her concerns with the press.
Now the Church of the Highlands, a multi-racial church of 60,000 people, has been blocked from holding church services at two local high schools.
City leaders revoked Church of the Highland’s lease of school property and even canceled the church’s volunteer work in the community which included a health clinic, mentoring, tutoring and more.
AL.com reports Hodges’ response to the attack on his character. “Jesus Christ teaches us to love our neighbors. In these complex times we want to do more than ever to listen, love and serve our city. We want to publicly thank the Birmingham Housing Authority for the opportunity they provided us to serve them over the years. We continue to support their work and encourage others to do the same.”
Hodges says the church will also continue to support and bless the school system with financial support. . .
Tony Perkins with the Family Research Council says it doesn’t seem to matter – to those who are fueling outrage in America right now – that the pastor apologized if his actions hurt anyone.
Perkins says, “None of that mattered to the mob, who not only ignored Pastor Chris’ work in their neighborhoods but the church’s standing in the minority community. At least a third of the Highlands’ congregations are black and Hispanic.”
“Imagine if we held everyone by that standard. If we combed through these public servants’ accounts, what would we find? Political objectivity or the raging hatred and bitterness that’s led to these baseless attacks?” Perkins said.
(Excerpt from Faithwire. Article by Benjamin Gill.)
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The problem: as long as white evangelical pastors continue to embrace President Trump, and put him on as pedestal as “God’s chosen leader for America”; they will be seen as disingenuous, racially bias,and biblically compromised by the remaining 50% of Christians who sees Trump as an ungodly man, of failed moral character, politically incompetent to lead America forward to unity, justice, and prosperity as a nation. FYI – there many good biblically sound Christians who oppose Trump. (Read the CT article).
I see a fairly new believer, who has found redemption from a past, like all believers do… who is making decisions for this country that are based on pro-life, pro-family, and pro-country, for ALL races. I’ve not seen anything but improvements for the minority communities in the way of jobs, and strengthening families. I also see MUCH adversity at every turn when he tries to do anything, which can pull any person down, but he just keeps trying.
The church should not be surprised by the attacks coming against it. The Word says we will be hated by the world, Matt 10:22. John 15:18 says, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” Continue to stand, love and serve God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strong. Also, continue to pray for those who speak against you and love them with the love of the Lord. Continue to serve as unto the Lord. He will open new doors for service and ministry.
“But as the Bible teaches, as Jesus teaches, as Dr. King taught so beautifully, that hatred cannot drive out hatred, violence doesn’t heal violence. It’s okay to be angry about an unfair system, injustices, but Romans 12:21 says don’t be overcome by that evil, overcome the evil with good.” Chris Hodges
The continuum of evil in the scheme of hatred looks like this:
Offense leads to unforgiveness, if not dismissed;
Unforgiveness leads to bitterness, if not released;
Bitterness leads to anger, if not uprooted;
Anger turns to rage, if the sun is allowed to set;
Rage turns to hatred, if not conquered with control;
Hatred leads to murder, if not quenched with love.
Father,
We humbly come to You and ask that You to forgive us for taking up offenses, harboring unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, rage, hatred, and murder, if even just an iota in our hearts. (Mt 5:22) We confess our sins, our insensitivities, our muted listening, our misunderstandings, and our passive action and repent of the same. (James 1:19-20) Enable us to persevere, to develop Christ-like character, and with our eyes turned to You, hope. Pour Your love in our inner most hearts through Your Spirit. (Ro. 5:3-5) May we be people of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, against such there is no law. (Gal 5:22) May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Mt.6:10). In the name of your son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen
Shameful first of the woman who claimed this – and for the city to listen to this and cancel everything the Church was doing is such a loss to the people they were helping and for the students. Does the woman know what she caused? She needs to apologize to all of these people her selfish motives has hurt – if she doesn’t like the values this church stands for change church’s – please post my reply for her to see – very selfish – Birmingham City folk who have done this will have to come face to face with their selfishness and ungodliness when The Rapture comes.
God Bless this Megachurch and Pastor Chris –
Father, thank you for the spirit of forgiveness that this pastor demonstrated. May those who participated in this evil come to repentance. May freedom of speech be restored. May you be glorified by this.
Don’t these people realize that by these actions against Pastor Hodges that they are cutting off their own noses to spite their face?
Again it is good being evil and evil being good. Lord, PLEASE OPEN THEIR EYES THAT THEY MAY SEE THE TRUTH!
Thank You for Pastor Hodges graciousness and I ask that you will cause his ministry to flourish in a new, exciting and different way.
My prayer is that God will supernaturally equip this church to continue being salt and light all wrapped in his love. Where there is darkness may God’s light increase. Pray for the fear of God to return to His people. Read Jude in the Passion translation, written for God’s Ecclesia.
A Christ follower,
Elizabeth
Father YHWH, you know the work your people performed in your name in that community of Birmingham. I ask you to restore the work of the ministry and the good name of pastor Chris. I pray that you expose the works of darkness in local English teacher Jasmine Faith Clisby’s life and bring down upon her all that she has wished upon your kingdom work in Birmingham. And if she will repent of her wicked ways I pray she receive her salvation in Y’shua’s name. Amen.
Gail, this article isn’t true.
Please read the article link that is in the article above.
The services in the high schools were canceled because of the coronavirus.
https://www.al.com/news/2020/05/pastor-chris-hodges-responds-to-social-media-controversy.html
Peace,
Tiffany
Gail, let me correct something I said, which is the article isn’t true. I took issue with the blackface picture not being mentioned and the schools (not discussing the relationship with the black community who attended the services at the schools). I have no other issues with the article.
And Tiffany, the services in the high school WERE caused by the social media likes, NOT the virus, according to this article: https://www.al.com/news/2020/06/birmingham-schools-may-ban-church-of-the-highlands-pastor-clinic-respond-as-housing-authority-turns-away-free-covid-testing.html.
“The Birmingham Board of Education voted Tuesday night to end its leases with the Church of the Highlands after controversy over social media activity by Pastor Chris Hodges.”
As a supporter of Pastor Hodges, let me state that this article is not completely true. The issue was not the picture of President Trump. The issue was the other half of the meme that showed the governor of Virginia in blackface. Blackface is a touchy subject and that is what made it “culturally sensitive”. So the message was how can the Republican president be a racist and the Democratic governor not be one.
Here is the lesson for everyone…racism has nothing to do with political parties. It begins with the heart.
When using articles from outside sources, please make sure the article tells the whole truth.
This is the pastor’s apology:
I want to talk to you from my heart.
The first thing that I want to do is apologize. I’m sorry. As a pastor and, more importantly, as a follower of Jesus, I work to consider every action carefully, weigh every word, and be respectful of every person and opinion, as Christ taught.
I realize that I have hurt people that I love deeply because I “liked” multiple insensitive social media posts. Each one was a mistake. I own it. I’m sorry. I’ve learned so much in the past few days about racial disparities in America. I wish I could sit down and have a conversation with everyone impacted or hurt by my actions.
I have realized I can’t thoughtlessly scroll through social media and click “like” on a post while not fully understanding all that post represents. After taking the time to review and reflect, I can tell you those social media posts that I “liked” do not reflect, in any way, my true feelings or beliefs. I now realize they were hurtful and divisive, and I sincerely apologize.
I own my mistakes and ask forgiveness from those I have offended. Please know that I have learned, and will continue to learn, so much from this.
Over the last 20 years, our church and I have fought for the disenfranchised, marginalized, and hurting of ALL races in our community. But this week, I’ve learned that even with 20 years of loving and serving people, it’s still possible to have a blind spot that you just didn’t know was there.
I realize it is my responsibility to have more conversations to become better aware of the pain and the hurt, and to understand ALL people better.
As painful as this has been for many of you, it has opened my eyes to something that I just didn’t fully understand. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t realize I didn’t see it, and comprehend it like I should.
Through conversations this week where I just listened, I am learning more about unconscious bias and privilege. I have always had the privilege of never being followed around a store because of the color of my skin. That’s a privilege I didn’t even realize I had. I’ve never had to sit down with my kids and teach them the beauty of their skin color because someone at their school had devalued them merely because of it.
I can tell you this: With revelation comes responsibility. I have the responsibility of learning new thoughts and new points of view. Conversations I wish I had engaged in years ago will now shape who I will be in the years to come. Soon, I will be holding forums at our church to hear from Highlands members of all races, to share their experiences and heart. I am determined to listen, learn, and be a part of the solution.
I understand my influence, not only in our church locally, but as a voice to many churches globally. I take my responsibilities very seriously. I love you so much, and I’m deeply sorry that I hurt you. I have spent my lifetime loving and pouring into people, and moving forward, I will prove to you that even at 56 years old, you can still learn, you can get better, you can make changes and love people more deeply. I’m committed to that.
I can promise you one thing: As a pastor, I will continuously do my best to lead you to Jesus, and I will also teach you, by my actions, what it looks like to need Him. This won’t be the last mistake that I make or the last bit of mercy I will need. I need God’s compassion and your mercy.
All of us need God’s grace and mercy in this season, and I’m asking you to help me, help us, get better. Let’s all learn more, pray more, love better, and stand stronger so that we can see His Kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
With love,
Pastor Chris
May i have the heart of JESUS, as evidenced by the sensitivity, grace and humility with which this apology was written. Sounds like Pastor Chris actually “walks the talk.” Thank you, Tiffany, for including this inspirational message from a man whose life is surrendered to Holy Spirit’s guidance and is totally dedicated to glorifying GOD. May we all take an important lesson from this example of true sanctification.