Pulpit no place to spread hate, fear

It is sordid to hear at church services and read in papers about a
good number of Papua New
Guinean pastors and street preachers and their stance on homosexuality.
I am neither a Christian, a medical expert or a homosexual.
However, my judgement of their way of preaching is based on basic human rights, morality and diversity.
Openly, with no reservations whatsoever, preachers promote homophobic attitude toward people who are gay, lesbian or bisexual through their sermons.
They uphold an irrational, hostile attitude in their congregation towards homosexuals.
It is very obvious when you see a so-called Christian bumping into a homosexual on their way.
The Christian rebukes the homosexual and gives the person the dirtiest looks.
They are even calling them the “works of the devil”.
From my layman’s understanding, those people living with sexual perplexity were genetically engineered the way they are.
It’s something which simply cannot be rectified even with our most-advanced technologies.
These preachers must consider themselves lucky to be born “straight”.
Sometimes preachers must take time and reflect on putting themselves in the shoes of those “genetically mixed up” to better grasp the theme.
Government and NGOs are spending huge sums of money to protect the rights of the homosexuals in PNG and abroad.
It is just not right to magnify a certain scripture in the Bible and start persecuting gays, lesbians and bisexuals in PNG.
They are human beings like us.
They are born of a mother and a father, just like the rest of us.
They have families here and this is their homeland, just like the rest of us.
You cannot discriminate against them.
Some of them are well-qualified professionals and are respected elites in Papua New Guinea.
The country and the world needs them more than these narrow-minded preachers.
It would be good if pastors could spend time with them to truly understand them.
I believe churches are the place where people, including homosexuals, should find sanctuary.
Instead, you hardly find homosexuals attending any churches in PNG, because they are unwelcome and shamed.
It makes me wonder if they do have souls that are worth saving.
I would like to propose to the authorities that it is time Government must hold churches accountable for their sermons.
An agency should be set up
to regulate what preachers preach.
It’s not only about homosexuality, but also insensible preaching that causes an upheaval and sparks
fear and confusion among the illiterate.

Jack Drekore Nimkai
Port Moresby