I understand that there are all sorts of views about gay people and about what marriage should or should not be. I have my own views (I am convinced that I deserve the same civil rights as any heterosexual person in the country) but I'm not incapable of rational debate on the issue with people. However there's a difference between rational debate and this:
Now do I think God brings judgment on a society that encourages homosexuality? I do. And since I am a pastor and God has commanded me to love everyone, I will do what it takes to love them. That does not mean I will accept that they stay the way they are. Unrepentant sin destroys you and will kill you. So if I believe the word of God, that He will bring judgment on a people, then I would be a very bad shepherd not to warn those people.
That was published in an op ed on CNN's site. Are we really still at a point in the national debate where it's okay to suggest that a minority group is worthy of death? The piece goes on to suggest that homosexuality should be actively wiped off the face of the earth:
God said in the Book of Romans that the sin of homosexuality is going against your own self. It is unnatural; nothing is natural about homosexuality. When a man desires another man more than a woman, or when a woman desires a woman more than a man, the bible says that is unnatural and God is against it (Romans 1:24-27.) Here I am as a pastor dealing with what God has said. Homosexuality should not be accepted as just another way of life. Indeed, we have gone way past that in our culture and in every aspect, God has stood against this.
[...]
Thus the Bible is true. If you don’t stand against sin it will destroy a society.
The opinion piece doesn't lay out any particular strategy for how to stand up against this sinning and eliminate it from society. It does note all the horrendous consequences that have occurred in places where marriage is now legal for loving gay couples ("Catholic services refused Catholic service!" "A photographer got sued in New Mexico!") and tells its readers that if we don't do something we'll see more of these horrific things.
The writer wants to send the message that the people of Washington state should be protected from these sinners:
You stood on my word, you led my sheep, you protected my sheep, and thus you have done a great job.
And CNN of course attempts to shield itself from any criticism by linking an "opposing view" at the beginning of the piece. While I am of course happy that CNN reached out to someone who doesn't want to see God kill gay people, I'm still not very comforted. What kind of message does this send to people? Gay kids are committing suicide in huge numbers, anti-gay violence always increases when there are legislative attempts to hurt gays, and now news organizations are giving platforms to people who are violently threatening gays?
This is not just an opposing view. It's abhorrent. It's violent. CNN and other news organizations already allow hate groups like Family Research Council to spout homophobic rhetoric on their shows while describing the groups as "Christian" or "Family" organizations. CNN just suspended Roland Martin for violently homophobic tweets a couple days ago. Now they're following it up with an op ed that calls for violence against gays outright?