Mandisa Shares Truth with Grace

American Idol contestant Mandisa--who was voted off the show last week--was interviewed by a gay news magazine about allegations that she was 'anti-gay.' The allegations came after, on the American Idol website, Mandisa expressed admiration  for Beth Moore, a Christian writer and lecturer who believes in freedom from homosexuality and has links to Exodus and Exodus Youth on her website. Mandisa also made a comment during one of her performances that God is bigger than "your lifestyle," which some took as a reference to homosexuality.

When asked how she felt about the accusations, Mandisa responded, "I just heard about that a couple of days ago. It broke my heart. I live my life by the value syste that you treat others the way you want to be treated. . . I absolutely hate no one."

When asked if she believed homosexuality was a sin, and whether she would sing at a gay event, Mandisa held her ground with utmost grace: "I know my value system. . . that on the word [of the Bible], that it does speak of that. I do know I have no place to judge anybody. . . Based on what I believe, I'm not an advocate for [being gay], so it's nothing I would take part in."

Mandisa's response is a wonderful example of how we can defend the truth about homosexuality without attacking those who disagree. She didn't let her convictions cave in, and she displayed that she is unmistakably not hateful.

Comments

[Randy]

I think it is also interesting that The Advocate would think that "lifestyle" might refer to only the homosexual lifestyle. It comes across paranoid on their part to have to make the stretch from Mandisa to Moore to us.

It's as if they are looking to create a case against her. She is just an excuse for them to attack the truth. That truth being that while same sex attraction may not be a choice we all made to struggle with, identity and sexual stewardship is something we can determine for ourselves.

We do not have to be quarantined into a gay ideological worldview.

I love Beth Moore and her respect for the truth that change is possible (for everyone, in all situations.) Her teachings, based on Christ's example, must be very affective in that they are apparent in Mandisa's response. Grace and truth delivered with an honest humility.

Good job Mandisa!