Earlier this month, we blogged about southern gospel music former star Kirk Talley and his new dalliance with the gay christian movement. Talley did not respond to our attempts to get his “side of the story”. As a note, generally as a courtesy, we do attempt to contact individuals for comment when information about them is published on GCM Watch. Individuals are under no obligation to respond and quite often, they do not respond.
But, we learned on yesterday that due to his association with the homosexual church Open Door Sherwood and his upcoming appearance at a gay christian event sponsored by Evangelicals Concerned, one church has cancelled his appearance. After being contacted by the church, Talley told them it (the gay conference) was “just business”.
But another church defended the appearance. According to an email from Pastor DeWayne Howard of Bridges of Hope Fellowship Talley was personally interviewed by him.
“I spoke with Kirk on the phone to let him know and to ask some very personal and pointed questions to hold him accountable and to clear up any misconceptions that were floating around out there. After much research and speaking with Kirk and the office of the Evangelicals Concerned, I do not find that Kirk is in any way out of line. Kirk is not attending this conference as an attendee, but rather will be there for one night to sing and minister through sharing his story. I firmly believe that God uses all of our experiences to bring Him glory and to help others find the way. Kirk is not going in support of the gay, lesbian, or whatever kind of lifestyle. He is going to share God’s story for his life. We should applaud him in being willing to help others to overcome their struggles in life, not condemn him or try to destroy him for being obedient to the call of God that has been given to us all. Kirk’s struggles in life are no different than yours or mine. What makes it sin is when we act on those struggles (desires) of the flesh. Until then, we have to take every thought captive and submit it to the Lord.”
The issue is not whether Kirk Talley is engaging in homosexuality, but whether his appearance and tacit approval by such an appearance of those who do and claim to be Christians is against God’s Word. That’s the issue at hand. Pastor Howard says that we should “pick up the phone and call Talley before judging him.” While Pastor Howard conveniently evokes the J-word, he altogether ignores the scriptural restrictions of 1 Corinthians 5.
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man has his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the sinful nature so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. 6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with any who claim to be fellow believers but are sexually immoral or greedy, idolaters or slanderers, drunkards or swindlers. With such persons do not even eat. (TNIV) our italics
We couldn’t help but wonder if this ECWR engagement is “just business” to Talley then how does that allow for him to “minister” as Howard noted? Perhaps Pastor Howard isn’t aware that Talley told the other church a different story? At this point it seems like every phone call yields a different story. Furthermore, its highly unlikely that ECWR will allow Talley to tell them that homosexuality is a sin and that God isn’t pleased with their lifestyle.
h/t to mlj
UPDATE: Read more about what Kirk Talley said about his visits to homosexual churches.
Gay Christian Movement Watch 
My goodness, it’s sure a good thing that Paul hadn’t written 1 Corinthians 5 before Jesus’ ministry. Matthew, a tax collector, couldn’t have been a disciple or written his Gospel. The woman caught in adultery couldn’t have been saved from stoning, and the list goes on and on, and on.
Kirk isn’t going there for a tryst. He’s going to tell these people who so desperately need to hear, that there is hope. My Bible says, “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Jude 1:21-23
How on earth are we supposed to pull anyone out of the fire without putting our hand IN the fire???
Steve Camp wrote a great song several years back entitled, “Run To THe Battle.” In it, he wrote a line that says, “Some people want to live within the sound of chapel bells, but I want to run a mission a yard from the gates of Hell!” AMEN!!! Me, too!
Give Kirk a break. At a time when we should be standing with and encouraging this dear brother, some want to have a stoning.
That’s my Brother in the Lord! And I’m proud of him! Bless you, Kirk!!!
Bob
This is a small victory but a victory nonetheless. However, we need to brace ourselves because as time goes on these victories will become less and less. However we must fight on. I don’t say this because I believe in defeat I am just a realist who knows the end times are fast approaching and troublesome times lie ahead. However, in the pain of temporal defeat we look forward to the eternal victory.
Kyle
Bob, do you have some type of reading deficiency?
Paul CLEARLY addressed his remark to people who CLAIM to be followers of Jesus Christ. To them he said do not associate with.
There isnt one sinner who came in contact with Jesus who wasnt CHANGED when Jesus left. The people you noted were not the same after their encounter with Jesus. Your argument is bogus at best.
Furthermore, Talley said this is “just business”. So which is it, business or ministry? You as well as others who want to justify these associations when there is no evidence of what you claim will happen represent a dangerous precedent in the church: ignore scripture when it comes to personal agendas.
Bob, Your brother slanders straight churches in his address to Open Door Church. Listen to his “testimony” at http://www.sherwoodopendoor.org/specialmessages.html
and decide if you think he is still “preaching the gospel” at these churches and organizations. He’s deceiving you. He has deceived you for over 20 years. Yes he was gay all of those years. While you and I were admiring his talents, he was sending naked pictures of himself over the internet. When I hear him call homosexuality a sin, not a struggle, I might consider that break you are asking for.
BTW, Steve Camp didn’t write that line, C.T. Studd (1860-1931), the English Missionary wrote it. Kirk Talley is no C.T. Studd!
“Keep your hand in the fire long enough and it will cause the entire body to perish”
-Larry Jones (1976- )
“As a note, generally as a courtesy, we do attempt to contact individuals for comment when information about them is published on GCM Watch.”
This is not entirely accurate.
GCMW: Diane, whats your real problem?
How is anyone supposed to minister to those who are living in sin unless they actually go to them and speak to them? And how could anyone be more effective in ministering to those struggling (yes, struggling) with the sin of homosexuality than someone who has walked through such dark places? Yes, Kirk sinned and did not always live up to what he was professing or singing – he even admits that in his testimony. But, he obviously believes it to be sin or else it wouldn’t be a struggle at all. He could just choose to justify it and put the struggle aside. We had him testify a little over a year ago in our church. No, we are not a gay church. We are a very conservative Pentecostal church actually. I saw a different person when he spoke. His sincerity and brokeness was very real and it ministered to many in our congregation. How do you know that God is not using the testimony of his past – which is completely covered by grace and mercy – to minister to others who are caught in a struggle they don’t know how to deal with? I thank God that I never struggled with this particular sin, but I also have to thank Him for covering so many more with his grace. Maybe it’s just those who have been forgiven of more that can truly understand this, but I believe the man is going to minister to people. Get a life and leave him alone.
I am a Spirit filled Christian who has struggled with homosexuality for over 30 years. I cannot ever doubt my experience for it was a very real event in my life and changed me forever. I do not know why God did not take away my homosexual desires at that time but He did not. I can only believe that God’s grace is just as sufficient for me as it was for the apostle Paul who also had a thorn in his flesh. The Bible does not say what that thorn was. How can I judge anyone? I love to hear Kirk Talley sing. Thank God he has used his talent for the Lord. I believe that Jesus is a personal savior and deals with each one of us on an individual basis. I believe that as long as we are honest with Him and confess our sins to Him then we don’t have to confess them to other people. As long as Kirk does this then he is my brother in the Lord and I want to support him. I used to confess every thing because I didn’t want to be dishonest or deceive anyone about my struggle. However, I found out very quickly that some people will use what you have confessed in private to hurt you publicly. This includes Christians who either ignorantly think they are defending the faith or just want to hurt you. So, therefore, I can understand why some people choose not to reveal their struggles publicly. This world can be very cruel and it’s sad that the church can be just as cruel. In fact, some or the ones who criticize those who struggle with homosexuality are the same ones who are fooling around on their wives with other women. But that sin is not publicized or criticized nearly as much as something like this. I believe that sin is sin. Jesus warned us about trying to remove the “mote” out of our brother’s eye when there is a beam in our own eye. “Love covereth a multitude of sins.” If we can learn to love and try to help others and understand their struggles we will be much better off. I hope that Kirk will continue to use his talent for the Lord and will go to the Lord and be honest with Him about his struggle. In my opinion, that is all that is required. God’s grace is sufficient for you, Kirk. His strength is made perfect in weakness. So, please continue to use your talent for the Lord.