Keir Starmer apologizes for visiting church that adheres to Christian doctrine on sex after LGBT backlash

Sir. Keir Starmer, leader of the U.K.'s Labour Party, was forced to apologize for visiting a church on Good Friday that critics have attacked as being “anti-LGBT” for adhering to biblical sexual ethics.

In a since-deleted video, Starmer praised Jesus House for All the Nations on Friday as being a "wonderful example" of a church serving its community during the coronavirus pandemic, including acting as a vaccination center and running a food bank.

“I recently visited @JesusHouseUK to hear about their crucial work in the community,” Starmer announced in a tweet that has also been deleted. “Churches across the country have played such a vital role in the fight against the virus. I hope everyone has a good, restful and safe Easter weekend.”

The London-based church has long been attacked by LGBT activist groups, and some journalists, for refusing to kowtow to secular views on homosexuality, same-sex marriage and sexual orientation.

Following backlash from LGBT activists and Labour Party members who identify as LGBT or allies, Starmer said he regretted his decision to visit the church.

On Monday, Starmer said he accepted critics' assertions that his visit to the church was a "mistake" and stressed that he was "not aware" of the church's views on sexuality.

Starmer issued an apology on Twitter, saying: “I completely disagree with Jesus House’s beliefs on LGBT+ rights, which I was not aware of before my visit. I apologize for the hurt my visit caused and have taken down the video. It was a mistake and I accept that.”

In 2006, The church's Senior Pastor, Agu Irukwu, joined over 250 clergy in signing a letter expressing their concerns with the then-Labour Party's "Equality Act (Sexual Orientation Regulations)," which they deemed as “Christianophobia.”

The letter, published in The Telegraph at the time, said in part:

"We write as pastors on behalf of tens of thousands of black British Christians. Many members of our congregations in London left their home countries to come to England to experience the freedom of living according to their Christian beliefs in a Christian democratic country. ... The regulations force Christians in churches, businesses, charities and informal associations to accept and even promote the idea that homosexuality is equal to heterosexuality."

Starmer’s apology came after The Labour Campaign for LGBT+ Rights published a statement describing Jesus House as “a church well known for its connections to conversion therapy, and more broadly anti-LGBT+ views.” The group noted that Starmer characterized Jesus House as a “wonderful example of a church serving their community” and slammed his visit to the church as “unacceptable.”

The Labour Campaign for LGBT+ Rights maintained that “as a bare minimum [Starmer's] video should be deleted, and a public apology (should be) made by the Leader of the Opposition himself.” They added, “We all still believe that the surest way to achieve LGBT+ equality is through the Labour Party, but the events of the last few days have set that cause back.”

Following Starmer’s apology, the group thanked the Labour Party leader for deleting the video and apologizing for visiting the church: “We are pleased that you have recognized this mistake. ..."

While Starmer’s apology drew praise from LGBT activist groups, he received criticism from those on the other side of the aisle. Brendan O’Neill, the publisher of Spiked, wrote an op-ed for the Spectator titled “Starmer Was Wrong to Say Sorry for Visiting Jesus House.”

According to O’Neill, “The Christians at Jesus House are guilty of nothing more than holding traditional Christian beliefs.” He suggested that a headline from The Guardian titled “Keir Starmer criticized over visit to church where pastor opposed same-sex marriage” might as well read “Starmer criticized for visiting a Christian church that adheres to Christian doctrine.”

“This is crazy. Over Easter I also visited a church that opposes same-sex marriage. The Catholic Church. Just a couple of weeks ago the Vatican reiterated that the Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex unions, because God ‘does not and cannot bless sin.’ So Starmer should never visit a Catholic institution, either?” O’Neill asked.

“In apologizing for visiting Christians who hold biblical beliefs about homosexuality Starmer has insulted vast numbers of people. It is he who has behaved in an intolerant way, because he has essentially said that he will not associate with any religious group that doesn’t agree with his views on same-sex issues. To turn your back on good people because they disagree with you on sexual or social matters is a species of dogmatism, too.”

Starmer is not the first politician to face criticism for visiting Jesus House. Last month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson stopped by the church to examine “the incredible work being done by the vaccination teams … bringing people in from the Brent Cross area.” He documented his appearance at Jesus House on Facebook, crediting “the efforts of people like these here at Jesus House today” for helping vaccinate 21 million U.K. residents.

As The Daily Mirror reported, Johnson’s press secretary Allegra Johnson defended his trip to the church as a “profitable visit where he was able to meet black community leaders and work to increase vaccine take-up and deal with vaccine hesitancy.” She also stressed that “this is a government that is fully committed to advancing LGBT rights and championing equality.”

In 2017, Theresa May, who at the time served as prime minister and continues to be a member of Parliament for the Conservative Party, visited the church, which she praised “as one of the most lively growing churches in the U.K.” In response to criticism for visiting the church, a Conservative Party spokesperson touted May’s “strong record on LGBT+ equality” and commitment to “advancing equality for LGBT+ people at home and abroad.”

Public opinion polling has indicated that the overwhelming majority of U.K. residents support same-sex marriage, which became legal in 2014. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted from 2015 through 2017, 77% of Britons favor allowing same-sex couples to marry. For comparison, support for same-sex marriage has reached 68% in the U.S., according to a poll released by the Public Religion Research Institute earlier this year.

https://www.dailydevotionalsonline.com/chatroom.php?alltime=yes#323

The regard their efforts against covid as thrash for unholy desires, mankind is cursed

titigenius:
The regard their efforts against covid as thrash for unholy desires, mankind is cursed

This is disgusting.

The devil is winning the war on this.....but their quality of life is still better, maybe we should pack religion to one side and do the needful

VLadipo:

According to O’Neill, “The Christians at Jesus House are guilty of nothing more than holding traditional Christian beliefs.” He suggested that a headline from The Guardian titled “Keir Starmer criticized over visit to church where pastor opposed same-sex marriage” might as well read “Starmer criticized for visiting a Christian church that adheres to Christian doctrine.”

“This is crazy. Over Easter I also visited a church that opposes same-sex marriage. The Catholic Church. Just a couple of weeks ago the Vatican reiterated that the Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex unions, because God ‘does not and cannot bless sin.’ So Starmer should never visit a Catholic institution, either?” O’Neill asked.

“In apologizing for visiting Christians who hold biblical beliefs about homosexuality Starmer has insulted vast numbers of people. It is he who has behaved in an intolerant way, because he has essentially said that he will not associate with any religious group that doesn’t agree with his views on same-sex issues. To turn your back on good people because they disagree with you on sexual or social matters is a species of dogmatism, too.”

Starmer is not the first politician to face criticism for visiting Jesus House. Last month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson stopped by the church to examine “the incredible work being done by the vaccination teams … bringing people in from the Brent Cross area.” He documented his appearance at Jesus House on Facebook, crediting “the efforts of people like these here at Jesus House today” for helping vaccinate 21 million U.K. residents.

is the "jesus house" an rccg business branch?

Kobojunkie:
is the "jesus house" an rccg business branch?

What point are you trying to make

VLadipo:

What point are you trying to make

Kobojunkie:
is the "jesus house" an rccg business branch?

However, since you want a point instead, here goes!

Whatever group that business belongs to, if it indeed claims that homosexuality, etc are sins, then, the group is wrong about sexual sins. The only sins of a sexual nature listed as part of the New Covenant, Jesus Christ, are

1) Lust, and
2) adultery, which Jesus Christ redefined

There are no other sexual sins as far as the New Covenant is concerned.

Kobojunkie:

However, since you want a point instead, here goes!

Whatever group that business belongs to, if it indeed claims that homosexuality, etc are sins, then, the group is wrong about sexual sins. The only sins of a sexual nature listed as part of the New Covenant, Jesus Christ, are

1) Lust, and
2) adultery, which Jesus Christ redefined

There are no other sexual sins as far as the New Covenant is concerned.

Romans 1:22-32
22: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23: And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24: Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26: For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28: And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29: Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30: Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31: Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

VLadipo:

Romans 1:22-32
22: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23: And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24: Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26: For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28: And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29: Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30: Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31: Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Jesus Christ is the Law, the New Covenant by which Sin is defined, and according to Him whom we are called to accept(trust) and obey, there are only 2 sexual sins listed a part of the New Covenant, and they are lust and adultery(redefined).

Just as you are commanded against adding to removing the doctrines and ideas of men to the Old Covenant(YHWH), you are in similar fashion warned against adding or removing the doctrines and commandments of men, what Jesus Christ declared were lies, to the New Covenant(Jesus Christ) commandments.

Kobojunkie:
Jesus Christ is the Law, the New Covenant by which Sin is defined, and according to Him whom we are called to accept(trust) and obey, there are only 2 sexual sins listed a part of the New Covenant, and they are lust and adultery(redefined).

Just as you are commanded against adding to removing the doctrines and ideas of men to the Old Covenant(YHWH), you are in similar fashion warned against adding or removing the doctrines and commandments of men, what Jesus Christ declared were lies, to the New Covenant(Jesus Christ) commandments.

2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Romans 1:1-32 has said it all.

Go back and read it again

VLadipo:

2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Romans 1:1-32 has said it all.
Go back and read it again

Again.... Just as you can never go to change anything in the Law of Moses, the Old Covenant, you also can never change anything in the Law of Jesus Christ, the New Covenant. God Himself warns you and puts a curse on those who attempt to do any of such to His Law.

Kobojunkie:
Jesus Christ is the Law, the New Covenant by which Sin is defined, and according to Him whom we are called to accept(trust) and obey, there are only 2 sexual sins listed a part of the New Covenant, and they are lust and adultery(redefined).

Just as you are commanded against adding to removing the doctrines and ideas of men to the Old Covenant(YHWH), you are in similar fashion warned against adding or removing the doctrines and commandments of men, what Jesus Christ declared were lies, to the New Covenant(Jesus Christ) commandments.

Kobojunkie:
Again.... Just as you can never go to change anything in the Law of Moses, the Old Covenant, you also can never change anything in the Law of Jesus Christ, the New Covenant. God Himself warns you and puts a curse on those who attempt to do any of such to His Law.

You are saying rubbish.

I have quoted relevant scripture while you continue to quote your own warped ideas.

That does not make sense

VLadipo:
You are saying rubbish.I have quoted relevant scripture while you continue to quote your own warped ideas. That does not make sense

If you paid attention to who Jesus Christ truly is, you would know NEVER to overwrite His commandment in any way or form.

Ezekiel 36 vs 24-30 (ESV)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24. “I will take you out of those nations, gather you together, and bring you back to your own land.
25. Then I will sprinkle pure water on you and make you pure. I will wash away all your filth, the filth from those nasty idols, and I will make you pure.
26. I will also put a new spirit in you to change your way of thinking. I will take out the heart of stone from your body and give you a tender, human heart.
27. I will put my Spirit inside you[c] and change you so that you will obey my laws. You will carefully obey my commands.
28. Then you will live in the land that I gave to your ancestors. You will be my people, and I will be your God.
29. Also, I will save you and keep you from becoming unclean. I will command the grain to grow. I will not bring a famine against you.
30. I will give you large crops of fruit from your trees and the harvest from your fields so that you will never again feel the shame of being hungry in a foreign country.
31. You will remember the bad things you did. You will remember that those things were not good. Then you will hate yourselves because of your sins and the terrible things you did.”

Just as you would never attempt to change anything in the Old Covenant Law of Moses since it is God's decree for Eternity, so also is Jesus Christ, the New Covenant, a decree made for eternity.

Jesus Christ, told you who He is, but you were not paying attention because you were busy being seduced by the doctrines and traditions of men who have led you to believing lies instead.

Matthew 11 vs 27-30 (ESV)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

He offered you His yoke and burden to bear, yet you did not realize Him for who He truly is. He is the Law that is meant to be written on the tablets of your heart by God, and according to the Law, Lust is sin -- not fornication, bigamy, homosexuality etc.

Matthew 5 vs 27-30
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You must not commit adultery.’[e]
28. But I tell you that if a man looks at a woman and wants to sin sexually with her, he has already committed that sin with her in his mind.
29. If your right eye makes you sin, take it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell.
30. If your right hand makes you sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

He gave a new meaning to the term "adultery" which He declares as sin also.

Matthew 19 vs 1-9
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.
2. And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

3. And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?”
4. He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,
5. and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?
6. So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
7. They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?”
8. He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning, it was not so.
9. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

Those are the two sins that come close to a sexual nature included in the about 50 something commandments of the New Covenant(Jesus Christ) Law of the Kingdom of God. The Truth of God is immutable since this is an everlasting covenant between God and Man.

[s]

Kobojunkie:
If you paid attention to who Jesus Christ truly is, you would know NEVER to overwrite His commandment in any way or form.
Just as you would never attempt to change anything in the Old Covenant Law of Moses since it is God's decree for Eternity, so also is Jesus Christ, the New Covenant, a decree made for eternity.

Jesus Christ, told you who He is, but you were not paying attention because you were busy being seduced by the doctrines and traditions of men who have led you to believing lies instead. He offered you His yoke and burden to bear, yet you did not realize Him for who He truly is. He is the Law that is meant to be written on the tablets of your heart by God, and according to the Law, Lust is sin -- not fornication, bigamy, homosexuality etc.

He gave a new meaning to the term "adultery" which He declares as sin also.

Those are the two sins that come close to a sexual nature included in the about 50 something commandments of the New Covenant(Jesus Christ) Law of the Kingdom of God. The Truth of God is immutable since this is an everlasting covenant between God and Man.

[/s]

Continue turning scripture on its head.

Romans 1:1-32 has said it all.

Matthew 25:33
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

At the right time, the goats will be separated from the sheep.

2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

There is nothing like the laws of Jesus! That is your own invention and it will land you in hell...

VLadipo:
[s][/s]
Continue turning scripture on its head.
Romans 1:1-32 has said it all.

Matthew 25:33
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

At the right time, the goats will be separated from the sheep.

2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

There is nothing like the laws of Jesus! That is your own invention and it will land you in hell...

I find it interesting that you are quick to accuse me "turning scripture on its head", but you never infact point to what part of scripture it is that I am guilly of turning.
Again... If you paid attention to who Jesus Christ truly is, you would know NEVER to overwrite His commandment in any way or form.

Ezekiel 36 vs 24-30 (ESV)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24. “I will take you out of those nations, gather you together, and bring you back to your own land.
25. Then I will sprinkle pure water on you and make you pure. I will wash away all your filth, the filth from those nasty idols, and I will make you pure.
26. I will also put a new spirit in you to change your way of thinking. I will take out the heart of stone from your body and give you a tender, human heart.
27. I will put my Spirit inside you[c] and change you so that you will obey my laws. You will carefully obey my commands.
28. Then you will live in the land that I gave to your ancestors. You will be my people, and I will be your God.
29. Also, I will save you and keep you from becoming unclean. I will command the grain to grow. I will not bring a famine against you.
30. I will give you large crops of fruit from your trees and the harvest from your fields so that you will never again feel the shame of being hungry in a foreign country.
31. You will remember the bad things you did. You will remember that those things were not good. Then you will hate yourselves because of your sins and the terrible things you did.”

Just as you would never attempt to change anything in the Old Covenant Law of Moses since it is God's decree for Eternity, so also is Jesus Christ, the New Covenant, a decree made for eternity.

Jesus Christ, told you who He is, but you were not paying attention because you were busy being seduced by the doctrines and traditions of men who have led you to believing lies instead.

Matthew 11 vs 27-30 (ESV)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

He offered you His yoke and burden to bear, yet you did not realize Him for who He truly is. He is the Law that is meant to be written on the tablets of your heart by God, and according to the Law, Lust is sin -- not fornication, bigamy, homosexuality etc.

Matthew 5 vs 27-30
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You must not commit adultery.’[e]
28. But I tell you that if a man looks at a woman and wants to sin sexually with her, he has already committed that sin with her in his mind.
29. If your right eye makes you sin, take it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell.
30. If your right hand makes you sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

He gave a new meaning to the term "adultery" which He declares as sin also.

Matthew 19 vs 1-9
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.
2. And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

3. And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?”
4. He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,
5. and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?
6. So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
7. They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?”
8. He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning, it was not so.
9. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

Those are the two sins that come close to a sexual nature included in the about 50 something commandments of the New Covenant(Jesus Christ) Law of the Kingdom of God. The Truth of God is immutable since this is an everlasting covenant between God and Man.

Kobojunkie:
I find it interesting that you are quick to accuse me "turning scripture on its head", but you never infact point to what part of scripture it is that I am guilly of turning.
Again... If you paid attention to who Jesus Christ truly is, you would know NEVER to overwrite His commandment in any way or form.
Just as you would never attempt to change anything in the Old Covenant Law of Moses since it is God's decree for Eternity, so also is Jesus Christ, the New Covenant, a decree made for eternity.

Jesus Christ, told you who He is, but you were not paying attention because you were busy being seduced by the doctrines and traditions of men who have led you to believing lies instead. He offered you His yoke and burden to bear, yet you did not realize Him for who He truly is. He is the Law that is meant to be written on the tablets of your heart by God, and according to the Law, Lust is sin -- not fornication, bigamy, homosexuality etc.

He gave a new meaning to the term "adultery" which He declares as sin also.

Those are the two sins that come close to a sexual nature included in the about 50 something commandments of the New Covenant(Jesus Christ) Law of the Kingdom of God. The Truth of God is immutable since this is an everlasting covenant between God and Man.

Continue in your hell-bound ways/beliefs. Godspeed!

VLadipo:

Continue in your hell-bound ways/beliefs. Godspeed!

There is absolutely nothing Hellbound about me or what I have relayed to you of the Truth of God.

Kobojunkie:
There is absolutely nothing Hellbound about me or what I have relayed to you of the Truth of God.

Don't say I did not warn you.

If you like continue in your path of perdition.