WWJD? Pastor Issues 'Gay Games' Gospel Challenge to Revs. Hybels, Meeks
7/13/2006 5:15:00 PM
By Pastor Michael Allen, Uptown Baptist Church
 | Pastor Michael Allen of Chicago's Uptown Baptist Church:
"Because our Lord is in charge of the fire and brimstone, however, I think we're called now to rain-down something else on this global gay parade: the love of Jesus.
|  |  | Will Bill Hybels of the famed Willow Creek Community Church respond? |
"My dear brothers, WWJD [about the "Gay Games" coming to Chicago]?
I think he'd be downtown on the lakefront July 15-22, loving those homosexuals as people created in His own image condemned by sin and the Law just as we were till someone lovingly shared the good news with us and God in His mercy turned our hearts toward Him."--Pastor Michael Allen, Uptown Baptist Church
Illinois Family Institute has obtained the following open letter, excerpted below, from Uptown Baptist Church Pastor Michael Allen to Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, and Rev. James Meeks, pastor of Salem Baptist Church in Chicago. The letter challenges Revs. Hybels and Meeks, and the larger Chicagoland church community, to respond to the upcoming "Gay Games" in Chicago with a Gospel-disseminating "Gay Love Offensive."
Personally, although I am greatly encouraged by Pastor Allen's pluckiness in wanting to get pastors off their keisters in reaching out to the "Gay Games" attendees, this letter is about 25 years too late. Anyone who has observed a Chicago "gay pride" parade (it's more like a huge festival; another one is being held this Sunday) can see that much of the Christian Church in Chicagoland has abandoned serious outreach to homosexuals. Or at least Christians have become quite comfortable "tolerating" a "GLBT [gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered] community" built around destructive sins. The result is that Chicago's "gay community" has grown and become bolder in its demands and its perversions (witness the escalating anti-religious rhetoric of homosexual activists and the existence of an actual "museum" for sexual sadists, the Leather Archives, located on Greenview St.).
IFI will be closely following the "Gay Games" story as the event approaches (July 15-22). To get involved in Pastor Allen's "love offensive," or to reach him, e-mail seniorpastor@uptownbaptistchurch.org or call the church at 773-784-2922. You can also email IFI at info@illinoisfamily.org, or call her at 630-790-8370 for more information. Emphasis and links are added to the letter below.--Peter LaBarbera, IFI
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ."
Galatians 3:28, 29a (NIV)
An Open Letter
June 12, 2006
Rev. Bill Hybels
Willow Creek Community Church
Rev. James Meeks
Salem Baptist Church of Chicago
CC: * All Illinois and Chicago-land evangelical pastors and leaders
* Cardinal Francis George
* All faithful Christian souls within driving range of Chicago
RE: The Gay Games -- July 15-22
Dear Bill and James:
Thank you for co-hosting that tremendous gathering of evangelical clergy a few weeks ago at Willow Creek. There, you each spoke so eloquently on the need for black/white/brown Illinois clergy to link arms across racial, cultural and urban/suburban lines -- today, right now.
Well, as an African-American pastor on Chicago's north lakefront -- with my roots running deep at Moody and other bastions of (mainly-white) evangelicalism -- I feel compelled to point out the absolutely unprecedented, rapidly-approaching moment for Bible-believing pastors of all races and denominations to take joint action for the sake of the Cross of Jesus Christ.
For over a year, it has been SCREAMING OUT for our attention...a one-time-only opportunity facing us as Illinois Christian leaders in the third week of July.
But I fear that it is absolutely, positively the last thing either of you - or me, or any of our fellow pastors -- wants even to discuss on a nice summer day. Yet when the Spirit prompts, it's usually a good idea to obey. And so my friends, I'm just going to fire away:
On July 15 - 22, over 11,000 of the world's neediest souls will descend into Chicago for the Gay Games -- the enormous, quadrennial "Olympics" for homosexuals.
Over 11,000 gays and lesbians from across the U.S. and around the world!
And that's only the registered athletic participants! Not to mention the thousands of spectators, the party-seekers, the relatives, the nightclub and bathhouse crowds... a worldwide convention of homosexuals seeking fun, lifestyle affirmation, mortality denial and no-consequences promiscuity in America's "Second City" -- at the very heart of our great, but sinfully fallen, nation.
Maybe I should stop right here -- but I just can't.
As our Lord makes painfully clear in the Law of Moses, and especially in Paul's Letter to the Romans, the world's homosexual population is a microcosm for all humankind.
Our gay and lesbian fellow citizens embody our own most extreme, impassioned defiance of our Creator, who lovingly designed and made us in His own image, male and female. Our homosexual friends typify our own stiff-necked, fist-waving, God-cursing, me-loving selves. Scripture says:SThe wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. [Book of Romans Chapter 1:18-28] But enough "hate speech" -- as "Gay Games" sponsor Channel 5 might say -- from Saint Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles.
I'm writing this open letter to you (and copying it to every Illinois and Chicagoland Christian leader and layman I can possibly reach) to say, with all due respect:
Shame on you!
Shame on me!
Shame, shame on all of us!
Not because full-throttle, all-out Pagan hedonism is about to envelope Chicago's downtown lakefront, the University of Chicago, UIC, Northwestern University, Crystal Lake, and Oak Park. It's America, after all, and America is free to sin.
Not because we all stayed mousey-quiet as the Gay Games Machine rolled over scores of morally rudderless corporate sponsors like WMAQ-TV, Walgreens, Kraft, Sidley & Austin, American Airlines, Ernst & Young, Harris Bank, AT&T, AON, Exelon, UBS, CNA, etc. Sure, we're a day late and dollar short once again with our witness as Christian leaders, but that's not the worst of it.
Not because we stayed lamely mute as our state's Springfield leaders enshrined homosexual behavior as a protected "human right" a few years ago. Wisely or foolishly, some of us narrowly define our jobs to recuse ourselves from leadership on public policy questions, so that's not even the worst of it.
My friends, here's where we've really fallen down: Chicagoland is about to receive tens of thousands of desperately-needy gays and lesbians who -- like all straights who willfully reject the Lord Jesus Christ -- are facing a harsh, lonely, agonizing, horrific eternity without Him.
Homosexuals are coming here from the four corners of the earth -- voluntarily, at their own expense, gathering right on our doorstep in just five [now less than four--Ed.] weeks...
... And so far as I can tell, we orthodox Christian pastors and leaders have done virtually nothing to prepare!
NOTHING - NADA - NIL in terms of prayer, welcoming plans, hospitality, promotion, P.R., training, materials, food, literature, etc.
ZIP - ZERO - ZILCH to exploit this amazing opportunity to share the powerful Gospel of Jesus to our lost gay brothers and sisters, apart from which none can be saved.
Perhaps not since Sodom and Gomorrah has so much of the world's homosexual population been concentrated in one place. Because our Lord is in charge of the fire and brimstone, however,I think we're called now to rain-down something else on this global gay parade: The love of Jesus.
Maybe Lot's wife was fated to remind us of what Jesus demands us to be here in our fallen, sinful, depraved, and sexually-confused world: Salty witnesses, savory testimony to the King of Glory.
And yet, it seems we're about to drop that ball big-time with respect to the Gay Games.
How is it that we pastors can help collect 350,000 signatures for the Protect Marriage Illinois initiative to deter same-sex unions in Illinois... but we can't seem to make ready our flocks for the world's homosexual community, gathered on Chicago's lakefront?
Rev. Meeks, we got no game -- for the Gay Games?
Rev. Hybels, we have no suburban Christians willing to minister to these lost souls?
Everyone: Are we going to sit back and let Fred Phelps [of "God Hates Fags" notoriety--Ed.] and his picketing, gay-bashing, funeral-crashing, hate-mongering followers masquerade as the uncontested face of Christianity for the world's media gathered on Chicago's lakefront?
Brothers please correct me if I'm wrong. Maybe you, the G-8 [a pastors' group in Chicagoland] and other evangelical leaders have something going to which I haven't been privy. Maybe I didn't get the memo.
But I fear that there is no memo; that we've all fallen down here on our duty to lead.
Chicago was the springboard of Dwight L. Moody, Billy Sunday and Billy Graham -- giants of American evangelicalism and evangelism. They wouldn't have let this moment pass.
Chicago is the home of Moody Bible Institute, Wheaton College, Trinity International University, Christianity Today, Willow Creek, Salem Baptist, Moody Church, Pacific Garden Mission, Unshackled, and countless mission boards. How are we mobilizing?
Chicago is the home of Bishop Ford; Pr. Jeremiah Wright; Bill Hybels, James Meeks, Michael Easley, Erwin Lutzer, James McDonald, Bishop Arthur Brazier and Joe Stowell. Cardinal Francis George, one of Roman Catholicism's most faithful, orthodox leaders, leads one of the country's largest Catholic Archdiocese. My friends, what are we going to do about this moment at hand?
Here's something fascinating I read the other day, that may be applicable:For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the World to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. [John 3:16-17] What do you think, could this be applicable to the Gay Games? At Moody Church, where I served for a while, we were fond of saying that we were Believers who could change the City -- in a City that could change the World.
If this is still true...where is the evidence concerning this historic opportunity?
We're like so many ostriches, closing our eyes, jamming our heads down into the sands of North Avenue Beach -- or simply fleeing Illinois for sultry Michigan beach vacations and Bible conferences and retreats, hoping all those obnoxious gay people will just go away.
But my dear brothers, WWJD?
I think he'd be downtown on the lakefront July 15-22, loving those homosexuals as people created in His own image condemned by sin and the Law just as we were till someone lovingly shared the good news w/us and God in His mercy turned our hearts toward Him.
He'd be just as tough as the nails we all drove through his hands -- hating the sin, but deeply loving the sinners.
He'd be an annoying nudge to all of us, sometimes slow and distracted, red and yellow, black and white disciples.
And He'd probably be far less gentle on us all than I'm being right now! So, I think we simply have no choice. We MUST do something. And right now, I'm praying hard that you and others will take up this cross too; it's way too heavy for me alone.
Not long ago, Uptown Baptist got plaudits from Mayor Daley, plus BBC and NPR coverage, because summer crime figures dropped when our church set up a stand that offered "Free Lemonade and Prayer." Interestingly, addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes, gays, criminals, etc. took up both offers. For some, it changed their lives. (I can brag about this because I had nothing to do with it; it happened before I arrived as pastor).
So, subject to any better suggestions at this late hour, here's what I respectfully propose that we as Illinois Christian leaders are now going to do about the Gay Games. We are going to "come out of our prayer closets," and deploy our forces for:The Gay Love Offensive
1. Training: We're going to train our people on gay evangelism, on WWJD?, at one or more of the following:
Uptown Baptist Church, this Saturday, June 17, and on the opening day of the Gay Games July 15th. Our trainers will be John Greene, Syl Davis of Emmaus Ministries and me.
Near Grant Park is The Pacific Garden Mission (PGM), which will be our staging area for tracts and bottled water. July 15 ... We will also hold repeated open-air training sessions at our Gay Love Offensive headquarters [time and location to be announced].
Opening Ceremonies at Soldier Field. Streams of our gay citizens will be flowing by, listening in (or cat-calling), as they flow from the Chicago Hilton "Hub" of the Gay Games. That day, we'll see how many show up and organize for deployment again in Grant Park, and to other Gay Games venues, throughout the week. The PGM will be our hospitality, prayer, training, programming, and logistics, headquarters throughout the Gay Games. For information at any time, call ... me at 773-784-2922.
2. Programming: On the training day above, and on each day of the Gay Games at the "Free Water & Prayer", we'll be introducing one or more Out of the Closet Ex-Gays, who by the power of Jesus Christ and his shed blood, have forsaken homosexual practice and embraced obedience to God. Some will be celibate, some married now with children. But all will be telling their own stories of redemption for onlookers and the media. The Bible makes it clear, as will these speakers, that homosexuality is a sin rut, like so many others, from which Jesus can deliver anyone.
And of course, this absolutely flies in the face of the Gay Games storyline that "unbiased" big media outlets like NBC 5, the Chicago Sun-Times, The Chicago Defender, and The New York Times want so eagerly to promote. (Amazingly, all of these media are listed on the official Gay Games website as FINANCIAL SPONSORS -- not just reporters -- of the Gay Games!)
Finally, the joint action you two proposed at Willow [Creek Church] poses another crucial challenge to the pagan media story line: The loving witness of black/white/brown Christians against the inappropriate "civil rights" paradigm behind the homosexual legal and public policy agenda. More on P.R. and programming in the days to come. Any help you can deliver that shows the love of Christ, will be most appreciated.
3. Stuff: At the [Pacific Garden Mission], we're planning on supplying your flock (and other believers) with:
T-shirt uniforms for our Gay Love Offensive. They will be handsome, matching, conversation-starter tees that say nice things like, "Pray4U?" and "Forgiven?" and "Know Jesus"?
Lemonade and water bottles to give away free to passersby, with a kind word.
Excellent, thoughtful Gospel tracts designed to make passersby think hard about their current path in life -- whether or not they are gay.
All materials will show our website [www.uptownbaptistchurch.org], which will link to solid Gospel presentations and websites.
4. Funding: Bill, James, Erwin, Joe, the G-8 [pastors]-- and all of you other pastors, Christian leaders, businessmen, etc. reading this -- we need your funding help, right now. Uptown Baptist is a small, plucky church that gets 250 folks out on a good Sunday. One friend has told me he will give $20,000 for the Gay Love Offensive described above -- but only if you guys will help me out and match him on at least a 9:1 ratio, for a total of $200,000. But c'mon, this kind of money is NOTHING if we're actually serious about working side-by-side, black and white, to win lost souls for Christ.
This kind of money is NOTHING if we decide that we're actually willing to love and care for these homosexual brothers and sisters of ours. And rest assured, we stand to score millions of dollars worth of P.R. for the Gospel of Christ with relative pennies of expenditure on our side. But right now, I have almost ZIP- ZERO- ZILCH to get this done. We need your funding support, we need your people... and we need you.
5. Got a better idea? I will gladly defer to you, my pastoral seniors, in the planning and execution of any or all of this. You guys are the kings of logistics and big operations. Anything you want, it's yours. Want media? How about graphics? How about finance? Be my guest. Want lemonade and water bottle logistics? My pleasure to hand it off. Willing to help with speaking talent? C'mon on down. Whatever you are willing to do, we'll find a place for you and your people. Anyway, that's where we stand right now, at this moment.
If you have a better plan, I will eagerly cancel everything above, throw-in with you, including all resources and people who emerge from reading this message....
But, if you two (and all other Christian leaders reading this open letter) have no other plan at this late date, I trust and pray that you will throw-in your support with me and the UBC flock for the Gay Love Offensive.
Whether or not we like it, the Gay Games are coming in a few short weeks.
WWJD?
Your little brother trying to have a significant impact For Dad,
Michael N. Allen
Michael N. Allen
Senior Pastor
Uptown Baptist Church
seniorpastor@uptownbaptistchurch.org
773-784-2922
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