We wrote about homophobic pastor T.D Jakes and the ironic arrest of his son in a gay sex sting. Well, the pastor himself has released a statement on the arrest. Amazingly, Jakes avoids any direct mention of homosexuality or his previous stances on gay rights but claims his son "was a recipient of
correction, compassion and wise counsel" while living at home.
I would say the repression he received might have been more relevant, but you won't hear about that. Read it for yourself and let me know what you think.
– Andy
Read the full statement, after the JUMP:
"As parents, we occasionally feel that our children do not live up to
our highest and best ideals. When they do not, we don't diminish our
love for them as recompense for our disapproval. Like our children, we
also are not infallible nor do we profess to be. Our now adult son
Jermaine is 29, but when he was at home he was a recipient of
correction, compassion and wise counsel. We hope that the light of what
we believe will guide him through times of contradiction and moments of
concern as he continues to mature.
In spite of the family pain we feel from this unfortunate situation,
it has given us a chance to show him the same help, support, and
restorative grace for which our family and church is noted. Through our
ministry at The Potter’s House, as well as our own home, we have for
years offered help in the time of need to all adults, our five children
and other people’s children.
It is in moments like these that I am so grateful that we do not
preach that we are the solution, but we look to Christ for resolution.
So then, as a very human family with real issues, like many other
people, we will draw from the same well of grace to which we have led
others to drink and be refreshed.
Bishop T.D. Jakes"
Five children. It’s frustrating that these assholes are going to outreproduce us.
Grow up. This is my last subscription to manhunt.net — YOU are the bigoted ones. YOU ought to be ashamed.
just think, homosexuality is heriditary!! he was just the one that got caught “coming out!” now whats going to happen to that poor guy is that they are going to make him feel like crap and he’ll go and commit suicide!
I used to listen to a T D Jakes’ TV program (“The Potter’s Touch” – I think it was called) and don’t remember him ever mentioning homosexuality. He seemed to offer empathy and encouragement to people so I have a positive image of him. His statement (above) seems reasonable. The story is interesting and newsworthy, and I’m usually opinionated, but I wouldn’t criticize either son or father without knowing more. The son’s blatant behavior does suggest that there’s something not right in his life, like maybe an unhealthy relationship with his parents, which would be sad.
it is unfortunate–and telling–that he manages to avoid any reference to homosexuality (gay, etc.) and/or homosexual behavior.
That was a very gracious & Christian statement. The wicked on here…myself included need to quit instigating. He addressed….stop reveling in the hurt of others.
wow his statement is awful, more preachy stuff but doesn’t get to bone of the issue. will he continue to advocate hate?
This story is not about Jakes son being gay. It is about him being a pervert, and being sick. No, he is not sick because he likes dick.. he is sick because he likes to suck dick in a public park where families and children visit. Why does manhunt or the gay community not address these issues? People are arrested daily where i live for trying to get a little action in a public park.Rather, they just write the world off as bigots for thinking these people are sick. NOONE CARES IF YOU ARE GAY. NOONE CARES IF YOU SUCK DICK. WHAT WE DO CARE ABOUT IS WHY THE HECK DO YOU NEED TO DO IT IN PUBLIC …..
I see no problem with the statement.
As a southern gay christian, i think it’s important to show compassion and love to others in their time of need.
Imagine what his son is going through.
Even if his dad hadn’t taken a harsh stance against homosexuality it would have still been difficult for him to come out.
Additionally, until i see visual/audio proof that TD has said hate speech about gays, i’m going to consider him a righteous man of the clothe…
Re: previous comment that “these idiots are going to outbreed us”: for further info, please see the movie Idiocracy for how that pans out when it is projected out several hundred years into the future. It ain’t pretty.
And I have to ask — what kind of Stockholm syndrome does it take to continue to support people who’ve worked your whole life to make you feel defective and wrong? My advice is to utterly reject big-hair, shopping-mall Christianity and stop letting anyone else tell you what God is thinking. They’re in no better position to read God’s mind than you are. They just have a TV spot and a more ambitious hairstylist.
If the Shopping Network preachers say and do horrible things in the name of God, you don’t have to defend them, because they don’t speak for you. I hope… I guess that’s up to you. Throw that shit out, start over on your own and figure out what it all means based on what you know, not on what you’ve been told.
I just feel bad for the son. The father is obviously a religious nut, then again i think all religious people are nuts
Robert Johnson (RJ):
If you think homosexuals are sick wicked perverts, as you’ve posted here and before, then what are you doing on manhunt? Go home you self hating hypocrite, and by all means, please do cancell your account. I’d rather be a wicked homosexual, than a self hating hypocrite.
I think Jeff, Sean & Randy all made very good, logical points.
Not something I typically see from gay Blogs.
It seemed impartial and relevant to the topic.
So thank you. 🙂
In staying with that vein of conversation, one of my main thoughts was that Pastor Jakes statement was a public statement. Those types of statements cannot appeal to any one group at the risk of excluding another. Discussing humanity and family are relatable topics which can harmonize people. Discussing homosexuality or lewd behaviors are opinionated topics which can polarize people.
I am unfamiliar with his personal beliefs. Any good pastor knows how to speak to his audience. For instance, if he has a homophobic audience, he may appeal to that sense of homophobia while he himself may be unconcerned with the issue.
I suppose the questions we’re now asking are:
What does he preach?
What does he believe personally?
What does his son believe personally?
While I’m sure it would be easy enough to find a collection of his ministries, I don’t think the time it would take to review them would justify a simple blog entry.
Since we cannot ascertain his or his son’s personal beliefs, we have only his public statement to fall back on.
Since that statement, as fair-minded as it is, cannot be taken at face value, the issue is fairly open/shut.
We are then left with our own views on the issue which are probably the same as before.
Has this particular bit of news inspired a shift or a consideration in anyone’s viewpoint?
Well it is actually his stepson, and I have been a listener of Jakes and he really is not homophobic……so I don’t understand why that is being put out there.