The truth about G. Craige Lewis, pt 2: Homosexuality and Aids

"GAY THIS!" "GAY THAT!"

Ever noticed that G. Craig can't make a presentation of any kind without bringing up homosexuality? He even goes so far in a recent blog as to criticize Kirk Franklin about his overcoming of porn addiction/ choice of music videos with these words:
"Kirk Franklin comes out and says that he has been addicted to porn for 20 years. He gets on Oprah to tell his story. But in his concerts, he thrusts his pelvis while he dances and does sexual gestures during his gospel performance? Then, he shoots a video wearing no shirt and having a greased up body? Yes, a preacher, minister to youth, and a Christian takes his shirt off in public to show his body in a video. Once hooked on porn? You paying attention? James 1:14-15"
The verse he so generously put with this passage states

14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

In other words, because Kirk Franklin has overcome this addiction, he shouldn't ever have his shirt off where the public or he can see it again? Oh, because he has his shirt off for his music video boxing match he is enticed by his desires so he not only is driving viewers of the video to porn, he is driving himself back into his addiction as well. Does this sound a little off to anyone else? Here is a link to Kirk Franklin's video, you look at it and leave a comment when you find a pelvic thrust:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJUY_FM_q3Q

My Co-Blogger, Clifton, actually attended a presentation of his in April 2007 at Faith Temple Church in Dallas, TX. Below are some notes taken by him and stated by G. Craige during the presentation concerning homosexuality:

· “You have a Flaming homesexual leading the praise team, flinging AIDS on everybody, and can’t nobody say nothing....”

· “Gay marriage don’t need to happen. Two big hairy stank men sharing rings don’t need to happen.

· "Because of the sins of our forefathers, America is now plagued by:

o Fatherless-ness

o Homosexuality/Lesbianism"

Flinging Aids on everybody? I haven't heard rhetoric like this since Hitler. Now I personally may not support a homosexual lifestyle (I love my beautiful girlfriend), but I CERTAINLY believe that there are better ways of communication then such inflammatory statements and presentations about this topic. Nothing is being accomplished by this, and, as far as I am concerned, this is the image of what many in the alternative lifestyle community have of Christians and people of faith. A Bible thumping, you are going to Hell screaming and pointing lunatic preacher. On top of that, more misinformation using statistics. That seems to be a favorite past time of his. Statistics at this presentation that failed the Google test as well as Snopes.com include:

o "40% of the African Americans in a high school were HIV positive

· 90% of the graduating students at Dillard high school were HIV positive"

Now I disproved these statements in part 1 of my post, but just look at the second stat. He claimed that 9/10 graduating students at a high school were HIV positive? Does that even sound as if it could be accurate in the worst social condition in America? That number is outlandish even for the most Urban, destitute portions of our country. Perhaps he was referring to another country? What's worse is that according to Clifton, the crowd was eating this up. He could say no wrong, do no wrong. This is incredible. Another disturbing statistic he has is that Black Children in the US now grow up without a father 77% of the time. Does that sound feasible or realistic? My Google searches at worst turned up the figure of 48%. While still a horrible number, definitely not 77%. Herein lies one of the biggest problem I have with G. Craige and his presentations. IF you claim to present facts, and are given that trust, shouldn't you do everything you can to ensure that your facts are accurate? At the very least, show sources. To quote one of G. Craige's targets, Shawn Carter, "We don't believe you, you need more people." He does all of his presentations from a nice looking Apple Mac Book, are you telling me he can't save an image of the website or google link he got it from and pull it up in front of the congregation, or at least in the program bulletin post some sort of bibliography? Of course he doesn't do this, because, sadly there is no need. Crowds that attend these functions by and large take everything he says at face value.

I'll be doing another post on the presentation Clifton attended and all of the other stuff he said, as well as some actual videos available on youtube of "minister" G. Craige. Stay tuned, and thanks to all of you who let me know you are reading this and find it interesting (I love hearing from people!)

The truth about G. Craige Lewis (Pt.1) (An introduction and two fallacies)

Do you know who G. Craige Lewis is? You should, because what he is saying will probably affect you in one way or another, especially if you are a Christian. His extreme, partially inaccurate views and his legendary attacks on Gospel artists and Workers in the Ministry has become nothing short of a witch hunt. I have watched almost all of his videos and presentations as well as read his blogs and his website. While his goals I believe are noble, I think that the (mis)information he presents has been distorted and has been used as a banner for extremist fundamentalist within the church. The first thing that jumps out at a listener to his presentation is that he appears to be extremely homophobic. The second thing that jumps out at you is that he has no problem with calling people out by name, even when it borders on slander. Case in point, during his earlier presentations (the truth about Hip hop) he openly attacked R&B artist Jill Scott (on his website as well) as a part of the Islamic spin off 5% movement. Look here. Completely untrue. I have looked at all of her liner notes, attended her concert, and read her biography. She does not hesitate at any point to give all glory to God and goes so far at her concerts to specify on stage that she praises the "God in Heaven who sent his Son for us!" I WAS THERE. I heard this at the Ryman auditorium in downtown Nashville, TN. Jill Scott is a Christian who believes in Jesus Christ. Does she sing about Sex? Yes. Does she sing about Love? Absolutely. IF you want to attack Jill on being sexual, fine. At the same time, she makes public disclaimers that her music is for adults. It has it's place. But to make public claims that she is part of a movement in which her stated belief in God is transferred to the belief that the black man is God (5%ism) is completely untrue and should not be tolerated. This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this man. He also attacks pastor's and Bishops in the church who he feels are inappropriately rich and who are only preaching of prosperity. Whatever good he says is completely compromised by his methods of delivery. This whole movement started back when he claims he received a vision in 1990, and now has mushroomed into a noted underground phenomenon, with churches throughout the country bringing him in and helping him to sell thousands of his dvds. The problem I have with G. Craige is that while he appears to know what he is talking about, many of his reported facts are patently wrong. Two that jump to mind are the Jay-z "murder, murder Jesus" snippet along with the High school with 60% aids in South Carolina. The High School Aids story he told is a known hoax explained at this website. The Jay-z snippet played backwards has already been completely debunked as being a DJ remix by DJ Danger Mouse with words jumbled and reassembled taken from the original song "Lucifer" from the 2004 Black Album. Here is where G. Craige makes his claim, and here is where it is debunked by a music fan. Yet even after careful research and study reveal this discrepancies, people still invite him in and fall for everything that he says, hook, line, and sinker. We as a Church need to realize that a concoction fed to us consisting of a little truth mixed with a little lie still equals an assault on our Salvation. This kind of deception is even more powerful and dangerous then an outright lie, because at the outset of the argument, he comes with Biblical text and emotion, and then proceeds to pull the wool over your eyes. Parents come to these presentations and bring their kids, and he terrifies the parents and in some instances sensationalizes the truth. Now the parent feels like they "know" whats going on and in some instances they are just in the dark as much (or more) then when they first walked in to hear the presentation. Over the next few posts I will be peeling back the layers on this interesting man and share with you a few things you may not have noticed or known at all about him, his "ministry" and the claims he makes about Christianity, the Church, Gospel Music, and the people around the church.