A Child is Taught Homophobia by The Church in Lock down

The Apostolic Truth Tabernacle in Greensburg, Indiana, has gained widespread attention this week following publication of a video purportedly showing a young boy singing a song about homosexuals and heaven. In the wake of the uproar surrounding the on-stage performance, the church is on lock-down. The furor has been so intense, that church members report receiving death threats and the house of worship’s pastor, Jeff Sangl, has purportedly gone into hiding.

Despite intense criticism, some church members are standing by the controversial performance. TMZ quotes one congregant who apparently doubled down on the song, claiming that it is rooted in Biblical teaching. 

“The people who are upset just don’t read the word of God,” the church member said. “If we don’t teach the children the truth early they will never learn.”

As for the applause and support for the boy’s singing, another member said, “Of course we applauded a child who is singing a song about God.”

According to sources, Pastor Sangl  left for an unplanned vacation immediately following the national controversy and no one knows exactly where he is. Harassing calls and death threats have apparently followed as well, with the church has issued a statement: 

The Pastor and members of Apostolic Truth Tabernacle do not condone, teach, or practice hate of any person for any reason. We believe and hope that every person can find true Bible salvation and the mercy and grace of God in their lives. We are a strong advocate of the family unit according to the teachings and precepts found in the Holy Bible. We believe the Holy Bible is the Divinely-inspired Word of God and we will continue to uphold and preach that which is found in scripture. 

Pastor & Mrs. Jeff Sangl (ApostolicTruthTabernacle.net)

The boy, who many believe to be no older than five, seems to sing the anti-gay lyrics three times during his performance. The words, a play on Bishop G.E. Patterson’s “I Know The Bible Is Right,” are intensely troubling to gay advocates and others who believe this sort of rhetoric doesn’t belong in houses of worship.

Here are Patterson’s original lyrics: ”I’ve told you time and time again, you can‘t make it to Heaven while you sippin’ on gin‘ and ’I’ve told you once, I’ve told you twice, you can’t make it to Heaven with a sweetheart and a wife.”

And here‘s the young boy’s version, complete with anti-gay sentiment: “I know the the Bible’s right, somebody’s wrong, the Bible’s right, somebody’s wrong, Romans one, twenty six and twenty seven, Ain’t no homos gonna make it to Heaven.”

Events like this only emphasize the need for gay rights to be on the forefront. These people without knowing are saying that gays need the help of the general public.  These are the same statements that have been made about other minorities or groups that at the beginning were denied citizenship and decency of treatment.  It also says that we do need gay marriage, We need the laws that everyone else has, as soon as possible;  Because the more we wait the more the people will be expose and damaged from stunts like these. To put a child to do this, without having respect we afford to children because “they are children.” Who did you hate at age 5? But really this goes very well with this type of religion.  They preach that what ever you teach to children it stays for life. I know that very well, having been part of it as a child. I also know that the previous statement is only a half truth.  Yes what you teach a child stays with a child, but also when you damage a child, it stays with the child.

I know of parents ( one of them being a niece) that wont take her children to church, unless is a special occasion like Easter, Christmas etc. She said to me and her mother in law who asked why she did not take her children to church more often. She answered, I'm not going to force any religion on my children, because they are children. “What if when they grow up they want to be of a different religion or no religion.  Religion is something that every one should decide by themselves and not force upon by their parents.”

What a beautiful statement, but what a great thought. Do not force any religion on your children. Why? it’s unfair to them. Let them decide when they are older when they know what they are doing.  One thing is to seek fellowship and be in the company of your neighbors and friends in a church celebrating on event. Another thing is to see the church as an instrument of putting religious ideas in a child’ mind   so the child follows your path. This is done on everyday basis. Using every other day to reinforce a belief, what ever that belief might be.  Even the boy scouts don’t meet every day.

I hope that the attention this is getting brings positive change.  This is not the first time a child is been put up to no good, but this time everyone knows about it. Amen

Adam for adamfoxie*