Hurray to Rick Warren for denouncing Uganda's anti-gay law, but where are other Christians?
Posted: Saturday, December 12, 2009
by Aaron Taylor
Aaron Taylor
As a career missionary to Africa, I fear what would happen to me on judgment day if I didn't speak out against what is happening in Uganda right now in the name of Christ. I was in the middle of typing my monthly newsletter when I decided to check my e-mail. The subject line read, "Pastor Rick Warren condemns Uganda anti-homosexuality bill." Hurray for Rick Warren, but my question is where's everyone else? Christian Right leaders in the U.S. are constantly griping that the media portrays them as bigoted towards homosexuals. Well Mr. Dobson and Mr. Sekulow, now would be a perfect time to prove them wrong. I'm still waiting for my urgent action e-mail.
I'd like to think that American Christian leaders have nothing to do with the direction that Uganda's government is sliding towards, but I know it's not true. For starters, I've been to Uganda and have lived and traveled extensively throughout Africa. Based on my experience, the level of influence that American pastors, evangelists, and missionaries have in predominately Christian countries in Africa is astronomical, especially when you consider how many African churches and ministries are dependent on American support. As difficult as it may be to believe, in most English speaking countries in Africa, American televangelists are like rock stars. The way the average Ugandan feels towards people like T.D. Jakes, Reinhard Bonnke, and Benny Hinn is what the average American feels towards people like—ironically—Bono. If I'm exaggerating, it's only slightly.
Lest I be misunderstood, I'm not suggesting that the above-mentioned leaders are guilty of stoking anti-gay bigotry in Uganda. I use their names only to underscore the fact that, in most cases, American Christian leaders wield a greater influence over the pop-culture in African countries than they do in their own country. Even pastors of small to mid-sized congregations in the U.S. can go to countries like Uganda or Kenya or Nigeria and preach to tens of thousands of people at a time—and maybe even meet with the country's leaders. It happens every day. American Christianity has enormous influence in Africa. With great influence comes great responsibility.
Let's not forget that there was a man about 80 years ago that came to power on the platform of criminalizing consensual gay sex. His name was Hitler. There's a reason why the Apostle Paul said to the Corinthian Church, "For what have I to do with judging those who are outside?" (I Corinthians 5:12) Paul must have known that when Christians try to legislate morality outside the confines of spiritual discipline within the Church, the result is usually an ugly monster that looks nothing like Christ. It's time for American pastors, missionaries, and evangelists, along with our African brothers and sisters declare loudly to the world—not in our name!
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Aaron D. Taylor is the author of "Alone with a Jihadist: A Biblical Response to Holy War" available wherever books are sold. To learn more about Aaron's ministry, go to http://www.aarondtaylor.com To follow Aaron on Twitter, go to http://www.twitter.com/aarondtaylor Aaron can be contacted at fromdeathtolife@gmail.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)I totally agree with you, Aaron, on this issue. And once again I am so proud of Rick Warren for how consistently he has demonstrated true Christ-like character. Like you, I am hoping that some of the evangelical big guns will add their weight and voices to Pastor Warren's. That could help to outlaw this new Ugandan injustice against homosexuals. To be fair I'm thinking they haven't spoken this hateful legislation because they have not heard about it yet. We shall soon find out. ~mogama~Mogama, I guess you know I'm Ugandan and my ex husband and father of my three kids is a Member of the Uganda Partliament.... Don't be in a hurry to praise Rick Warren, please read the full story, get the facts right. WHO sponsored the Bill??? Rick Warrren and other US Right Wing Politicians. In exchange for what? Huge funding for Abstinence only program to combat HIV/AIDS.Anyways, the Bill is NOT going to pass as is...I'd write more... but don't want get some people in Uganda in trouble....Martin Ssempa, a pastor who is a strong backer of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill is Rick Warren’s his longtime point man in Uganda. He is well known for the burning of condoms in the name of Jesus and for arranging the publication of names of homosexuals in cooperative local newspapers while lobbying for criminal penalties to imprison them. Gay activists named by Ssempa went into hiding following demands for their arrest.David Bahati, the Ugandan legislator who introduced the anti-gay bill is a member of the secretive network of conservative Christian movement in Uganda (a.k.a. The Family). U.S. politicians associated with the secretive network include GOP Sens. James Inhofe, Sam Brownback, Tom Coburn and Mike Enzi.
Mogama,I appreciate your comment. It's especially good to hear from a Christian that grew up in Africa. I was wondering if African Christians would think that I'm exaggerating the influence that American pastors, missionaries, and evangelists have in pre-dominately Christian African countries. I don't think I am, but I still would like to hear some African voices on this matter.
Aaron, I'm Ugandan born, raised and hope to be buried, and also with a very good understanding of Ugandan politics. No you're not exaggerating the influence of American pastors, missionaries, and evangelists in pre-dominately Christian African countries. I've been on this topic all week on another online community where people are well informed, educated and genuinely interested in what's happening in other parts of the world, and what you're saying is the view of the majority, with real facts and prove of the behind the scenes involvement of Rick Warren and his gang.
I forgot to say, thanks for writing the article. I wa snot particulalry excited by the title because it suggests Rick Warren did something remarkable when he's the one who started it all-- preying on Africans' fear of the Western type "family moral values gone wild". Nevertheless, it was pleasant to see someone who's actually been to Africa (and Uganda!) write about in on Searchwarp.Both sides of this Gay controversy are so BUSY in Uganda. It's the fight for the PEARL OF AFRICA (as Churchill called Uganda". A similar bill but much more kinder to the Gays is said to have been drafted in Rwanda and Burundi... that's the latest.Personally, I'm gald that this will open Ugandans' eyes as to WHO and WHAT is behind the smiling "preacher". Africans are so naive... so was , until I moved abroad and saw "Christianity" for what it really IS!
Thank you for your comments Yangki. Please know and understand that this is not real Christianity. Those who are trying to get this law passed are betraying the teachings of Christ.
As for Rick Warren and the Family, I did know those things. I think if Rick Warren is guilty of anything, it's naivety. I don't think that he would have ever approved of this if he knew what was going on. That's one of the problems with big-named pastors that do work in Africa. Often they don't know who they are working with. Some feel that the only reason that he denounced this bill is because of P.R. I disagree.
As far as the Family, I think they are so twisted and corrupt that they don't even know that they're betraying Christ with their actions.
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