The BBC has broadcast a message by the founder of a gay news website comparing Jesus' abandonment by the Jewish people and God the Father with his own fear of abandonment by Jewish people and God for pursuing a homosexual lifestyle.
Benjamin Cohen, who is Jewish, also said: "But do people of faith really want to reject their children for something which I believe they can't help [being gay], just as the Jewish authorities rejected Christ for something he considered he couldn't help: being the son of God?"
Background
Mr Cohen is a former Channel 4 News correspondent and founder of an online same sex ‘marriage’ campaign site.
He makes the comparison in one of Radio 4’s “Lent talk” slots. It is part of a series of talks in the run up to Easter dealing with the theme of “abandonment”.
Total misunderstanding
Andrea Williams, director of Christian Concern, said: “To link this experience to that of Christ is to misunderstand the biggest event in history - it is blasphemous.
“To say that lack of acceptance of homosexual practice which we are told to flee in the Bible equates with the experience and suffering of Christ is to have totally misunderstood his message.
“Jesus loves everyone but his message to homosexual community is to turn away from their previous path.”
She added: “The BBC panders to a liberal, politically correct agenda and fails to take the opportunity to explore and educate its listeners about the true meaning of Lent and Easter.”
Grace
Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali said: “Of course people, whoever they are, should be treated with respect and dignity.
“But I think to confuse Christ’s identity as the son of God with your sexual preferences is firstly not understanding who Christ is and secondly not understanding who God wants us to be.
He added: “Of course there are things about us that we feel we can’t help but by God’s grace he can help us to live in a way that is obedient to him and his word.”
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