We’re no longer shocked when a popular Christian figure does something to invite the scorn of his or her faithful (so to speak) fans. But when Azariah Southworth, host of “The Remix,” a popular Christian version of MTV’s “Cribs” told a Nashville paper last week that he’s gay, the response was truly astounding: nothing. “I know I will be cut off from many within the Christian community,” he told Out & About (adding, “and if so, then they didn’t get the point of the life of Christ”). But so far he says his employers have yet to inform Southworth that he’s been fired. And though he says his inbox is filling up with emails supporting his decision to out himself, few are from those who watch the show.
Why the wait in firing him? Perhaps Christian entertainment outlets, too, are hardly shocked at this kind of news anymore, and have other things on their to-do lists before firing the latest transgressor in their stable. Not likely. It could be that public relations is trumping principles: “The Remix” producers may figure they’ll only draw more attention to Southworth’s editorializing, and prove his point in some minds, by coming down swiftly.
In any case, it’s hard to imagine that Southworth will still be hosting “The Remix” for much longer: even if his bosses stand by him, the fate of the syndicated show really rests with local Christian programmers, who are known for their caution.
posted April 25, 2008 at 4:51 pm
He says, “…they didn’t get the point of the life of Christ”, well obviously it reads as if he didn’t. It is so sad that people are accepting this lifestyle instead of shunning it and getting help.
posted April 25, 2008 at 10:32 pm
This guy doesn’t “get the life of Christ”. The Holy Bible plainly states what God has to say about the homosexual lifestyle. In Romans 1:24-32, the Bible clearly defines this. “Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and RECEIVED IN THEMSELVES THE DUE PENALTY FOR THEIR PERVERSION. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents, they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” It’s so sad that we live in a society of “acceptance” when this lifestyle is not acceptable at all in God’s sight.
posted April 26, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Hate the sin NOT the sinner. As too, the sinner will reap what he/she sows.
posted April 26, 2008 at 11:54 pm
KUDOS to Crystal, Sandy, and Sheriva!! Azariah needs to: (# !) RECOGNIZE his sin for what it really is; (# 2) REALIZE the damage this sin does not only to his personal testimony to other sinners it also destroys his personal relationship to our GOD & SAVIOR; (# 3) REPENT of this sin; (#4) REJECT this sin with GOD’s help through the power of HIS HOLY SPIRIT; (#5) Allow the love and guidance of JESUS CHRIST to REORGANIZE his ways of thinking & living; (#6) RESPOND to CHRIST’s Holy Righteousness by publicly RENOUNCING his “gay” lifestyle as the abhorant Abomination that it truly is, as stated in Leviticus 18:22 & 20:13 (KJV); and finally (#7) REJOICE in the loving care and forgiveness of GOD through the shed blood of HIS son, JESUS CHRIST!!!
What we need to do is Pray in JESUS Holy Name for the RESTORATION of Azariah into the blessed fold of the body and fellowship of CHRIST!!
P r a s e GOD”s HOLY wisdom !!!!!!!
posted April 27, 2008 at 3:25 pm
As Jesus went about healing the people—-Didn’t he say something like get up and go, your sins are forgiven—Now go and sin no more least a worst abomination come upon you.
posted April 27, 2008 at 10:56 pm
How do you know it’s a sin?
It’s not biblical. I know the verses you will site.
I’m also a Christian theology/ Biblical languages major… so don’t try to argue me.
I’m just saying, you’ve never had to struggle with homosexuality, so don’t judge.
Everyone has a sin they struggle with, if his is a sin.
There are Christians, many of us, who understands the Word differently than all of you, and we are not any less of a Christian than you.
The number one commandment: Love God.
Number two: Love your neighbor.
The end. No questions asked.
You are not loving your neighbor when you are so focused on Southworth’s sin that you don’t see your own: judging, hating, gossiping, the list goes on.
Shalom.
posted April 28, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I think your understanding of the word love may be skewed towards an increasingly popular version that doesn’t include reprimand or accountability.
If your child ran into a street with heavy traffic on it, would it be love to leave him out there, worried about hurting his feelings if you said something?
I would love to hear your explanation of homosexuality not being biblically sinful. You can email me at bell.hammer@gmail.com
I’m worried that we’re losing the meaning of the word “love.” Let’s hope not.
Dan
posted April 29, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Not scripturally sinful…what a laugh. The only way to define homosexuality as anything but sinful is to carve up the scriptures like a turkey and take only the parts you want. Homosexuality a perversion overtly addressed in scripture as well as theological inference.
The very idea of everything producing after his kind is a basic platform for how perverted it is. God CHOSE to create male and female as a standard and with proper plumbing to facilitate producing. Homosexuality cannot be construed as another type of creation, or as a mutation. It is a choice of sexual preference and the preference is against God’s design.
If the show continues to employ him and does not address his sin, it ceases to be Christian. Christianity explains his sin and gives him the opportunity for deliverance and loving support. Politically Correctness accepts him as he is without any reference to God’s standard and design.
If he wants deliverance, he know where to go to get it I would imagine. He is not looking for deliverance, but inclusion.
posted May 1, 2008 at 8:26 pm
I know the Bible says love your enemies. Enough said…
posted August 10, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Well of course we (Christians) will love him know matter what lifestyle he chooses. That is what Jesus would do. The big difference here is that Jesus showed compassion for such people, by teaching them what is right in God’s eyes, but Jesus was not tolerant of such behavior. He warned them many times throughout the Bible of not following the commandments.
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