The sermon was not only for gay people, says Grace Bible Church
The church says the guest pastor's whole sermon was 'very provocative' towards everyone, not just homosexuals.
Choreographer Somizi Mhlongo. Photo: Gallo Images / Sowetan / Bafana Mahlangu
Grace Bible Church has responded to the backlash it received from one of its members, choreographer Somizi Mhlongo, following a homophobic sermon. Speaking to 702, the church said it welcomed gay people and never discriminated against people based on their sexuality.
Speaking on behalf of the church, Pastor Ezekiel Mathole said guest preacher Bishop Dag Heward-Mills’ whole sermon was “very provocative” and that it was not only for gay people. He said the church respected gay people’s views and were more than welcome to be a part of their Sunday services.
“The entire sermon was very provocative, it provoked and challenged a lot of people and offended many people. It offended people who are liars, it offended people who are promiscuous, it offended people who are thieves, and then it dealt with issues around people with different sexual orientations; whether they are male and have different partners or they are homosexual. So across the board, it did not only offend the LGBT community, it offended a lot of people. It was a very very provocative sermon,” he said.
Somizi on Sunday stormed out of the church during a sermon and said he could not sit there while the guest pastor offended him with his homophobic sermon. According to the choreographer, the guest pastor said homosexuality was “sinful” and “disgusting” and that not even animals “practised” it.
Also read: Somizi storms out of Grace Bible Church over homosexuality remarks
In a video he posted on Instagram after the incident, Somizi made a plea to churches to be vocal about whether or not gay people were accepted so he could look for a different place of worship if his sexuality was a problem.
“I would like to make a plea to churches, and mine particularly, because I go to Grace Bible Church. Pastor Mosa Sono, say it out that homosexuality is not allowed, homosexuality is a sin, gay people must not come to our church.
“Say it so that we know because we go to church to speak to our God, whom I believe accepts me for who I am, whom I believe created me the way I am,” he said.
However, the guest pastor had a different view from Somizi, as he believes homosexuality to be “unnatural”.
Watch the sermon that left Somizi fuming below:
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