Elton John on stage at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster, England: 2008.
Sixty-two year-old English singer-songwriter, composer and pianist Sir Elton John recently became the center of controversy among conservative Christians when he claimed that Jesus “was a […] super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems” in an interview with entertainment magazine Parade.
“On the cross, he forgave the people who crucified him. Jesus wanted us to be loving and forgiving. I don’t know what makes people so cruel. Try being a gay woman in the Middle East – you’re as good as dead.”
John spoke with Parade’s Dotson Rader about love, drugs, fame, his civil relationship with Canadian filmmaker David Furnish, religion and everything in between.
“Just about every relationship I ever had was involved with drugs,” recalled the singer. “But I always had to be with someone, good or bad, otherwise I didn’t feel fulfilled. I’d lost the plot.”
John and Furnish have been partners since 2005 and continue to appear together at celebrity events and fundraisers, including those held by the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Since the AIDS-related deaths of his close friends Ryan White and British musician Freddie Mercury, John has become a notable philanthropist and public spokesperson to raise awareness of the disease.
John’s recent comments on Christianity and Jesus, however, have drawn fire from conservative news media personalities and even Catholic League President Bill Donohue.
“Jesus was certainly compassionate, but to say he was ‘super-intelligent’ is to compare the Son of God to a successful game show contestant,” said Donohue.
“More seriously, to call Jesus a homosexual is to label him a sexual deviant. We’re not sure what’s worse—John’s ignorance or his intolerance. In any event, if we thought we could persuade him to issue an apology, we would try. But given his recidivism, we won’t even bother to ask.”
Donohue also added, “One thing is clear. Someone needs to straighten John out.”
During last night’s FOX News broadcast of “The O’Reily Factor,” conservative political commentator and host Bill O’Reily mentioned Sir John is his “Pinheads & Patriots” segment.
While O’Reily praised actor Jack Nicholson as a patriot for his visiting the Walter Reid Memorial Hospital to “raise the morale of wounded troops,” he slammed John’s comments.
“While the singer is correct in asking for compassion toward gay people, he is a pinhead for calling Jesus a gay man,” said O’Reily. “There is absolutely no evidence of that.”
Falafel Man certainly is projecting when he calls anyone a “pinhead.” I also have to wonder why Donohue, leader of a tiny hate group, gets so much media play.
What in the Gospels makes people think Jesus was gay? Wow, misinformation sure runs deep.
I always enjoyed this article regarding gay marriage and homosexuality.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/wow/how-respond-to-gay-marriage
Jesus certainly didn’t misspeak about the issue in Matthew 19:4-6.
This is nothing but a fading star’s far-cry, Tiff very sad to read such a stuff on the pages of this site. Such people should be condemned by one and all,especially the christian believers. This looks like a cheap publicity for his fading career. So Sad, So sad.
So everyone who is compassionate and forgiving must be gay?
Philip, it’s funny that you said this was so sad…so sad..it made me think of Elton’s song, “sorry seems to be the hardest word.”
@Beau thanks for the link. @Sheryl I guess so…
An open response to Elton John—
You are loved by Christ. More than you can imagine. In fact you never leave His mind and heart. He never stops thinking about you. Before He ever made the world you were on His mind.
With a sorrow only a Father can know, He has traced every dark corridor of your days and nights with a trail of His own tears.
Does Christ desire to draw you close to His heart? You bet.
Was Jesus gay? Absolutely not. If you think so you have tried to mold God into your own image. He wants to mold you into His.
Peter Lamb
http://www.lambcreek.com
Thanks Tiff for the note on my comment, I fully go with Mr. Peter Lamb,Elton, though you made such a statement about our Savior, He still loves you.
Thanks to everyone for the feedback on this piece. @ Sheryl–it certainly does seem that the stereotypes about gays are becoming increasingly ridiculous and over-exaggerated. i.e. those males who are gentle and loving are seen as feminine, etc. No wonder Jesus is such as easy target for them!
@Phillip–while Elton John’s comments were certainly out of line, I do not believe at all that he should be “condemned by one and all, especially the Christian believers.” If anything, it should be opposite–this should be an opportunity for someone to speak the grace and truth of Christ and the Gospel into his life. After all, that’s what Christ calls us to. Yes, God loves him and so should we.