Bishop T.D. Jakes could not believe that the comments he made on HuffPo TV regarding same-sex marriage have been twisted by media and made to sound like he was supporting same-sex marriage.
He said that was farthest from the truth. The megachurch pastor urged people to "investigate" sources first before believing in other people's half-baked truths.
"My comment on HuffPo TV drifted into issues of the Supreme Court ruling and changing the world through public policy verses personal witness. Further, I have come to respect that I can't force my beliefs on others by controlling public policy for taxpayers and other US citizens. Jesus never sought to change the world through public policy but rather through personal transformation. All people didn't embrace Him either. That's what I said and what I meant .... Nothing more and nothing less," he wrote on his Facebook page.
He accused a "so-called Christian publication" of playing around with his words to promote its own agenda and draw attention to its site.
Jakes warned people not to be fooled by this unnamed publication's "lazy journalistic tactics."
"Do not take everything you read online or hear repeated as truth. When asked about the 'black church' and its role in ministering to gay people, I briefly mentioned (we were running out of time) the word 'evolved and evolving' regarding my approach over the 39 years of my ministry to gay people who choose to come to our services," he explained.
"I simply meant that my method is evolving—not my message. I was SHOCKED to read that this was manipulated in a subsequent article to say I endorsed same sex marriage!" he said.
Jakes stressed that his position regarding the subject has always been steadfast and rooted in Scripture. For the record, Jakes said he does not endorse same-sex marriage.
"But I respect the rights that this country affords to those that disagree with me," he added.
