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Subscribe to RSSWAUKEE, IA –- Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann yesterday attended a church here in Iowa, where the pastor called homosexuality "immoral" and "unnatural," and later showed a testimonial video from a man who claimed to have been gay before having a conversation with God.
Before the sermon at Point of Grace Church -- a non-denominational congregation near Des Moines -- Bachmann stood with her husband, Marcus Bachmann, before a crowd of about 100 people, clutching her personal copy of the Bible.
“This is a time that we need to be encouraged this week, not discouraged,” she said, referencing Friday night’s credit downgrade and Saturday’s news about the Navy SEALs killed in Afghanistan.
“Whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,” Bachmann said, reading from the book of Philippians, “think well on these things.”
The reading drew cheers. Pastor Jeff Mullen, standing next to Bachmann, took her Bible his hand. “There are some candidates who start running, and have this come-to-Jesus moment,” he said. "What I love about this Bible,” he said, “is how well it's used.”
Mullen offered a prayer honoring democracy. “We have a nation where people can still rise up and speak their voice, and say, ‘This is what I believe.’”
When Bachmann and her husband returned to their seats, Mullen began a half-hour presentation on his church's beliefs. Reading verses from the Bible to support his case, Mullen said, "We inherently know that homosexual behavior is immoral and unnatural."
“God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,” Mullen said, reading from the book of Romans.
Mullen’s sermon concluded with video testimonial from a man named Adam Hood, who claims to have been gay before experiencing a conversation with God. "I am so happy God has given me natural affection for a woman," Hood said in the video, adding that his wife is nine months pregnant.
"We need to have compassion for people that are bound by that sin," Hood added. "And it is a sin. Call a spade a spade."
The Bachmanns remained in the church for the duration of the service, and afterward posed for a picture with Pastor Mullen and his family.
In an interview with NBC News, Mullen called his sermon on homosexuality “a bedrock, just a Biblical truth we’ve taught over the years.”
“It just so happens they were here today,” Mullen said of the Bachmanns. “And we were teaching on both marriage and homosexuality.”
The Bachmann campaign released this statement on Mullen's sermon: "Michele was an invited guest, she always welcomes the opportunity to meet with parishioners."
The Point of Grace Church service was the second church event Michele Bachmann attended on Sunday. Earlier, they visited the Des Moines First Church of the Nazarene, where the presidential candidate discussed the origins of her faith and political life.
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Michele (we shouldn't raise the debt ceiling, cause nothing's going to happen and now that we're going to Hell in a Hand basket, it's happened on Obama's watch) Bachmann crazy?
REALLY!?
You had all better come to grips with the truth that most people have not fallen for the homosexual marketing ploy going on in the media. Most people like myself tolerate the fact that my fellow Americans choose to live a life of sin. Unfortunately the "gay community" has taken that tolerance to somehow mean that the rest of us "approve" of that lifestyle. You couldn't be more wrong. We tolerate in the hopes that you will come to your senses. You were not born gay or lesbian. It is an abnormal and destructive lifestyle. It isn't just christians or other religious views that see it that way.
You are confusing education with indoctrination. There was nor is any attempt to gain approval; just understanding. Part of that process is acceptance of the FACT that there is no choice. It is genetic and a part of ones makeup as much as eye color. No gay person needs your okay to live their life but no thinking person wants to hear their life denotes their "choice".
Bachmanns' husband makes his living off lies. Just because he hides his own feelings to make a living does not mean they are not there. Don't let his unfounded posture signify anything different. The man is a fraud preying on the susceptible. Obviously his wife's ambition outweighs his reality. Sad for them and sadder for the voters who put this corrosive team in office.
How soon they forget. How soon the women, the non-white, the non-land owner forget their own oppression at the very religion that they put before them.
How soon people like Bachmann, a woman, forgets that at one time women were not allowed to vote or have rights. How soon she forgets that if groups would stood their ground for equality and women's rights that she would not even be able to run for the President of the United States of America. How soon she forgets her own grandmothers past and continues the legacy of her grandfathers of persacuting and discriminating against all who are not like she is. For a women to be like this is too say that she is spitting on every women's rights group that have fought for her to be where she is today.
The only abomination that I can find in this article is the hate politics that Michele Bachmann is so busy helping prop up with the rest of the neo-Nazis’ in Iowa. You must remember that this is a person who has a real problem getting her facts right and in many ways has proven to be a loose cannon on the deck for the GOP because of her constantly making irrational statements before checking her facts or considering the audience that she is playing to. In many ways I hope that she gets the dap from the GOP to be their 2012 choice; again this is wishful thinking on my part because for all of my differences with the Republican Party on a number of key issues, I still respect their intelligence too much to think that they would make that fatal error by embracing the Tea Party crowd to that extent, just the same we will see.
I say this because today she is going after the Gay Community, so I have to ask myself who is she going to throw in front of the bus next time around?? Will it be Asians-Americans, Arab-Americans, Irish-Americans, Jewish-Americans, Latin-Americans, African-Americans, The Handicapped, the over weight, the not so attractive, the short, the tall, people with brown eyes, people with a big nose??? The list of possibilities with this type of extremist is long and for this reason we must be vigilant because we could be next. We all must keep in mind that those politicians who feel it necessary to play the race, or hate card have nothing of value to bring to the discourse besides the act of playing to the lowest common denominator and that is what makes them a danger to our society. They subscribe to the philosophy that the only way to win is to divide and conqueror. This woman is a true Pariah and is waiting to lead her band of fools to slaughter so each of you must decide if you are ready to get in line behind her or if you want to use your own head and support a person that is not the next megalomaniac waiting to happen. When I see her in action I have to say to myself, “I sure would hate to take a bite out of her because she’s pure poison.”
How ironic. If the Tea party had their way, we would all have to say what they believed.
Collapsed! Really? When and where is the book burning?
"a man who claimed to have been gay before having a conversation with God." You talk to god = prayer. God talks to you = schizophrenia.
Before the November elections, the rethugs were saying that their first priority was to create jobs. Where are all the new rethuglykkkan jobs???????
One of the best talking points in favor of homosexuality is that beings they don't reproduce there would be less Bachmanns and Palins in the world!
“Whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,” Bachmann said, reading from the book of Philippians, “think well on these things.”
I believe lesbians are pure and lovely. I'll be happy to think well on that.
"“God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,” Mullen said, reading from the book of Romans."
whoa - for reals? Better duck, then, buddy, 'coz god's about to whup your sorry sinful wicked arses for suppressing the truth!
What a stupid bitch - God help us if Bachmann is elected to anything.
This is just so sad. I wouldn't be a Christian if I believed Jesus hated gay people. Why can't people just accept that being gay is like having brown eyes or blue eyes? It isn't chosen. God made some people this way. The gay people I know are beautiful people with kind, caring hearts -- and YES, most are people of faith. Gay or straight -- it's so unimportant. I want Presidential candidates to focus on what really matter: education, jobs, health care, the elderly, the disabled, support for our soldiers. It doesn't matter if you're gay, straight, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu or Wiccan. We're all Americans and we all want is best for our country and everyone in it. Don't let politicians lead you to focus on things like homosexuality. There are many, many things that would matter far more to Jesus. Remember: Do unto others...
ChristianMom, thank you for your beautiful comment. My precious "baby" sis (7 years younger than I) died of cancer 4 years ago. She was gay. She was also a faithful church goer, a lover of all life, of people, of animals and highly respected by all of her many friends both gay, straight, male and female.
How about taxing all religions?
Why should they get a free ride?
Whats the difference between selling salvation and selling shoes?
If they don't believe in science, lock them up on the psych ward or exile them to some remote jungle location where people think like they do.
Free ride for religions is an old idea, religion servs the needs of the whole community or so it goes but atheist and others who don’t go to church are not served by this so either get rid of the tax deduction or give those who are not church goers a tax deduction.
Alex- Didn't you hear? The new jobs are a little further away nowadays- India and China.
I must say... the far right Christian Evangelical movement has really turned me off to Christianity, though I still have a spiritual life
lol
Anyone remember that racist church Obama went to for 2 decades?
Much ado about nothing.
At least Obama's church didn't recommend throwing our parents, our veterans, the unemployed, and the sick out on the street to make life cushier for the ultra rich
lol. Much ado about nothing.
Obama's preacher only advocated doing that to the whites.
Sax1031 - and your point is? I hope it is not that two wrongs make a right
the pres. says we will always be AAA. Is this right? That means not only did the rating not change but, he will never honor it.
sshhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit
All I know is that if Michele Bachmann somehow becomes president, Marcus will be the ugliest first lady ever!
Christians are so intolerant of anything that goes against their beliefs, but are the first to demand tolerance from the rest of us!!!
They are free to practice their wacky taradiddle...but they are not free to impose it on me, my family, my schools, my government or my country.
They forget that they are merely one group amongst many. Remember, 2000 years of silliness is still...silliness!
I don't understand......if your God is omnicient and omipotent why is homosexuality a persistent relationship type throughout living species? Homosexuality has been witnessed in over 1500 species of animals. Why would an all knowing all powerful God create the existence of a lifestyle deemed sinful across so many living species? Yes, homosexuality is a natural behavior in other animals that your God created. If it's so sinful why is it so common throughout living species?
great question - I bet you 6 bucks and an old gym sock that you don't get a rational answer devoid of dogma and of course, that old chestnut...free will!
I just want them to explain how penguins can make a choice to be homosexual based upon indoctrination and bad examples from other penguins ???????
You are funny; thepipster may have a point, yet I think it is more "Elmer Gantry". I have been a therapist for 32 years and I must say that what I have read of Bachmann's husband suggests he is a reaction formation in motion; he also sounds as if he might be a charlatan. She and her ilk always talk about democracy, yet they attempt to dictate what people do in their homes. She is a side show, but she and her husband will always make good money because they tell people what they want to hear and then pass the contribution basket around the congregation. Remember, if it is science, THEY will deny it and the crowd of uneducated masses will cheer them on. Bring on the chimpanzee next and get the crowd whipped up about evolution....YEAH!
In a certain sense this article is much ado about nothing---not, that is, that the Bachmanns' views are beside the point; rather, that, well, what else would you expect Mrs. Bachmann to do? Were she to express toleration for gays, it would be game over for her candidacy. And it's not just Republicans or Tea-Partiers who must kowtow to the so-called Christians; every single presidential candidate is obliged to play the game.
The problem Ihave with this reportage is that it tries to paint Michelle Bachmann as a religious extemeist becacuse sheis stading next tosomeone with extreme view who is touching her Bible. Yes theman has his own opinion,but so does every other member of the congregtion. And "sin"is in the eye of the beholder. That is-the person and the act are separated.
The second thing wrong is the failure to emphasize the idea of forgiveness-and here is where Michelle's new church falls down. pigs don't know pigs stink; they beleive everyone rolls in the m, but when they are out side of themud they have to have different behavior sud just as they do in folowing the new crowd.
The minister is still rolling around with the pigs. He is still emphsisizing the sin-not the salvation-not a differen tlife-and there is no talk of that differen t life. He never gets to "Iwill remeber this no more forever" as Isaiah puts it.
Sins are forgiven. MIchelle never says that-she too busy rollig withthe pigs insin. She like it as much as they to,because itgives her something to point - a supposed superiority. She never gets tothe concept "all have sinned"-including her.
Arlin - I think you may well be right - that is a point of view that I hadn't considered.
I thought there is supposed to be separation of church and state?!
Also, I have nothing against gays, but if you read the Bible, especially old testament, you will clearly see that it "is detestable" to God. You can still love them and others, but it doesn't make it right. This is if you take your scripture teachings from the Bible and not just pieces of the Bible or made up ideas that you want to fit into your lives. Yes the Bible says to love everybody, "even your enemy keep as your friend", but when it talks specifically about homosexuality, it is very clear on the matter. So here is a church that adheres strongly to the Bible and not someone's rule bending interpretation. - Good for them! God is all knowing and perfect, he doesn't change his mind to go with the times. It might sound like it but I am not a crazy religious freak. Far from. Haven't been to church in years and am not practicing, but I know what the Bible says and it is clear. I'm not a gay hater either.
If it is discovered that a bride is not a virgin, the Bible demands that she be executed by stoning immediately.
If a married person has sex with someone else's husband or wife, the Bible commands that both adulterers be stoned to death.
Divorce is strictly forbidden in both Testaments, as is remarriage of anyone who has been divorced.
The Bible forbids a married couple from having sexual intercourse during a woman's period. If they disobey, both shall be executed.
If a man dies childless, his widow is ordered by biblical law to have intercourse with each of his brothers in turn until she bears her deceased husband a male heir.
If a man gets into a fight with another man and his wife seeks to rescue her husband by grabbing the enemy's genitals, her hand shall be cut off and no pity shall be shown her."
"I know what the Bible says and it is clear"...ah yes...so it is - but you just want to focus on the homosexual part - selective bible following is bullsh*t