Bishop T.D. Jakes, founding pastor of The Potter's House in Dallas, Texas, remarks on the Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage
during a service on Sunday, June 28, 2015.
Jakes informed worshipers at The Potter's
House in Dallas that he had been "bombarded"
by various people wanting to know his
thoughts on the Supreme Court's ruling last
Friday that state bans on gay marriage are
unconstitutional.
"I'm not really as concerned about this as a lot
of people are," said Jakes during service on
Sunday, according to a video excerpt of his
remarks published online. "I'm really not as
concerned about it. I think that we should not
lose our mind about the world being the world
and the Church being the Church. This is not a
news flash. The world is gonna be the world
and the Church is gonna be the Church, and
you have to understand the difference."
The influential megachurch pastor, bestselling
author and film producer went on to explain to
his congregation that the Supreme Court, as a
worldly institution, has one job: to uphold the
rights of all Americans.
"The Supreme Court is there to make a
decision based on constitutional rights and
legalities that fit all Americans. They are not
debating Scripture," he said, which led to
applause from the congregation.
"They are just not debating Scripture," Jakes
repeated. "I guarantee you that they were not
in there looking at Romans 1 and First
Corinthians this and weighing it against the
policies."
"We have bought into all this rhetoric about
America being a Christian nation," Jakes said.
He went on to suggest that indeed America has
a lot of Christians in it, but the country is
governed as a democracy and not by
theocratic principles.
"But what we do need to watch is that our
religious freedom is also respected and
protected so that we don't have to get caught
up in the winds of the world and go the way
the world is going," Jakes added. "So we need
to watch that as we grapple with an ever-
changing society, and our society is becoming
more and more pluralistic. "
"There's nothing to say that Christianity will be
the dominant religion in this country. I hope it
will. It's up to us," he added, going on to say
that Christians have "stopped witnessing" and
"stopped winning souls" and continue to
isolate themselves from people who do not
"believe like we believe."
That runs against what Jesus commanded His
followers to do, he insisted, adding, "Jesus
said go into all the world and preach the
Gospel to every living creature."
"So we need to change as a Church too. We
need to start reaching out to all types of
people and preaching to them and ministering
to them and sharing our faith with them. I
don't mean on Sunday morning. I mean in the
mall, I mean in the grocery store, I mean while
you're getting your hair done. It's time for you
to be a real Christian. I mean a real Christian,
and win people to Jesus Christ. And you can
start in your own house," Jakes admonished
his flock and the countless others watching the
service via livestream.
Jakes, 58, rounded up his remarks by informing
worshippers that "God is still in control" and
giving them a stern warning about God's
judgement.
"The Supreme Court makes its decisions based
on the Constitution, debating the
constitutionality of any particular issue. But I must warn you, God does not judge you by the Constitution. He judges you by the Word of God. So while the Supreme Court is looking at the Constitution, you better search the Scriptures …,"
Jakes said.
This interesting prayer was given in Kansas, USA, at the opening session of their Senate. It seems prayer still upsets some people.
When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says: "Woe to those who call evil good", but that is exactly what we have done.
* We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
* We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it Pluralism.
* We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.
* We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle.
* We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
* We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
* We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
* We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
* We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.
* We have abused power and called it politics.
* We have embezzled public funds and called it essential expenses.
* We have insitutionalised bribery and called it sweets of office.
* We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
* We have ridiculed the time-honored values
of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh GOD, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Aamen!"
The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest.
In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa and Korea.
With the LORD'S help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and WHOLEHEARTEDLY become our desire so that we again can be called "ONE NATION UNDER GOD"
