Republic of Gilead: Singapore

Lawrence Khong is senior pastor at the Faith Community Baptist Church in Singapore. Khong, an anti-LGBTQ voice who disapproved of efforts to repeal Singapore's anti-LGBTQ legislation, has preached alongside American Religious Right preachers such as Cindy Jacobs and Jim Garlow. In May, Khong and Garlow spoke at the Momentum 2013 conference at Faith Community Baptist Church, where Khong's homophobic rhetoric echoed that of his American counterparts. Gay Star News and Bikya News reported on Khong's sermon at the gathering, "God's Pattern for Marriage", which demonized the LGBTQ community and blasted LGBTQ advocacy as unchristian.

At the 2:49 mark, Khong depicted homosexuality as a "diabolical plot" by the devil to undermine the family and civilization. He listed the LGBTQ movement, Islam, and Christianity as the three chief global movements that seek to change the world.

"I believe that God has awakened the church to face one of the greatest attacks on the family by the evil one, an attempt to tear down the basic building blocks of civilization, a diabolical plot to bring in a new level of lawlessness in human history. You see, there are basically three global movements around the world that seek to impact and influence the world. The first is Christianity, the Christian faith ... The second global movement to impact the world and wants world influence is Islam. The Muslim faith desires to Islamitize every country and every nation of the world. But the third movement is the homosexual agenda. It is a political movement that seeks to normalize homosexuality and the homosexual lifestyle around the world."

Khong stressed that he is not ignoring other sins in favor of condemning homosexuality. However, because the LGBTQ community has a global movement behind it, it deserves special attention, he explained. At the 5:46 mark, he elaborated on this point.

"What we are talking about is a movement to normalize a sinful lifestyle and say, 'this is the norm for society'. We're talking about what is mentioned in Isaiah 5:20. "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil" ... There are many global issues in the world. For example, prostitution is one of the global issues in the world, but there is not a movement around the world that legalize[s] and normalize[s] prostitution. Human trafficking, very much related to prostitution, is a major global issue around the world, but there is no movement around the world to say, 'it is okay, let's legalize it'. Drug addiction is a growing problem around the world, even in Singapore, around the world, but there is not a political movement to seek to establish that it is okay, let's all do it, or let's accept it as something that is okay. But there is a movement around the world that seeks to promote the LGBT agenda and make it a norm for society to the extent that we must redefine what marriage is about."

Khong complained that the LGBTQ community supposedly has disproportionate power in many branches of society, such as media, government, and business, despite comprising only a small percentage of the global population. He lamented that the LGBTQ rights movement allegedly has more power than churches across the world.

Branding the LGBTQ rights movement as "diabolical", Khong warned that the movement starts by asking for tolerance. "They play the victim card. This is true in every country in the world," he said. Once "sodomy" is legal (i.e., if Singapore's 377A law is repealed), the LGBTQ community asks for "acceptance", he claimed. Anti-discriminatory laws emerge, so if someone says homosexuality is wrong, gays can sue them in civil court, or state will punish them. In making this claim, Khong caricatures anti-discrimination legislation, ignoring what such legislation actually says. Then comes celebration of gays as "preferred lifestyle", just as in ancient Greece, Khong claimed. In such a situation, women are reduced to breeders, and sex between two men is glorified as the highest expression of sexuality. The fact that lesbian women, bisexuals, and straight allies are part of the LGBTQ movement seems to have escaped Khong, who can only imagine the LGBTQ "agenda" as an oppressive male one.

Then, he claimed, homosexuality is promoted as a social good, and society is subjected to "forced participation" in the gay "program". As examples of this alleged forced participation, Khong cited businesses that have been boycotted for refusing to collude with same-sex marriages, as well as Christian welfare organizations that have lost tax-exempt status for refusing to let same-sex couples adopt children. The fact that discriminating against same-sex couples is unethical seems to have escaped Khong, who can only see resistance to discrimination as "forced participation" in some diabolical gay agenda. Finally, Khong claimed that the LGBTQ seeks to punish its oppressor and enshrine sexual orientation as a human right.

At the 17:25 mark, he urged believers to see homosexuality as an "abomination" that God hates, lest they fail in their mission to be salt and light for the earth.

"Unless you understand that the Bible calls this [an] abomination, that God hates it with all his heart, we will not be able to rise up and take a proper position in which we become the light of the world and the salt of this earth."

God's pattern for marriage is between a man and woman for life, Khong insisted. Any sexual activity outside heterosexual marriage is sin, he said, be it premarital sex, same-sex sexual activity, or any kind of "sexual perversion".

Khong recounted the Genesis creation story, telling listeners that God created the first human (adamah) in his image. God extracted the feminine aspect of adamah, creating Eve, thus establishing Adam and Eve as complimentary halves of a primordial whole. A man or woman alone cannot express the fullness of God's image, Khong insisted. Only together as husband and wife do the two halves of the original adamah reunite and reflect the image of the divine. Two men or two women cannot express the image of God as a heterosexual couple can, he claimed.

Marriage is for children, Khong argued, but two partners of the same sex cannot conceive offspring through sexual union. For this and other reasons, Khong dismissed the idea of same-sex marriage at the 28:15 mark, calling same-sex relationships "sacrilege" and "the vilest of blasphemy".

"There's no such thing as a gay marriage. Don't ever say that ever again from this church. There's no such thing. Gay marriage [is] an oxymoron. If someone says 'gay marriage', you say, 'you are redefining what marriage is' ... It's moving away from the natural and what is in line with the image of God. Gay marriage, bringing of two men together, two women together, is the greatest profanation of God, the worst kind of sacrilege, the vilest of blasphemy against God!"

He called same-sex marriage a "diabolical" attempt by the Devil to "tear down" the image of God. He dismissed LGBTQ Christians and queer theologians who claim that the Bible does not forbid homosexuality, insisting that the story of Lot and the angels in Sodom was indeed condemnation of gay sex. Oddly, Khong didn't seem perturbed by Lot offering his virgin daughters to the Sodom mob in the story.

Khong favorably paraphrased Jim Garlow, a fellow New Apostolic Reformation preacher, at the 42:38 mark. His words suggested that demons might have a role in promoting same-sex marriage (!).

"What God has joined together, let no parliament, no court of law, no judges, no legislation, no community of men or demons redefine the marriage that God has set as a basic pattern of life."

At the 43:57 mark, Khong dismissed liberal pastors and theologians who do not see scripture as inerrant, accusing them of sacrificing their salvation.

"You're going to go out, and you're going to hear pastors who are liberal. There's a whole apostate church in the church of Jesus Christ, and its' everywhere. People, seminary teachers [who say] that Bible is not the ultimate source of authority. In fact, they will teach [that] the Bible is just a good book, it's not even the word of God, so we don't take it seriously. Forget that! They are not even saved! I can tell you that. This is the apostate church. It is! And God will take care of it in the last days."

In short, "God's Pattern for Marriage" cast same-sex marriage and LGBTQ equality as diabolical, depraved, and corrosive to society. Instead of recognizing LGBTQ persons as human beings deserving of rights, Khong cast their love as an "abomination" and their partnerships as "blasphemy". Vicious homophobia, sadly, is not limited to the American Religious Right.

Khong's harsh rhetoric did not go unnoticed by Singapore's LGBTQ community. Leow Yangfa, editor of the LGBTQ anthology I Will Survive, was appalled by Khong's hateful words. In an interview with Gay Star News, Yangfa said that Khong's homophobia was "beyond disbelief", adding that Khong's Christian fundamentalist ilk wield disproportionate power in Singapore.

"How is it that someone like that can spout such hate? It's beyond disbelief. That's not the first video and that's not the first time he's opened his foul mouth to say such things.

It's not just homophobia but Islamaphobia as well. Although in Singapore we don't have legislation to protect people against homophobia, we do have laws that protect people against discrimination based on race and religion. So he should be caught out on that. He's making hateful comments not just about gay people but about non-Christians.

It's a known fact that the Christians are in a minority as a religion in Singapore, but it's quite clear they exert disproportionate power and influence in the country."

With luck, enlightened Singaporeans will recognize the harms of homophobia and the dangers of Religious Right rhetoric such as Khong's. Hostile rhetoric burdens LGBTQ people and their loved ones, dehumanizes real human beings, and poisons spirituality. Fundamentalism and bigotry are harmful, whether they fester in the East or the West.

For more information about Lawrence Khong and Faith Community Baptist Church, visit their website.

(Hat tip to Bartholomew's Notes on Religion)

Monday, May 13, 2013

News Tidbits

Huffington Post: Uproar In Muldrow, Oklahoma, After Classroom Ten Commandments Displays Prompt Lawsuit Threat

The Advocate: Bachmann Link Gay Rights to 9/11 in 'Pray Day' Push

Bikya News: Singapore Christians continue anti-LGBT push

The Namibian: Namibia: Gays offended by sermon

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Commentary Tidbits

People for the American Way: Polygamy, Mass Murder, and the End of Capitalism: The Top Ten Religious Right Claims on the Consequences of Marriage Equality

Colorlines: The Missionary Movement to ‘Save’ Black Babies

The Ramblings of Sheldon: Exposing Extremism: Illinois Family Institute

Faith Forward: “Burn it all down” isn’t Christian: A Response to Mark Driscoll

Bilerico Project: Cardinal Dolan to LGBTs: Wash Your Hands Before Entering My Church

The New Civil Rights Movement: Gay Catholic Leaders Weigh In On Use Of NYPD To Bar Gay Catholics From St. Pat’s Cathedral

Alternet: My Big Virginity Mistake

Huffington Post: Gays and the Myth of the Christian Minority

Salon: Is the Catholic Church even trying to make sense on marriage equality?

Right Wing Watch: Religious Right Panelists at Awakening 2013: Gay Rights Activists are Christ-Hating Fascists

Bartholomew's Notes on Religion: Third Wave “Apostle” Calls For Homosexuality to Remain Criminalized in Singapore

RH Reality Check: Bishops Tap Veteran of Islamophobic, Homophobic Legal Shop as Top Flack

News Tidbits

NJ.com: Opponents of gay 'conversion therapy' bill invoke Jerry Sandusky's name

Raw Story: Minnesota lawmaker and minister: Marriage equality foes always cite the Bible

Gay Star News: Singapore pastor calls LGBT rights movement the 'onslaught of the evil one'

Gay Star News: Investigation reveals National Lottery funds awarded to homophobic British faith groups

Hagerstown Herald-Mail: School board cancels trips to Antietam Recreation after parental complaints about 'spiritual' message

KAIT 8: Grade school graduation canceled following prayer controversy

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

News Tidbits

Colorado Independent: In malpractice case, Catholic hospital argues fetuses aren’t people (Hat tip to The Way Forward)

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Mars Hill pastor Mark Driscoll: Obama “likely does not know” God

Washington Blade: ‘God hates f*gs’ signs displayed on inaugural route

Reuters: Controversial Kansas abortion clinic to reopen this spring

Pink News: Anti-gay evangelist Scott Lively: ‘Gays will crush religion and persecute Christians’

NPR: Sundance Subsidy Stirs Conservative Pushback

The Advocate: Georgia: Public Funds Support Scholarships at Antigay Private Schools

Out: God Loves Uganda director was outed while making the film

Courthouse News: Fired Worker Doubts That God Did It

Gay Star News: Singapore Christians rally for battle against repeal of anti-gay law

Punch: Nigeria: Same-sex marriage will wipe out humanity, says Pastor Enoch Adeboye

Thursday, January 17, 2013

The Religious Right Around the Globe: Singapore Pastor Warns of "Looming Threat" of LGBTQ Activism

On January 13th, Singapore's Faith Community Baptist Church welcomed former Singapore prime minister Goh Chok Tong to a Sunday worship service at the TOUCHCENTRE. Lawrence Khong, senior pastor of Faith Community Baptist Church, used Goh's visit as an opportunity to condemn LGBTQ activism and voice his disapproval of efforts to repeal Section 377A of the Singapore Penal Code. Like his counterparts in the U.S., New Apostolic Reformation preacher Khong warned of social breakdown and eroded rights if LGBTQ rights made headway.

Section 377A outlaws sexual acts between males, making such acts punishable by up to two years in prison. According to AFP, Singapore's Court of Appeal allowed for constitutional challenges to Section 377A in August 2012, striking down a High Court decision blocking a challenge to the law. A trial to determine the constitutionality of Section 377A is set for February 14th, the Star Online reports.

Lawrence Khong founded Faith Community Baptist Church in 1986, according to the church's website. Khong was commissioned as an apostle by Dr. C. Peter Wagner of the International Coalition of Apostles in 2000, indicative of New Apostolic Reformation influences on Khong's ministry. (See www[dot]fcbc[dot]org[dot]sg/about/milestones)

A transcript of Lawrence Khong's speech was posted earlier this week at the Faith Community Baptist Church website. In his statement, Khong painted LGBTQ activism as a "looming threat" to Singapore's families. Using rhetoric remarkably similar to U.S. anti-gay activists, Khong argued that LGBTQ rights advances have allegedly led to "the breakdown of the family" and the disintegration of parental rights worldwide. (See www[dot]fcbc[dot]org[dot]sg/about/news/sp-lawrence-khongs-statement-esm-goh-chok-tongs-visit-tc)

"We affirm that the family unit comprises a man as Father, a woman as Mother, and Children. This is the basic building block of society, a value foundational for a secure future, a premise fundamental to nation-building.

We see a looming threat to this basic building block by homosexual activists seeking to repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code.

Examples from around the world have shown that the repeal of similar laws have led to negative social changes, especially the breakdown of the family as a basic building block and foundation of the society. It takes away the rights of parents over what their children are taught in schools, especially sex education. It attacks religious freedom and eventually denies free speech to those who, because of their moral convictions, uphold a different view from that championed by increasingly aggressive homosexual activists."

Like his American Religious Right counterparts, Khong waxed poetic about "free speech" and "religious liberty" as he urged Singapore's government to demonstrate "moral leadership."

"We love our nation. We sincerely pray for and look to the Government to provide moral leadership in preserving this basic building block and foundation of our society. And with that, to robustly protect our constitutional rights to free speech and religious liberty; so as to ensure that social cohesion and religious harmony are maintained in Singapore."

Khong failed to explain how decriminalizing consensual sex between men will supposedly corrode family life or prevent people from worshipping freely. His words seem intended to inspire fear in listeners that repealing Section 377A will threaten their freedom, faith, and families. In such a worldview, LGBTQ issues become a zero sum game in which gains for the LGBTQ community must somehow mean losses for Christians. Let's hope Singapore's people understand that this is not the case.

For additional commentary, visit the following links.

Sparrows and Sandcastles: Evangelical Homophobia

Jianlin Chen: Singapore's Culture War Over Section 377A

(Hat tip to Pink News)

Sunday, September 25, 2011

The Religious Right Around the Globe: Jesus Camp's Becky Fisher Preaches to Children in Singapore

Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady's 2006 documentary, Jesus Camp, followed the Kids on Fire summer camp in Devil's Lake, North Dakota. Pastor Becky Fisher, who headed the camp and ran a children's ministry at Christ Triumphant Church, urged children to "take back America for Christ", pray for godly judges, and end abortion. The video below captures scenes of heightened religious fervor in the documentary.

At one point in Jesus Camp, Fisher brings in Lou Engle to talk to the kids about ending abortion. This was my first introduction to Engle, and seeing him whip the children into a religious frenzy was disturbing.

Although the Kids on Fire summer camp has since shut down, Fisher still preaches to kids. This YouTube video shows Fisher preaching to Children in Singapore about performing the same miracles that Jesus did. Fisher asks children to pretend that they are dead, then asks other kids to lay hands on the "dead" children and pray for them to return to life.

At the 5:45 mark, after two play-resurrections, Fisher tells the young audience that other children have raised their pets from the dead.

"Do you see how easy that is? How many think you can do that? Isn't that easy? Can I tell you a secret? Don't laugh if I tell you this. You promise not to laugh? I know some kids that have prayed for their dead animals, and they came back to life again. Now not after they've been dead for ten years and in the ground, but after they just died, and they weren't breathing anymore, they laid hands on them and prayed for them, and called them back to life, and they came back to life. God can do anything. Say God can do anything. [Children repeat] God is all-powerful. [Children repeat] And God wants to use me. [Children repeat] And I can do the same miracles Jesus did." [Children repeat]

This is NOT healthy. Telling impressionable children that they can raise the dead only sets them up for disappointment and heartache later, when they find themselves unable to resurrect loved ones. Playing resurrection games sends a morbid message to children, and it certainly won't help them make sense of death.

Becky Fisher, sadly, has changed little from her Kids on Fire days. This video suggests that she continues to indoctrinate kids in Singapore, just as she did in the U.S.

(Hat tip to On Knees for Jesus)

For additional commentary, visit the following link.

New Nation: Jesus Camp Invades Singapore

The Good Atheist: Jesus Camp 2: Singapore Edition

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