In times of trouble, go to church.
That's what Christian celebrity couple Chip and Joanna Gaines did after they became the target of at least two media organisations for practicing their faith.
The two stars of the Home and Garden Television network (HGTV) attended church Sunday and announced it on social media in an apparent response to the bashing they received from articles that appeared in Buzzfeed and Cosmopolitan magazine, The Christian Post reported.
The stars of the highly rated home improvement show "Fixer Upper" were criticised for being members of a church whose pastor believes in traditional Christian teachings that "homosexuality is a sin."
The church referred to is the Antioch Community Church in Waco, Texas, where Pastor Jimmy Seibert has preached that the practice of homosexuality is a sin. Seibert has also been urging Christians not to adopt the Supreme Court's redefinition of marriage after its July 2015 ruling that same-sex marriage is legal nationwide.
Cosmopolitan slammed the Gaines couple for their church attendance, saying it's a "startling revelation that has left many wondering where Chip and Jo stand."
For its part, Buzzfeed noted the Gaines' "absence of a response" after their membership in Antioch church was made known, adding that "it's worth looking at the severe, unmoving position Seibert and Antioch take on same-sex marriage."
Chip Gaines subsequently responded with a tweet on Sunday, saying, "In times of trouble.. you'll find the gaines family at church."
Seibert also responded to the criticism in an interview with columnist Todd Starnes on Thursday.
"We are not only not anti-gay, but we are pro-helping people in their journey to find out who God is and who He has made them to be," Seibert told Starnes. "Our definition is not the definition we made up. It's straight from the Scripture. One man, one woman for life. That's how God created us. That's what He has for us."
HGTV also responded to the Buzzfeed piece in an article that appeared on Variety. "We don't discriminate against members of the LGBT community in any of our shows," the HGTV said in a statement. "HGTV is proud to have a crystal clear, consistent record of including people from all walks of life in its series."
