(Photo by Ethan Robertson on Unsplash)
Franklin Graham, the popular evangelist who heads the Samaritan's Purse worldwide Christian charity as well as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association that his famous father started, is scolding officials of the Methodist church in the United Kingdom.
It's because they're telling ministers that using the words "husband" and "wife" is "hurtful."
The church's ideology comes from the worldwide agenda to promote the LGBT lifestyle choices. Those lifestyles made the use of those words awkward because, for instance, when two men are "married," which is the husband, or are both?
Graham, online, wrote, "The Methodist Church in the United Kingdom has released its own 'Inclusive Church Language Guide' that urges ministers and church-goers to avoid using words such as 'husband' and 'wife' (and more) because those terms can be 'hurtful' and 'offensive.'"
He scolded: "Shame on the Methodist Church. These are biblical terms—and marriage between a man and a woman is biblical truth. The word 'wife' is used in some 360 verses in 38 books of the Bible."
Rev. Franklin Graham prays at the Republican National Convention on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020 (RNC video screenshot)
He explained, "They are in essence trying to edit what the Word of God says and teaches to be more appealing to the changing whims of culture. We are warned against that in Scripture. As Christians, we aren’t called to avoid what might offend people—we are called to share the Truth of God’s Word that can guide and direct us through every step of life."
A report from the Western Journal explained that the U.K. organization is telling ministers and parishioners to avoid "certain words on the basis that their usage makes 'assumptions' about one’s family life."
The church claims, "As Christians, we need to have the courage for conversations that can sometimes be difficult, to recognize that we sometimes exclude people, to listen with humility, to repent of any hurtful language or imagery and to take care with how we listen and what we say, write or depict, in the Spirit of Christ."
It explained about the "infinite variety in the way that God’s creation is expressed in human life," so, "Terminology such as ‘husband’ and ‘wife’ may sound inoffensive, but it makes assumptions about a family or personal life that is not the reality for many people."
.@MethodistGB brands terms 'husband' and 'wife' offensive.
This is not Christianity. It is Critical Theories: ‘smash heteronormativity.’
It is no longer enough to acknowledge disordered lifestyles. Everything normative and ordered must be demolished for fear of causing offence. pic.twitter.com/8OaUgMH6Nc
— Fr Calvin Robinson (@calvinrobinson) December 28, 2023
The report noted, "Other terms such as 'brothers and sisters' are also unacceptable on the grounds that it 'doesn’t take into account our nonbinary friends.'"
Going full into the "woke" ideology being promoted by leftists, the church said, "You might consider using ‘siblings,’ ‘friends’ or ‘children of God’ instead. Similarly, using ‘he or she’ could be exclusive; ‘they’ is also accurate and acceptable."
The statement explained the church organization wants to recognize the "harm" that has been done to "marginalized groups" by the church, and "make amends."
If you’re thinking of getting married in a Methodist Church, you’ll be able to have a conversation with the minister to make sure the ceremony reflects who you are.
Our Inclusive Language Guide helps us hold good conversations. Watch Lou and Jackie talk about planning a wedding… pic.twitter.com/0BwGpubCNL
— The Methodist Church (@MethodistGB) December 19, 2023
The church also instructs on how to address topics of ageism, racism, immigration status, "Islamaphobia," and more.
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