Elton John on organized religion

[Brian Hammons]

I thought Sir Elton's view on organized religion is at least interesting, if not an outright indictment. Do we give his point of view more or less consideration in light of his celebrity status &/or sexual orientation?

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/13/britain.eltonjohn.ap/index.html

[Terri Knoll]

I love Elton John! I believe he is one of the most talented artists there are. His celebrity status IS what makes his words have some weight. I agree with him actually.
From what I have read about him, he is a very gracious and generous man. His sexual orientation is none of my business (nobodys is...ewwwwwwwwww...) and I agree with his call for celebs to cry for peace! it does seem they are less ready to put their status on the line. it's a shame.

[Barb Bouldrey]

Why should we be surprised, interested or convicted when a homosexual man attacks religion?

He is way off base accusing all religion of turning hatred toward homosexuals. That is an OLD standard gay agenda accusation. We IN the church world know there are religious groups who preach hatred, but most churches preach, "love the homosexual, hate the sin."

He is way off base to accuse religious leaders of doing nothing to help the conflicts of the world. It shows his ignorance of the religous world.

People who live in darkness do not like the Light, do not want to know the Light and attack the light to defend their darkness.

Elton John is a very talented, gifted man who does a lot of charitable work. But he is anti-relgion and lives a life of darkness.

The gay people of the world cheer him on, pat him on the back and say,"Preach it Elton! Go get 'em." And then justify their sin with his words.

Barb

[Brian Hammons]

Why should we be surprised, interested or convicted when a homosexual man attacks religion?Barb

I believe we should be interested or convicted because it is religion (i.e. christianity/the love of Jesus), whether organized or personal, that needs to reach out to Elton John and others of the gay community. I know that many see a distinction between religion and being a follower of Christ, but I can imagine that homosexuals that share the same/similar feelings of Sir Elton don't see that distinction, or even care.

I don't feel that we can begin to minister to this segment of our society until we begin to acknowledge how they feel regarding having backs turned to them. And we cannot hardly begin to argue with how someone "feels."

[Barb Bouldrey]

I agree that someone needs to try to win Elton John to Christ.

I agree we need to understand the hurt that many homosexuals experience from family and community.

I agree that we need to make an active effort to reach the lost..including homosexuals.

But I should not be surprised at their words against religion. And why should I allow any homosexual to shame me with lies about religion?

If he said, "some areas of religion", "I don't see many relgious groups trying to help.." then he would be speaking truth. He is condemning ALL religion as anti-gay and anti-helping in world conflicts.

And people will believe him because he is famous.

Barb

[Jim Franklin]

Who is Elton John?

[Gina Stevenson]

... well, I was going to add to this that, in spite of what he may or may not say about "religion," he's written some all right lyrics, that we even sung in church before! Well, I now see -- looking them up on the web -- that tho' he did write an OK melody to these lyrics, it was someone else's lyrics! A friend at church years ago got this off of a tape, we played and sang it together -- Father's Day.

http://www.eltonography.com/songs/the_greatest_discovery.html

'Still is a really neat song ... a daddy's introducing his little one to his brand hew baby brother. ;)

Lyricist, btw, is Bernie Taupin [we'll try the pasting from a URL seems we've seen in the box where we upload pictures; nevermind; it said: "invalid file" when I wrote the above into the form; tho't if it was considered "valid," the lyrics would appear here, rather than just the URL that we already have above. Haven't used that "gizmo" before; how does that work? We'll have to try it with something else sometimes, I guess, to find out. ;) ]

[Brad Mercer]

Who is Elton John?

He was a very popular singer in the 1970's, with a few hits in the 1980's and early '90's. He continues to be a big concert draw. He has always been very flamboyant in his concerts, and publicly acknowledged his homosexuality in the 1980's, I think.

I don't for a minute doubt that his description of Christianity as something that "turns people into really hateful lemmings and [is] not really compassionate" reflects his personal experience. I think it should prompt us to repentance rather than defensiveness.

We have to love such people, and love them convincingly, before we can really hope to draw them to Christ. I think we've done an awful lot better job of hating the sin than of loving the sinner, in many cases. I think if we did a good enough job of the love part, they'd share their pain and shame with us as friends, and the Holy Spirit would do the rest. We tend to be too busy doing the Holy Spirit's job of convincing and convicting to do our job of loving our neighbor as ourselves.

Brad

[BobHunt]

because it all fosters hatred of the homosexuals." Elton John

Real religion doesnt...its the false religions that do. Besides, it isnt religions, its a relationship.

[Gina Stevenson]

Oh, if I'd not lost a bunch of stuff from my computer awhile back! Don't have time now to retype them in, but "Love the Sinner" speaks of this. It's a song that I'll post the story behind along with the lyrics someday; very apropos for this thread, it seems. Here are just a couple of excerpts:

(fm v.1) When you see your brother (sister) who's fallen by the way,
Do you say, "How awful!" and quickly run away ...
To find yourself a listening ear (there's that gossip!),
Or do you feel his pain, and breathe his name to Jesus,
So that s/he might be reclaimed?

(fm v.3) We may be the only form of Jesus some may know.
Will we draw others to Him, or will they want to go ...
As far away as they can go, because we do not show ...
That the only life that's worth the while ...
Is with Jesus in control?

CHORUS: Hate the sin but love the sinner, don't treat him with contempt,
For we're to show him Jesus' love, and never to attempt ...
To put him down before others, think we're much better than they.
All our righteousness is as filthy rags,
It's by God's mercy we are saved today.

Well, I ended up putting nearly all of it here, afterall, didn't I? Long story short that is behind the song ... realized "eons" ago my disgusting attitude about something/someone, and felt awful ... repented, talked to them about it ... wrote this song, etc ....................

OK, gotta go!


He was a very popular singer in the 1970's, with a few hits in the 1980's and early '90's. He continues to be a big concert draw. He has always been very flamboyant in his concerts, and publicly acknowledged his homosexuality in the 1980's, I think.

I don't for a minute doubt that his description of Christianity as something that "turns people into really hateful lemmings and [is] not really compassionate" reflects his personal experience. I think it should prompt us to repentance rather than defensiveness.

We have to love such people, and love them convincingly, before we can really hope to draw them to Christ. I think we've done an awful lot better job of hating the sin than of loving the sinner, in many cases. I think if we did a good enough job of the love part, they'd share their pain and shame with us as friends, and the Holy Spirit would do the rest. We tend to be too busy doing the Holy Spirit's job of convincing and convicting to do our job of loving our neighbor as ourselves.

Brad