Dan Matlock

Texas Church Embraces LGBTQ, Exits Assemblies of God

on February 14, 2020

A Texas church has made news as the first Assemblies of God (AoG) congregation to announce that it is “fully LGBTQ affirming without an asterisk.”

Lead Pastor Dan Matlock of Eikon Church in Kyle, Texas made the announcement in a sermon Sunday, February 9 that the Austin-area congregation would now be open to LGBTQ persons on staff and that the church building will be available to host same-sex wedding ceremonies.

“There will be some pastors and leaders at Eikon that are willing to perform weddings … the building Eikon occupies will be open for anyone to host weddings at regardless of gender or sexuality,” a statement on the church’s web site explains.

Matlock preaches in well-worn jeans and untucked shirts that reveal a sleeve of tattoos across his left arm, a standard uniform for evangelical church planters. The church’s building, newly completed in September 2016, replaced rented space at a San Marcos middle school for the congregation.

The church’s motto proclaims “Everyone is welcome, nobody is perfect, anything is possible,” but remaining affiliated with the Assemblies of God denomination will not be possible.

“Dan Matlock has announced that he and Eikon Church will no longer be affiliated with the Assemblies of God,” explained Assemblies of God Senior Director of Public Relations and Communications Mark Forrester in response to an email query. “The North Texas District moved swiftly and in accordance with processes outlined in the General Council Bylaws when first aware of the departure from the Assemblies of God’s position on marriage, sexual orientation, and gender identity — which is the only permissible stance for Assemblies of God churches and ministers.”

Eikon is no longer listed on the Assemblies of God church directory, and a link to the church’s profile on the AoG web site now ends in an error message.

“The North Texas District is committed to helping members of Eikon Church find church families that continue to embrace the biblical views consistent with statement of faith originally embraced by Eikon Church,” Forrester added.

I was unable to obtain membership figures for Eikon Church or a list of the congregation’s elder board. Email inquiries made to the church were not returned as of the time of publication. Matlock and his wife Kelly co-pastor the church, which they planted in 2012 and officially launched in 2013. The church web site lists five staff, including the Matlocks, and two service times. A sixth staffer with the title of Executive Pastor transitioned off of the church staff the week before the announcement and did not respond to a request for comment sent to his Twitter account.

Matlock’s 54-minute Sunday sermon is the first of a multi-part series on engaging the LGBTQ community. Eikon Church directs congregants to a section of their web site featuring a series of LGBTQ affirming resources, including various advocacy organizations such as author Matthew Vines’ Reformation Project, which seeks to promote LGBTQ affirmation within evangelical churches.

Vines’ writing appears to be one of several Religious Left influences upon Matlock’s thinking on marriage and sexuality. Matlock also appears to have been shaped by the writings of post-Evangelical author Rachel Held Evans.

Addressing scriptural prohibitions of same-sex practices, Matlock immediately set aside verses from the Hebrew Scriptures. He insisted that Moses’ words in the book of Leviticus were already disregarded, citing prohibitions against wearing mixed fabrics. He did not distinguish between Jewish ceremonial law, intended to indicate the people group from which the messiah would come (fulfilled with the coming of Jesus Christ), and the moral law, which remains in effect.

Matlock focused his biblical exposition upon the Apostle Paul’s exhortations against sexual immorality in his letters to the Romans, Corinthians and Timothy. The Texas pastor interpreted that Paul’s words were to be understood in his cultural context and were aimed against predatory or exploitative relationships such as pederasty, not against romantic same-sex relationships as a whole.

“What Paul is talking about in the New Testament does not properly correlate to LGBTQ Christians that we know,” Matlock preached. “Paul isn’t talking about what we’re talking about. They [LGBTQ Christians] would say that Paul seems to be addressing child molesters, idolatrous orgies in temple prostitution.”

“I landed in a place of full affirmation that I do believe that God can and does bless same-sex relationships, that God can and does bless same-sex marriages,” Matlock preached at the end of his sermon as tones swelled from the keyboard of a worship leader.

Future installments of the sermon series were previewed, including a differing view to be offered by a presbyter for the South Austin Section of the AoG.

Reached for comment, Anthony Scoma of the Assemblies’ North Texas District confirmed that he was originally scheduled to address the congregation.

“A denominational decision was reached early this week that I will no longer be speaking at Eikon this Sunday,” Scoma shared, referring questions to the North Texas District office and District Superintendent.

Matlock’s LinkedIn profile lists his theological training at the Rockford Master’s Commission, a ten month Christian gap-year discipleship program now known as City First Leadership College. He is a certified minister, the lowest of three AoG ministerial categories (ordained, licensed, certified). The certified level of credentials does not require the same level of education or training as the other two categories.

Matlock is not the first AoG clergy to run afoul of the denomination’s orthodox teaching on marriage and sexuality.

In 2013 Society for Pentecostal Studies President Paul Alexander triggered an investigation from his AoG District after proposing that the largest and most prominent academic society within the Pentecostal tradition should be open to the promotion of homosexual, transgender and intersex “realities” as faithful representations of Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity. Alexander was later that year dismissed from the denominational clergy rolls, the AoG equivalent of defrocking.

Alexander continued as co-president of Evangelicals for Social Action and on staff at Eastern Seminary until 2016, when he departed both organizations. Alexander and the mother of his three children divorced and in 2018 he publicly transitioned to a new transgender female identity.

Update [2/19/2020]: Eikon Church has made available Matlock’s second sermon in the three-part “clarity” series. The Texas minister confirms that he no longer holds ministerial credentials in the Assemblies of God, and “this church is no longer a part of that fellowship.” Matlock preaches that people may remain with Eikon Church despite holding differing views on affirming same-sex erotic relations, stating “I beg of you we must pursue unity and diversity.” Matlock cites the writings of Jesus Feminist author Sarah Bessey. The full 28-minute sermon may be viewed here.

Update [3/4/2020]: IRD has coverage of the second and third sermons in Matlock’s three-part clarity series and the Religious Left figures who influenced his thinking on the Bible and sexuality. Read more by clicking here.

Update [3/25/2021]: Eikon Church has departed its church campus and Pastor Dan Matlock has entered secular employment. It appears that the announcement of LGBT-affirmation combined with the poor timing of COVID restrictions significantly reduced the size of the Eikon congregation and its financial giving. Read more by clicking here.

  1. Comment by OG on February 15, 2020 at 9:48 am

    I attend a AoG church now. The AoG is not perfect in completely having scripture truth being understood and taught as scripture teach. many things I here is church beliefs. There is not one church that has it 100% correct. many churches are in Building the size of the congregation, not Kingdom building. i know the Bible and this that I read the minister is been smoking that funny wacky wed. God loves every one, but hates the sin. Look all the way back to Sodom & Gomorrah. As I said the AoG church I go to, if ever turned and excepted this life stile,and fully embraced it, Ichabod would be written on the door. The Glory of the Lord has left.

  2. Comment by Richard Glisson on February 16, 2020 at 1:18 pm

    I applaud Pastor Matlock, The Church is afraid of admitting it’s wrong doing to other children of our living God. Glad he now will be free to preach truth and love to all of God’s people. Congrats, Pastor Matlock

  3. Comment by Tony on February 19, 2020 at 7:09 pm

    What you just applaud to was to Satan, you might as well go snd live in sin too but just by your comments your just as lost as the worldly pastors , yes we are not to judge outside of the world but within the church, the true church who has the spirit of God in it, anyone who comes to agreement to this pastor and his new believes has never truly read the Bible or never received the Holy Spirit but has a unknown spirit!

  4. Comment by Bonnie Wheeler on February 21, 2020 at 11:51 pm

    Is this church really trying to bring the truth to the people or are they just trying to build a congregation. What does Sodom and Gomorrah mean and what was the main sin that caused God to destroy the two nations

  5. Comment by Bonnie Wheeler on February 22, 2020 at 12:12 am

    Evil is sin and there are many sins, however, not many have caused God to completely. destroy a nation Sodomy did.

  6. Comment by JR on February 25, 2020 at 10:17 am

    Ezekiel 16:49-50.

  7. Comment by Slalom5 on February 26, 2020 at 1:06 am

    I will make the assumption that you understand that this passage is instead about the spoiled nature of sodom who fell into a state of arrogance/slovenliness/callousness by the description “they did not help the poor and the needy”. Clearly the weight of their sin was this a much more by evidence of God’s judgement and the connotation attached the “Sodomites” mentioned in Corinthians, Romans, 1 Kings and 2 Kings

  8. Comment by JR on February 25, 2020 at 10:18 am

    Why did God flood the Earth again? I’m sure it must have been all the sodomy that was going around.

  9. Comment by beanr on March 6, 2020 at 9:22 pm

    God is the creator, and sustainer of His word, and church.
    Many will be deceived in the last days, thus saith the Holy book.
    God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever…holy. Funny, no reference to Leviticus, Roman’s, or God’s annihilation of Sodom and Gomorrah.
    The word is clear on marriage as God created it. The substitution of God’s way for perversion is clearly stated in Romans with the wrath of God all mingled in. Nobody bullies God!

  10. Comment by Will Byrd on February 16, 2020 at 2:39 pm

    I’m glad that you brought up the matter of Sodom and Gomorrah, O.G. An entire book could be written about THE SIN of Sodom and Gomorrah and why they were destroyed, but I will just mention Ezekiek 16:49,50, The Lord, speaking through the prophet, clearly lays out WHAT the sin and reason for the destruction of S&G was. And, by the way … the word “abomination” in vs 50 is the Hebrew word “Toevah” .. or abomination as it applies to Idol Worship (The people of Sodom were Canaanites … who were idol worshippers in their fertility cults( NOT Zimmah which would speak to abomination as applying to sexual sin. Fact is, the S&G account had absolutely NOTHING to do with homosexuality.

  11. Comment by Tony Heine on February 22, 2020 at 11:47 pm

    You miss some important points in the Ezekiel passage.
    Here are two.
    The first point deals with what the sin of Sodom was: “…pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not help the poor and needy.” Defenders of sexual immorality are quick to point out that “homosexuality” is not in this list of sins. But neither is “lack of hospitality”, which they say is the real reason God destroyed the cities of the plain. Neither is “idol worship”, which you claim is the abomination referenced in verse 50. If this was the abomination, why single out Sodom and Gomorrah? Did Egypt lack for idols?
    The second point is that that God did not destroy Sodom because of the sins listed in verse 49. Read verse 50 carefully. He destroyed it when He saw the abomination mentioned in verse 50. Remember in the original Genesis account, 18:20-21, God is going to see for Himself what the people of Sodom are doing. What He saw was an attempted homosexual gang rape. The sins listed in verse 49 lead to the abomination in verse 50, just as the first chapter of Romans points out that abandoning God leads to sexual immorality.

  12. Comment by beanr on March 6, 2020 at 9:29 pm

    Leviticus addressed the perversion. Holiness is the bottom line for God. Stop playing mind games with yourself. And check out Romans. Try reasoning your way out of that clear condemnation. LGBTQ fight is with God, God wins!

  13. Comment by Jay on February 16, 2020 at 7:12 pm

    OG… news flash, Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction was not about homosexuality, it was about not properly welcoming the sojourner.
    Jeff Winter… it is proven that ex-gay ministry is a hoax, admitted to by its early advocates who are now mostly back to homosexual relationships. At its peak the top success rate was 14% and an estimated 10-12% of participants committed suicide. God created Love and love is never wrong in the eyes of God. Two same gender people in love are better in the eyes of God than the judgmental fire being thrown down in the responses above

  14. Comment by Wayne on February 20, 2020 at 4:31 pm

    God hates sin. Thus repent of your sin and do it no more. Then you’ll experience God’s divine love. See Genesis 19:verses 4 & 5.

    Genesis 19:4-5
    Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. 5 They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.”

  15. Comment by Rae on February 27, 2020 at 3:56 pm

    When you don’t have the Holy Ghost you can’t see the Truth. Your eyes have scales and only God can reveal Truth to you like Saul. May God help you and others like you. We must repent of ALL SIN, not wallow in it and make excuses because we enjoy it too much. Deny yourself and take up your cross like Christ did!

  16. Comment by William Price on February 17, 2020 at 11:06 am

    First of all, this guy and this “church” is a JOKE, but let me ask you this about your absolute statement; “….no church is 100% correct….”. How are you able to say that with a straight face? Have you BEEN to every “Church” around the world? Have you even been to every church in the United States? Without you being able to answer THAT question, then I’m proving that your aforementioned, statement is 100% BULLCRAP and UNKNOWABLE by you!! There is a REMNANT that is correct!! Because the only “correct” position of the REAL CHURCH is a continual position of submission to God in perfect REPENTANCE. And the MAJORITY of “Churches” FAIL IN THIS, because they’re led by UNREPENTANT MEN. It’s that SIMPLE. Fornication is SIN, PERIOD. Any other position on sexuality besides the one that JESUS declared from the beginning, ONE male and ONE female who become one flesh is SIN and FORNICATION.! So this is simply a false “church”‘preaching a provable, false and unbiblical teaching, in order to manipulate people for their own purposes of “success”, who REFUSE to FEPENT. And I agree with you if you say that that’s a MAJORITY of churches, but it CERTAINLY does not indicate that there are NO church that is 100% correct, because there ARE a remnant of Churches whose hearts are determined to submit to almighty God and REPENT.

  17. Comment by JR on February 25, 2020 at 10:20 am

    Your arrogance is incredible.

    God must love you all the more for it. Or not.

  18. Comment by Rae on February 27, 2020 at 3:59 pm

    He’s not arrogant he’s repentant because he understands we all fall short of the glory of God. But God forgives us when we truly turn for our sin and back to His leading.

  19. Comment by David Gingrich on February 22, 2020 at 7:41 am

    The AoG deserves great credit for standing firm on The Word and not taking the “compromise with the world” route that is destroying the mainline denomination.

  20. Comment by Yvonne Moffet on February 15, 2020 at 10:43 am

    My my he has conformed to the world just to have people in his church. Yes they are welcome to come to church n hear what the word of God says about Homosexuality n Lesbianism that it us an Abomination in Gods eyes. Must repent ask God to forgive them n he will then leave that lifestyle. This man is become a false prophet n the people in this church need to get up n walk out n find a Bible believing church. This man is in danger of Hell by making LGBTQ people think their life ed style is ok for it is NOT OK!!

  21. Comment by Will Byrd on February 16, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    Rather than taking the Name of the Lord in vain and bearing false witness against HIM, this pastor AND against the beloved LGBTQ children of God … I would encourage you to seek the heart of The Lord in this matter, Yvonne. Satan is the accuser of God’s children … you might want to consider that.

  22. Comment by binkyxz3 on February 23, 2020 at 5:08 am

    Your statement is rote psychological projection used widely in the secular world by progressives. The victim status you claim is an illusion and gives you no credence to impugn a Christian’s faith.

  23. Comment by beanr on March 6, 2020 at 9:42 pm

    Jesus is the judge of the lost.
    Saints can judge those who claim to be part of the body of believers. We are fruit inspectors. God has by his word listed those who are not welcome in his heaven. Like the sodomites at Lot’s door, the LGBTQ bang on the door of the church. God has and will handle the LGBTQ in his own way. No one bullies God!

  24. Comment by Donnie Witt on February 16, 2020 at 3:37 pm

    Amen Sister

  25. Comment by Keithhess on February 17, 2020 at 12:29 am

    My my eating pork,wearing man made fibers and eating shellfish also abomination

  26. Comment by JR on February 18, 2020 at 9:54 am

    Quick, name 5 other abominations. Make sure at least 2 of them are not in regards to sexuality.

  27. Comment by Robert Cleveland on February 18, 2020 at 12:53 pm

    Love of money
    lying tongue
    Spirit of Dissention

  28. Comment by JR on February 25, 2020 at 10:21 am

    So you got to 3… that’s still a failing grade (60%).

  29. Comment by C W Riley on February 15, 2020 at 10:57 am

    Satan is on the move in these last days. Christians need to spend more time on their knees, crying out to God. Many are falling away from the faith to be with the crowd instead of being with Jesus. I’m praying for an awakening around the planet before its too late.

  30. Comment by bsdunek on February 16, 2020 at 9:33 pm

    Amen!

  31. Comment by Krista Brewer on February 16, 2020 at 10:24 pm

    Is there a “like” button on here?

    satan (with a small s) had deceived so MANY people. And I’m not talking about non Christians either (obviously their deceived). But satan has blinded the eyes to so many Christians. he’s leading them straight to hell and they don’t even know it. God’s Word is very plain about the sin of homosexuality. And the worst part of all this is; they don’t even CARE what God has to say about it.

    I have 3 cousins who are gay. 2 of them were never saved, but the 3rd one was one on fire for God (I STILL have no idea how he turned gay knowing how strong he was with God), but I’ve been praying for him a lot, because I know if he died tomorrow, he would go to hell. God saved him once, and I can’t BELIEVE that He wouldn’t bring Him back

  32. Comment by JR on February 25, 2020 at 10:25 am

    “I STILL have no idea how he turned gay knowing how strong he was with God.”

    Seriously, read this about 40 times.
    Every day.
    Maybe what you think you know about what God wants from you… maybe this line ought to question that.
    Maybe having multiple cousins who are gay says SOMETHING that you should be listening to.
    And maybe – just maybe – you can pray your way to enlightenment on this issue.

  33. Comment by Rae on February 27, 2020 at 4:05 pm

    Yeah, the great falling away is occurring as we speak and sin and immortality is celebrated too much making people believe lies! But hey what do I know, we’ll all be judged righteously by God in the end, hopefully all repent and turn to Jesus Christ our Savior.

  34. Comment by S on February 16, 2020 at 10:51 pm

    Interesting, considering the Pentecostal movement is so far way from the teachings of Jesus. They support a president who has lied 6,000 times on record, who never goes to church and grabs women by their vaginas.. such hypocrites

  35. Comment by Judith Foster on February 27, 2020 at 11:03 am

    I was thinking I heard on MSNBC (or was it CNN) that it was actually 6,001 times ……..

  36. Comment by beanr on March 6, 2020 at 9:45 pm

    God is the example, not man. Your focus is wrong.

  37. Comment by Bonnie Cadwell on February 15, 2020 at 11:41 am

    Do some research in the Bible.

  38. Comment by Will Byrd on February 16, 2020 at 2:27 pm

    Indeed, Bonnie … Those of us who actually HAVE done research into what the Bible does and doesn’t say about homoosexuality, know that NEVER in any scripture, does it condemn homosexuality as we know it. A number of books have been written by respected Bible scholars, and really anyone who cares to truly eke out the truth of what we know as “the clobber passages” will come to know the truth..

  39. Comment by Tl on February 19, 2020 at 5:04 am

    Roman’s 1

  40. Comment by J. Lee on February 19, 2020 at 8:12 pm

    “Those of us who actually HAVE done research into what the Bible does and doesn’t say about homoosexuality, know that NEVER in any scripture, does it condemn homosexuality as we know it.”

    Emphatically false.

  41. Comment by beanr on March 6, 2020 at 9:47 pm

    Still waiting for the researchers of the Bible you were speaking of.

  42. Comment by Spencer Click on February 15, 2020 at 11:57 am

    I think you should clarify the title.

    The pastor knew his position while result in his dismissal. There was a conscious choice to leave the AG before preaching this sermon. To treat it as otherwise is misleading.

  43. Comment by Dave D. on February 15, 2020 at 6:49 pm

    Agreed.

  44. Comment by beanr on March 6, 2020 at 9:51 pm

    Extrapolation! Hmm. Struggling with the reality of standards and excommunication. Sad.

  45. Comment by Caroline Adams on February 15, 2020 at 12:09 pm

    So sad for all. Embracing the worldly whims rather than embracing God Almighty, who has already done the work for them. Money for a new church building in just 3 years? Hmmm.

  46. Comment by Dee on February 15, 2020 at 12:35 pm

    Sad deal. Sad day for those pastors that they would sacrifice their eternal destiny to follow in tolerance of the Jezebel Spirit. But the word of God said it would happen in the last days, that Christians would leave their faith in God and follow after seducing spirits.

  47. Comment by Keith Hess on February 17, 2020 at 12:35 am

    Jesus said zero about same sex love! Eating shellfish a sin,also eating pork. Read it all just the brief mention of man lying with man.paul also told women to not open there mouths to preach, tell me how many women clergy do you currently have in your denomination! Read it all before you judge

  48. Comment by MG on February 22, 2020 at 1:56 pm

    However, Keith, having already committed one sin does not make it permissible for a person (or a church) to go ahead and commit other sins!

  49. Comment by beanr on March 6, 2020 at 9:58 pm

    Jesus Christ is the standard. His father is clear and his Holy Spirit affirms the holiness that changes the corruption in the heart of man. The more we agree with the word, the more the word changes the man to be like God, holy.

  50. Comment by Dee on February 15, 2020 at 12:57 pm

    Waste of time they only post the sugar coated responses

  51. Comment by Sonja R. Roberts on February 15, 2020 at 2:22 pm

    God help us, the AG Churches are falling into Satan’s trap of twistingGods Word to make it say what they want it to say to justify their choices. We must have the Holy Spirit moving in our services to meet people’s needs not to compromise to the culture of the times to grow their churches. Taking out the altars and compromising their sermons to tickle peoples ears. No longer do we hear sermons of living a God fearing life or the return of Jesus. The sermons of the old paths are long gone. Troubled about the future of the Assembly of God. Much work is to be done to keep the AG Churches on track of the old ways!

  52. Comment by Steven Pinkston on February 15, 2020 at 2:25 pm

    It is not my place to judge this organization. I believe they have strayed from the path of God. My Bible tells a much different story that is not open to other interpretations. I think if you are going to worship God then it should be in the way God said to worship him. Liberal ideas are not what God desires. But I guess I could be wrong. I guess we will find out in the future.

  53. Comment by FRED BAILEY on February 15, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    Austin, ay? Well, fancy that…

  54. Comment by Jerry L Jones on February 15, 2020 at 3:00 pm

    “Well worn jeans and untucked shirts that reveal a sleeve of tattoos” are not a or the standard uniform for evangelical church planters.

  55. Comment by Buford Ness on February 15, 2020 at 3:05 pm

    So sad. The answer is deliverance for any type of demonic oppression or possession… that includes gossiping, stealing, lying, fornication, adultery or any other personal fleshly action that the Father-God has told us there will be consequences for committing. It is apostasy and the pastor will be held accountable not only in the afterlife, but in this life.

  56. Comment by MG on February 22, 2020 at 1:59 pm

    Yes, but the first and foremost answer for Christians is obedience to God’s Word.

  57. Comment by Jerry Chumley on February 15, 2020 at 4:50 pm

    This fall’s into the “ Lust for other things “ in Mark 4:19. The man is in danger of the sin unto death. So sad.

  58. Comment by DAVID on February 15, 2020 at 9:59 pm

    That’s the ones that will do whatever it takes for the money.. Not thinking there doing wrong just making money is the goal.. They will all be in hell together

  59. Comment by Cathy Cain on February 15, 2020 at 10:04 pm

    Fasting and prayer included along with discipline of tight morals of female male marriages, clean living, and We wanted to admit, and its nice to be clean.

  60. Comment by Ted DeYoung on February 15, 2020 at 10:44 pm

    I would have walked out the first word of LGBT and never when back

  61. Comment by Stephen Black on February 15, 2020 at 10:44 pm

    I am so grateful for the amazing grace of God that has changed my life in coming out of homosexuality 37+ years ago. I am grateful to God in having served 1000’s of people find freedom from all forms of sexual sin and LGBTQ+ chaos living. The real Gospel of Jesus Christ is based upon a holy relationship in departing from ALL idolatry and ALL sexual immorality. Eph. 5:5-7 is very clear, but so is 1 Cor. 6:9-11. I am the “Such Were Some of You” in having God’s grace poured out over me in calling me into repentance from a homosexual “gay” identity. This Pastor Matlock likes to use the “Message” rather than study the actual Bible. It is very clear that the law of God on idolatry and sexual immorality has never changed and never will. LGBTQ+ behavior is detestable in the sight of God. Lev. 18:22-23, make this very clear and the run-on thought in vs. 23 is likening homosexual behavior to bestiality. There is NO ambiguity on this issue for those who love the Truth. Jesus made it very clear in His words on the Sermon on the Mount. Heaven and Earth will pass away before MORAL law passes away. He also reiterated God’s divine intent for human sexuality in Matthew 19 – it has always been this way, and always will be – marriage is between one man and one woman, and has always been God’s desire since the beginning with Adam and Eve. There are hundreds of stories & testimonies of freedom from homosexuality! https://www.firststone.org/freedom-from-homosexuality-videos1 in video and in written form. I also wrote a book about this issue called “Freedom Realized” (www.freedomrealized.org) which also includes a survey that reveals that 72% of people (over 1200) who came to our ministry over 25 years find lasting freedom from LGBTQ+ chaos and now live life surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord and not with any false labels of “LGBTQ+ Christianity”. The label “gay Christian” is incompatible to real Biblical teaching! There is real FREEDOM in Jesus Christ to those who want it, but it may mean a real cross of dying to self. Those who make a choice for Jesus as LORD will never regret it in the next life! http://www.stephenblack.org <– an ordained minister helping people live godly lives in pastoral-care counseling for over 30 years!

  62. Comment by MG on February 22, 2020 at 2:04 pm

    Thank you, Stephen Black, for a powerful testimony for God’s act of grace that began changing your life the moment you repented and turned to Him.

  63. Comment by Stephen Black on February 15, 2020 at 10:48 pm

    My story in overcoming homosexuality (https://youtu.be/xzXe71DLCZE) was part of the amazing documentary: “Such Were Some of You” –> https://youtu.be/VKSFPdyH8x4

    There is HOPE in the real Gospel of Jesus Christ that gives the real power (grace) that transforms lives!

  64. Comment by Linda in San Antonio on February 22, 2020 at 3:11 pm

    “Such Were Some of You” is my go-to source for understanding the brokeness and woundedness of the LGBTQ world. Under all the “gay/happy” talk is a deep sadness borne often from childhood molestation and other problems that only God can heal. I remember the money people on those SWSOY recordings when I despair over a gay family member who was raised in a Bible-believing church and claims to be a Christian, but he’s gone deep into the gay lifestyle, including being in his second “marriage.” He is deceived.

  65. Comment by Linda in San Antonio on February 22, 2020 at 3:12 pm

    Sorry: MANY people (not money)

  66. Comment by Isaiah on February 16, 2020 at 1:38 am

    Lo que sea por llenar de gente la iglesia… Todos son bienvenidos a escuchar que la homosexualidad es abominacion ante Dios.. Antiguo y nuevo testamento..

    Whatever it takes to bring people to church. Everybody is welcome to church to hear that homosexuality is abomination before God… Old and new testament…

  67. Comment by Jeff Winter on February 16, 2020 at 4:47 am

    I wish I could talk to Mr. Matlock and connect him with many ex gay individuals across this country who understand that homosexuality is wrong. His support of homosexuality is a slap in the face of every ex gay who transitioned away from homosexual expression. Also, Matthew Vines is a nice guy but his writings about homosexuality lack biblical depth and application. I’m sorry this Pastor was influenced by his writings.

  68. Comment by Will Byrd on February 16, 2020 at 2:22 pm

    While there are, indeed LGBTQ people who, as you say, “have transitioned away from homosexual expression.”, the fact is that they are gay people who have made the choice to not live as wh they know themselves to be. They are not “ex gay”. I have been close to the “ex gay” movement for close to 45 years, and I have known hundreds of people who, for a time, embraced the teachings of “ex gay” … including a number of nationally and internationally well known leaders in the movement. With very few exceptions ALL of them will tell you that they never became anything other than gays who were denying who they were. It’s just a fact.

  69. Comment by Cajun on February 16, 2020 at 11:58 pm

    Jeff. There is ZERO evidence that anyone has changed their sexual identity. Ever heard of Exodus International? They closed their doors after 20 years and evidence showed that over 99% of their subjects had successfully changed their sexual identity. In fact, the rate of suicide of those that attended was huge. So would you like the suicides to continue? Your Empathy is void. I hope that none of you are ever entrusted with an LGBT child. You are the perfect example of a spiritual abuser.

  70. Comment by Cajun on February 17, 2020 at 12:00 am

    *Had NOT

  71. Comment by Keith Hesskeith on February 17, 2020 at 12:39 am

    No such thing as ex gay or ex straight. God made us all perfect in his sight. Plus Jesus said zero about same sex love . Read it all not just what you want to believe. Eating shellfish and pork also mentioned as abomination!

  72. Comment by Rev. Dave Ragsdale on February 17, 2020 at 10:16 am

    Mr. Winter homosexuality is not wrong, the only thing wrong is your understanding. I will debate you or anyone else publicly to show that homosexuality is not a sin.

  73. Comment by Equal shares on February 20, 2020 at 11:36 pm

    Sodomy is one of the most unclean things in all of existence of time and space.
    You disregard the Torah as if Yah has changed.
    I hope and pray you repent of your complete disregard of Yahuas pure words to not engage in sodomy. You as a teacher of the word will be judged much harsher.

  74. Comment by JR on February 18, 2020 at 9:56 am

    I’m sure you can find his e-mail address.

    Or even take the time to drive down to his church and ‘school’ him.

  75. Comment by David A on February 16, 2020 at 5:14 am

    All of this is Satan trying to destroy our society by destroying its foundation, A husband and wife. Without that everything else crumbles. God created Adam and Eve, He made them with purpose and differences that complement each other. It’s sad but it is only going to get worse before it gets better.

  76. Comment by Joan Rogers on February 16, 2020 at 6:54 am

    This is not an Assembly of God Church in way way at all’
    It is the devil’s seat. Uplifting what s an abomination to God which God forbids, it is furthering last days Sodom and Gomorrah.
    Leave this place and never look back (Lot’s Wife looked back) Beware)Nabi/Seer Joan Rogers

  77. Comment by P Lester on February 16, 2020 at 7:47 am

    I am so very sorry to hear of this and I’m so very sorry to learn he has transgendered. However I don’t think it has anything to do with what degree you are as a minister that you make these decisions. Some people are anointed mighty men of God and they didn’t attend a college or go to school but again we’re in the last times, the devil is moving, the people are accepting and they are losing out on eternity

  78. Comment by Joseph Okah on February 16, 2020 at 8:55 am

    Oh lord have Mercy on Matlock for he know not what he is doing. Spirit of last day at work in his life, I think all AoG all over the world should arise pray for his redemption

  79. Comment by Equal Shares on February 20, 2020 at 11:39 pm

    You’re right partly. The Assemblies of God need to change a lot themselves just because they aren’t into the homosexual stuff like mr. Matlock doesn’t mean that they are following the word. Their entire system of bylaws and man-made traditions contradicts the Torah in many ways so they have many blemishes that they need to change. Denominations in general were never meant to be a thing. the Assemblies of God is built on the same hierarchical domination pride of life egotistical doctrine that the papacy is and it needs to change and repent of its own things

  80. Comment by David on February 16, 2020 at 10:22 am

    I believe this is wonderful! The Church has been interpreting the Bible to conform to ancient beliefs. Jesus is still speaking and many are not listening! Jesus would condemn those who wish not to be inclusive.

  81. Comment by Mike Roybal on February 16, 2020 at 10:44 am

    God’s grace and mercy is awesome, but even God said heaven and earth will pass, but never his word. I once asked my Dad if after a million years of people being in hell, would God feel sorry for people and take them out, he said there is only one problem, he would be going against his word and he can’t lie.

  82. Comment by Rich on February 16, 2020 at 10:56 am

    Good for them to realize that God’s love excludes no one.

  83. Comment by Cleatis on February 16, 2020 at 11:08 am

    …too many novices in pulpits, many without mature scriptural/doctrinal training, easily influenced by silly teachings and doctrines from devil’s. A reflection of laodicean spirit of our time. Thankful that AoG took action. However, the A/G should be much more proactive in discipline in sound doctrine, which should reduce much of the opinionated extreme influences of society at large.

  84. Comment by Sergio on February 16, 2020 at 11:37 am

    I think straight Christians don’t understand how hard it is for gay Christians to keep their hearts open to Jesus. The mere fact that there are gay believers is a testimony to God’s calling on our lives. Do we all understand why we are called and how we are included into a fold that rejects us, misunderstands and even hates us to the point of wanting us extinct? I don’t think anyone understands why they are called. It helps for me to see how Jesus was rejected and misunderstood and just how relevant that is to our experience and LGBTQ children of Christ. And I wish straight Christians would seek God on this point and remember that BEFORE the New Testament was even written the faithful to Almighty God were following the words of Moses to the letter, and that this ended in the crucifixion. Blessed be that even this was part of God’s plan.. and that if it wasn’t for that fact NONE of you would even be granted the wonder of knowing God through Christ..

  85. Comment by Steve Ehizojie Okojie on February 16, 2020 at 12:09 pm

    This is real apostasy on the path of the Pastor and he has not only been deceived but has also set out to deceive many along that same line of spiritual darkness. If God needed man to marry man or vice versa, he would also have given us that pattern as he instituted marriage in Genesis, bringing forth a woman not another man out of Adam’s body as a help meet or wife for Adam. Even Jesus reiterated in the new testament that God created them Male and female, Matt.19:4. For the sake of the sin of homosexuality, Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed by fire. Even the book of Romans 1 :22-28, clearly stated this same evil of same sex marriage as against God. The law Moses condemned it,see leviticus 18:22. That Pastor has seriously backslidded and he needs serious divine intervention, one of the signs of the last days.

  86. Comment by GlennOsborne on February 16, 2020 at 1:43 pm

    I applaud Pastor Matlock’s courageous decision. I’m glad to see more pastors being open to the Holy Spirit in this issue. There has been a great deal of misinterpretation of scripture on this matter. It is much easier to exclude people than to accept all of God’s children.

  87. Comment by B Belinda Morris on February 16, 2020 at 2:10 pm

    I think it’s great.

    Have you all given away your wealth for the well-being of the poor?

    Do you plan to?

  88. Comment by Will Byrd on February 16, 2020 at 2:15 pm

    Having my Christian beginnings in The Assemblies of God and other Pentecostal denominations; I remember that the very roots of the AoG were founded in racism. So the matter of sexuality isn’t the first thing that they have gotten wrong. I won’t go further re: my own experience in that movement, other than to say that I stand with Pastor Marlock in his decision to welcome and affirm LGBTQ folks into his church, as well as his decision to leave the AoG. It will fall on deaf ears when i say that scripture NEVER condemns or shoves LGBTQ people away from the welcome table … and contrary to what at least one commenter has said on this thread … having had over 40 years of closely observing and knowing countless numbers of people who once embraced the so called “ex gay” movement … there is absolutely no such thing as a former or ex gay. So with all of that being said … I encourage Pastor Marlock to continue what he is doing … and as St. Benedict says in his teaching “Listen with the ear of your heart”.

  89. Comment by Harvey Douglas on February 18, 2020 at 9:50 pm

    That’s a damned and damnable lie. Ever heard of Rosaria Butterfield? She’s pretty famous for her testimony of being delivered from a live-in, “committed” lesbian life. And I, too, have been delivered from that perversion.

  90. Comment by Damon Lomax on February 16, 2020 at 2:56 pm

    Finally a minister with some real conviction and the courage to stand up against the hatred of the AoG and their policies. I grew up in the AoG. My dad was the pastor. I left the church completely due to the ignorance and self-righteous attitudes of the people there. Jesus would be disgusted at most “christian” churches. He would have welcomed anyone, without condemnation.

  91. Comment by David on February 16, 2020 at 3:40 pm

    Hell is waiting for them. The sodomite lifestyle is an abomination in the eyes of G-d יהוה.

  92. Comment by Lou on February 16, 2020 at 4:02 pm

    Lord have mercy. Thank God I am no longer AG

  93. Comment by Kelly on February 16, 2020 at 4:43 pm

    Thank God for a Pastor willing to STUDY Scripture. People keep throwing out Sodom and Gomorrah and if they would study they would see in Jude when it says they went after strange flesh, strange in the Greek is heteros where we get the english word heterosexual meaning different.Also, I would recommend reading Judges 19.Also, the word homosexual doesn’t exist in the greek. Doesn’t appear in Biblical translation until the 1900’s

  94. Comment by Harvey Douglas on February 18, 2020 at 10:00 pm

    So now we’ve gone through such theological gyrations that we have Jude condemning heterosexual relations? Of all the strange twists I’ve ever heard in these discussions, that takes the cake. Wouldn’t it be more honest to admit the plain truth, that in that case strange flesh is the flesh that is unnatural to pursue, i.e. that which is the same as the pursuer??

  95. Comment by Brian on February 16, 2020 at 4:58 pm

    Actually the whole denomination departed from the Word when they endorsed divorce and remarriage which Jesus refuted and the Father refuted also in Jeremiah chapter 3.

  96. Comment by Brian Lewis on February 16, 2020 at 5:02 pm

    Actually the entire denomination like so many others left Gods Word when they endorsed divorce and remarriage. Jesus refuted it and so did the Father in Jeremiah 3.

  97. Comment by Presbyterian refugee on February 16, 2020 at 5:43 pm

    I’m growing tired of these cool, trendy, pop culture ministers in t’shirts, tennis shoes, tats, etc. strutting around the altar of God. I attended a mega church service recently; its rock and roll music was so loud and offensive, it reminded me of a Rolling Stones concert in 1968.

  98. Comment by Victor on February 16, 2020 at 5:48 pm

    I’m glad that they see that Jesus loves all His children. Way to go.

  99. Comment by MG on February 22, 2020 at 2:12 pm

    Jesus indeed does love all His children. (“For God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should have eternal life.” JN 3:16) However, what He loves is the child, not the child’s sin — our sin is actually the reason for his death, not the reason He loves us.

  100. Comment by Linda in San Antonio on February 22, 2020 at 3:18 pm

    You DO realize that every soul is God’s CREATION but in order to become a CHILD of God, we must be BORN AGAIN through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a sweet-sounding but damnable heresy to say that we are all God’s children. Jesus Himself pointed out that some of the synagogue leaders were children of Satan.

  101. Comment by Jimmy Henderson on February 16, 2020 at 7:33 pm

    Research people, research! The word “homosexual” was not in Scripture until a New Revised American Standard version was published in 1946. The original scripture terms arsenokoitai and malakos were incorrectly combined to create “homosexual” Their original connotation was “lovers of self” which was incorrectly translated to mean “men loving men” and homosexual.

    Additionally the scriptures in Leviticus pertaining to men laying with men as women? This was written during the Great Crusades where God spoke against the Crusaders performing heinous sexual acts on everyone…male, female, adult and child. It has nothing to do with a same-sex dating relationship or marriage in todays connotation.

  102. Comment by Timothy on February 19, 2020 at 2:06 pm

    I did some research on the word ‘homosexual’. Other sexual deviant terms are also not explicitly in the Bible, but I find scores of terms and definitions in the
    Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5.

  103. Comment by Brett Kelly on February 16, 2020 at 8:00 pm

    Thank you, Dan and Kelly. I graduated from Central Bible College of the Assemblies of God in the mid eighties and spent several years in ministry with the A of G. Thirty years ago I became a United Methodist Clergy. I do believe that being an ally with LGBTQ brothers and sisters in Christ is important for the mission of Jesus Christ.

  104. Comment by MG on February 22, 2020 at 2:17 pm

    Not quite sure what you mean by “ally”, but if you mean approving of their sin (rather than just being kind to them and loving them as individual fellow-sinners), I, having been married to a United Methodist pastor for 50 years, have a completely broken heart to see so many UM pastors abandoning scriptural truth in order to move from loving the sinners to loving their sin. I have friends who love me dearly, but they do not love or affirm my sins. Thank God! Your comment makes me sad for you.

  105. Comment by Kevin Jacobson on February 16, 2020 at 10:10 pm

    Jeff Winter, I could connect you with just as many people who went through “ex-gay” programs and repairative therapy, who came out the other side hurt; angry and wondering. BUT GOD!! That would have been me, but actual study of the scriptures (back to the Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic) showed that it was not as black and white as I had been taught. That when Jesus said, “Whosoever believes in me shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” I should believe Him!! I’m glad that more and more churches are realizing the validity of scripture – – and that it is a living, breathing Word – – the Love of God – – for EVERYONE!!

  106. Comment by MG on February 22, 2020 at 2:23 pm

    Kevin, can you make a distinction between loving people and loving their sin? We all very readily do that with our children. We love them fiercely. But we neither love nor affirm their wrongdoing. I as an individual, and many other evangelicals, have several LGBTQ very dear friends, whom I love and would readily give my life for — but all of them know that I cannot affirm or “love” their BEHAVIOR, which is the sin (not their same-sex urges).

  107. Comment by Pastor Nwoko Solomon Ikechukwu on February 16, 2020 at 10:20 pm

    It is so disheartening what people, especially some so-called pastors could do for money, popularity and to gain the praise of men, instead of God. May God have mercy. Romans 1:16-31

  108. Comment by Rebecca Rorie on February 16, 2020 at 10:25 pm

    So sad this has been a strong Church against Satan These people know the word of God there’s no excuse so you put yourself in Hell where they are going by allowing same sex marriages you was the light Now you are the darkness God will judge you for this because it’s against the word of God

  109. Comment by Deborah Stuart on February 17, 2020 at 12:16 am

    God loves all of His children! This includes LGBTQ people! We are human beings! What we do between two individuals whom love one another is no one else’s business! I and my husband are heterosexual, but we don’t discuss our sensuality with anyone! It keeps our relationship alive for 32 years! Stop judging others and love one another as Jesus loves you!

  110. Comment by MG on February 22, 2020 at 2:29 pm

    Please do not think of all evangelical Christians as people who hate homosexuals — many, many of us have some LGBTQ folks whom we have dearly loved for years if not decades. The only thing we hate is their sinful behavior . . . because we see in Scripture what it will lead to in their lives (destruction). For that reason I cannot hate homosexual people — instead, I love them at the painful cost of a broken heart in their behalf. And I know when I recognize sin in my own life, that if I choose to nurse it and cultivate it instead of repenting and turning away from it, it will also lead to destruction for me, too. That’s why it breaks my heart for my LGBTQ friends — if I didn’t love them, it wouldn’t hurt so much.

  111. Comment by Linda in San Antonio on February 22, 2020 at 3:19 pm

    You DO realize that every soul is God’s CREATION but in order to become a CHILD of God, we must be BORN AGAIN through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a sweet-sounding but damnable heresy to say that we are all God’s children. Jesus Himself pointed out that some of the synagogue leaders were children of Satan.

  112. Comment by Dr. Bob W. Jones on February 17, 2020 at 1:18 am

    I pray for Mr. Matlock and the church of which he is the pastor. I do not think for a moment that it was only him who made this decision. I am sure that he has been grooming the congregation to accept his teachings. My advice to congregates who oppose his teachings is to leave and find an AOG or any other Bible believing church.

  113. Comment by Clint on February 17, 2020 at 4:58 am

    Agape love once again reigns over the pompous ideology of the religious modern day Pharisees. Thank you Pastor for loving all and allowing God to work.

  114. Comment by Geoff on February 17, 2020 at 7:57 am

    God is bigger than what many of you commenters are saying here. You and church leaders and many before you have put God in a very confining box and you have done a disservice to the Church and to God’s people. And it’s the reason for many suicides and yes, murders – this judging, religious spirit has caused this. Yes, their blood is on the Church’s hands – not just AG, MANY churches. Some of you know such victims and some of you have lgbtq family members. Are you kicking them to the curb? Are you slowing them with your judging words and actions, trying to make them into something they cannot be? Stop treating them as lesser people and realize that they are that way because GOD MADE THEM THAT WAY. You cannot change them and you shouldn’t try to – it’s wrong! Stop judging them and making them try to fit into your notion of what a person should be! It’s time to finally come clean and repent of your religious spirit and closed-mindedness. Open your eyes to the reality of the people God made! He made people of many different races, sizes and abilities, and yes, homosexual orientation. Many of the world’s greatest minds were homosexuals. Walt Whitman, Leonardo DaVinci, Alan Turing and many others. Where would the world be without them! Do your research. Repent of your prejudice and wrong beliefs about this! God has created and does create many lgbtq people and he blesses gay relationships! It is very refreshing that this pastor has opened his eyes to this reality.

  115. Comment by Patricia Errickson on February 17, 2020 at 8:27 am

    Ah, is No. TX DISTRICT then othera because in other districts the buildings belong to the district or so I thought.

  116. Comment by Anita on February 17, 2020 at 8:34 am

    In the last days God said they would believe a lie and be dammed.

  117. Comment by James H. on February 17, 2020 at 9:09 am

    Matthew Vines pro gay biblical arguments have been thoroughly refuted even by pro gay biblical scholars. To use them as a basis of authority is a major error.

  118. Comment by Cathy on February 17, 2020 at 11:49 am

    This is not what God says about gays. Being gay is not acceptable.
    We have to stop this insanity.

  119. Comment by Krista Brewer on February 17, 2020 at 1:01 pm

    Not sure why my comment wasn’t put up. It wasn’t like it a bad. Just stated the truth like everyone else

  120. Comment by Linda Smith on February 17, 2020 at 2:33 pm

    Could tell they were hyper liberal by their website. This is very wrong, very disappointing but not a surprise.

  121. Comment by Suewanda Bobbitt on February 17, 2020 at 5:17 pm

    A True Christian does not have to come from a church congregation.
    A True Christian is one of unconditional Love and Acceptance.
    A True Christian does not judge others, as that is NOT our job.
    A True Christian leads by example with unconditional love and acceptance; WITHOUT judgement.
    Do you think that Jesus only hung out with Christian people?
    Jesus connected with ALL walks of life.
    LGBTQ deserve unconditional love and acceptance the same way the author of this article does, the same way most of the people that posted these comments deserve to be love loved.
    I know Pastor Dan Matlock and was baptized at Eikon Church at the very end of 2013.
    The Bible is taken too literally because if it weren’t, than you would all realize that in this article and in some of your beliefs and comments regarding it and Pastor Dan Matlock of Eikon Church… You are doing the very SAME thing that you accuse Pastor Matlock of doing. You want to say the HE is just all about money???? Hmmm maybe you are mistaken and only meant that AoG is.
    You have clearly judged this Pastor and this amazing church. You have strayed from God’s word.
    The Bible seems to me to be more of a rode map or instruction manual.
    Times change.
    The world evolves and so do the people of the world, well hopefully it is their goal and intention to evolve.
    God also gives us free will. Everyone needs to remember that.
    EVERY single person of this world will have their day of judgement. That is NOT our job. Our job is to love thy neighbor. Our job is to do onto others as you have others do onto you.
    God is a forgiving God; one of Restoration; One of Unconditional Love and Acceptance that which can ONLY be possible in the absence of judgement. Absence of fear. Absence of hypocrisy.
    This is very limited thinking that is being displayed here with this article, comments, limited thoughts and beliefs that could not even be possible without the key ingredients of Hate, Judgement, Hypocrisy.
    God intended for us all to evolve WITH the times and culture. We ALL have the ability to do so, because we ALL have free will. God would not have even created the people of the LGBTQ Community if all he wanted was for us to condemn them. Judge them.
    God created all of this FOR us, as an opportunity to grow and evolve but celebrate one another’s differences yet still love one another.

  122. Comment by S. Knoll on February 17, 2020 at 6:21 pm

    To accept a homosexual in your church services is fine, but to accept the lifestyle is anything but love. But damns people to hell.

  123. Comment by Jim on February 17, 2020 at 7:32 pm

    In Matthew 13, Jesus taught the parable of the wheat and the tares. Tares are weeds that resemble wheat. In the parable, a wheat field had deliberately been polluted by an enemy who sowed the seeds of the weeds intermixed with the wheat. Only after the plants were partly grown did the problem become apparent. The landowner’s servants asked if they should go in and pull out the tares. He told them no:

    Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

  124. Comment by Tim Snell on February 18, 2020 at 9:31 am

    You probably need to read Jesus’ interpretation of that parable. Your apparent attempt to correlate the “field” to the church would be shown to not be correct

  125. Comment by Jim on February 18, 2020 at 7:51 pm

    Yeah Tim it’s correct. Jesus explains it later in the chapter (around vs 36). He’s speaking about the church.

  126. Comment by Joan Hodges on February 17, 2020 at 8:08 pm

    No minister who daily walks with God would allow satan to destroy his church and his life. There is nothing that compares to knowing our Lord.

  127. Comment by Joseph on February 17, 2020 at 9:41 pm

    If only the United Methodist church had handled their apostate leaders as swiftly and decisively as this. If they want to leave, let them leave.

  128. Comment by MG on February 22, 2020 at 2:33 pm

    Amen.

  129. Comment by Kay on February 18, 2020 at 2:07 am

    If God the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed despite the supplications of Father Abraham this tattooed young preacher should stop this hellish break dance and seek for mercy before it’s too late!

  130. Comment by DD Vossler on February 18, 2020 at 2:09 am

    Thank you to the brave NTD of AoG for rising up and taking a stand for what the Bible teaches and the AoG believes in that marriage is intended for male and females.. The Bible also states in the last days people will believe a lie and will be dammed.

  131. Comment by Cindy on February 18, 2020 at 7:00 am

    I was raised in the AoG church. From the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth it revolves around “male and female created He them.” If one doesn’t even consider the spiritual aspect of the equation it’s still wrong. Sex, whether heterosexual or homosexual, outside of the way God intended between a married man and woman results in disease. Sad day for this denomination publicly but it has. End widespread within this denomination for decades.

  132. Comment by Valerie on February 18, 2020 at 8:48 am

    I am very happy for the Matlock’s stance on this. Love is love is love, and God embraces all.

  133. Comment by Jim on February 19, 2020 at 4:07 pm

    So then by your thinking the pedophile who says he loves children is embraced by God.

  134. Comment by Suewanda Bobbitt on February 18, 2020 at 6:13 pm

    Texas Church Embraces LGBTQ, Exits Assemblies of God

    A True Christian does NOT have to come from a congregation or attend church service regularly.
    A True Christian is one of unconditional Love and Acceptance for ALL of humanity, despite all of our differences and still embrace them.
    A true Christian is NOT one of condemnation, hate, judgement and exclusion of others.
    A True Christian does NOT judge others, as that is NOT our job.
    A True Christian leads by example with unconditional love and acceptance; WITHOUT judgement.

    Do you think that Jesus only hung out with Christian people?
    Jesus connected with ALL walks of life and he did it with ease. There is really even a huge lesson in just that.

    Jesus connected with ALL people because we are all ONE.
    The LGBTQ community also deserve unconditional love and acceptance the same way the author of this article does, the same way most of the people that posted these comments deserve to be loved. The same way Pastor Dan Matlock deserves to be loved. The same way that I describe to be loved.

    You see, I know Pastor Dan Matlock and was baptized at Eikon Church at the very end of 2013.

    Pastor Dan has always been there for me, even when I was not expecting to see him, he showed up for me during some of the most painful and darkest moments of my life and it was NEVER about money!!! It wasn’t EVER for a donation or payment for his time.
    He was genuinely authentic when he surprised me at the foot of my hospital bed. I was not aware he was going to come visit. He prayed with me, for me and over me that day. It was a stage 3 cancer diagnosis. Pastor Dan was there for me when my father suddenly and unexpectedly died in such a horrible, evil and undignified manner. My father had no policy for life insurance. He had no plans prepared. He had no money to pay for anything. Pastor Dan Matlock STILL went to my fathers funeral service and spoke to us all and prayed with us and for us.
    Pastor Dan Matlock is NOT about money,
    Pastor Dan Matlock IS about community growth and healing so that we can continue to thrive in this world.
    Pastor Dan Matlock IS about unity.

    The Bible is taken too literally sometimes it seems because if it weren’t, than you would all realize that in this article and in some of your beliefs and comments regarding it and Pastor Dan Matlock of Eikon Church… You are doing the very SAME thing that you accuse Pastor Dan Matlock of doing. You want to say that HE
    is just all about money???? Hmmm maybe you are mistaken and only meant that AoG is.

    You have clearly not only judged my Pastor, but you have clearly MIS-JUDGED my Pastor and this amazing church Eikon.

    You have strayed from God’s word. Yet somehow you can only seem to see that HE has strayed from Gods word.

    The Bible seems to me to be more of a road map of sorts or instruction manual.
    Times change.
    This is the modern world folks. The world DOES evolve and so do the people in it, well hopefully it is their goal and intention to evolve.
    God also gives us free will. Everyone needs to remember that.
    EVERY single person of this world will have their day of judgement. That is NOT our job. Our job is to love thy neighbor. Our job is to do onto others as you would have others do onto you. Our job is to help one another and if we cannot help them then our job is to NOT hurt them.

    God is a forgiving God; one of Restoration; One of Unconditional Love and Acceptance that which can ONLY be possible in the absence of judgement. Absence of fear. Absence of hypocrisy.

    There is such limited thinking that is being displayed here with this article, and in some of the comments, it leaves no room for growth and acceptance. However, I absolutely respect that you are entitled to be different than I am. You have the right to be who you are.

    The limited thinking leaves no room for growth, for change or for the acceptance and love of ALL citizens,
    Including ourselves and all while we embrace one another’s differences.
    The views, thoughts and beliefs that are limiting and stunting our growth, they would NOT even be possible without the key ingredients of Hate, Judgement, Fear and Hypocrisy.

    Not to mention, it does not reveal a surrender to God. Nor does it reveal faith in the fact that God’s Got This!

    God intended for us all to evolve WITH the times and culture. We ALL have the ability to do so, because we ALL have free will.

    God would not have even created the people of the LGBTQ Community or our differences in opinions if all he wanted was for us to condemn them, prosecute them, judge them, shame them, turn our backs on them.

    God created ALL of us with purpose and created ALL of us with differences for a purpose. This is a gift FOR us, as an opportunity to grow, to thrive, to learn and to evolve but also to celebrate one another’s differences, all while still being kind, loving and compassionate to one another.

    My personal belief as to why God created us with such differences is it was all to see if those of us that claim to be his followers were, in fact true. True enough to continue the missions that he created for us, that he designed us for. True to spreading the gospel. True to our commitment to him and True to our faith in him. This is NOT just about the differences in our beliefs or opinions. This is NOT just about religion. This is NOT even about interpretation. This is NOT about politics.
    This is NOT about money.
    This is NOT about popularity.
    This is NOT about who is right and who is wrong.

    THIS IS ABOUT HUMANITY

  135. Comment by Samuel on February 19, 2020 at 1:23 am

    This is the century of relativism where some leaders will foolish themselves in order to please people !
    God isn’t supposed to serve our desires nor change !
    His word is supposed to direct us instead of us changing his word.

  136. Comment by Jillian Johnson on February 19, 2020 at 1:44 am

    Matthew 22: [34] But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
    [35] Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
    [36] Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
    [37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
    [38] This is the first and great commandment.
    [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
    [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

    1 Corinthians 13:13: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

    John 15:12: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

    Colossians 3:14: “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

    1 Corinthians 13:2: “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”

    Romans 12:10: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

    and finally…. to all of you who continue to post hateful things in this beautiful moment….

    2 Thessalonians 3:5: “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.”

    Your hatred has no place here.

  137. Comment by Douglas E Ehrhardt on February 19, 2020 at 6:54 am

    Mercy Triumphs Over Judgement….Life MinistriesNYC

  138. Comment by Douglas E Ehrhardt on February 19, 2020 at 6:55 am

    Not humanity….humanism.

  139. Comment by Joseph Bragg on February 19, 2020 at 12:22 pm

    All these responses make your head swim… Oh, the absurdity and confusion of “Christianity” when disconnected from the Church.

  140. Comment by Manuel Thomas on February 19, 2020 at 1:20 pm

    YAH LOVES HIS CHILDREN. YESHUA TOLS THE PHARISEES AND THE SADUCEES THAT they were children of the devil their father. GOD LOVES EVERYONE ENOUGH TO GIVE US A CHANCE TO REPENT AND TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS. IF WE DONT TURN HE WILL CONDEM US TO ETERNAL DEATH. WHY WOULD GOD GIVE HOMOSEXUAL SINS A GET OUT OF HELL FREE CARD BUT YET CONDEM FORNICATORS, LYERS, MURDERS , THEIVES, BEASTIALITY ( SEX WITH ANIMALS ) TO ETERNAL DEATH. GOD WILL HAVE A DAY OF JUDGMENT. Have we forgotten that even though god loves his creation, he has given us a choice to walk in his blessings or his curses. We as his children must obey him. If not then ETERNAL death is our destiny. We can’t continue to practice sin and think we can get away with it. God has not done away with his Laws. If he did, everyman can do what he wants and still enter eternal life. Any one could murder, rob, rape and live hostile toward one another and experience no judgment from heaven. That’s not so. We need to repent if we believe that. Just as in the d as us of Noah mankind was doing as they saw fit. Just as in the days of Judges. Just as Israel did before and after the exile. God Chastied them, so will God chastise us on this side, then the judgment for eternal life and eternal death
    will come for the other side.
    We can think all day long and say ” We can sin against God anytime and as much as we want and he will still love us and let us in heaven ” Really.
    If he do that, then he has to go back in time and apologize to everyone he punished. Choose life. Ask God to help u overcome what’s to strong for us. We know the truth about
    ourselves, if we are struggling with practicing sin. Sex outside of Marriage (fornication ) is sin. It is listed with the other sins In the NT that Paul said ” that’s what some of you were. ( those people repented) were past tense. Marriage is of a Male & female. Yeshua s as It it. That’s how they became one. A man does not have female eggs, menstrual cycles, womb or birth canal.
    Even if a man had surgery to get those parts in his body, he would still be a man with artificial organs of a woman.
    A woman as well does not have male body parts. No matter the surgeries or the hormone therapy, she would still b a woman from creation’ perspective. God created male and female, no man can or shoul try to tell God how to create what he desires. He said male & female and go make babies. Two men can’t do that, two women cant do that. That’s why same sex is a sin. It comes against God’s plan of procreation. Satan plan is to debunk God’s plan. Don’t be Satan’s Instrument. If you do then that your choice and we will get Satan’s Destiny as well.

  141. Comment by Rae Baer on February 20, 2020 at 9:49 pm

    This move will be the death knell for that church. You absulutely cannot claim to follow Christ and defy God’s Word…that’s NOT HOW THIS WORKS!

  142. Comment by Bill on February 21, 2020 at 7:18 pm

    The arguments of this pastor and his dependence on the conclusions of Matthew Vines and others like him have long been invalidated. Paul was well aware of mutually loving same-sex relationships (Rom 1:27) and opposed them and all others (pederasty, abusive same-sex relationships, and sex in cultic contexts). At least Tim Keller has kept up with the reading required to make one’s views respectable: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/bible-sex-relationships/

  143. Comment by Brother Thom on February 21, 2020 at 8:58 pm

    The reality is liberals or progressives as they like to be called have turned the Bible into an “a la carte” selection of verses that can be affirmed or set aside based on social interpretations of right and wrong. The progressive stance that Leviticus was written for another people of another time for another reason, could just as easily apply to the entire Bible. But they (progressives) only apply that logic to scripture that doesn’t support the gay lifestyle in keeping with Gods law.

    As traditionalist know and understand, the Bible is as relevant today as it was when it was written. Every word has meaning, and guides us in our daily lives today. In fact it (the Bible) is so relevant that an entire country was founded on its principals.

    While progressives want to set aside Leviticus, they want to prop up Matthew 22:39 as if that one verse not only supports the gay lifestyle, but that one verse supports many other liberal policies too. It’s clear to me that Jesus set aside a number of Old Testament laws. It’s also clear to me that Jesus was very deliberate about which laws he was changing or setting aside. Had Jesus wanted to set aside Leviticus 20:13 he could have done so. He did not.

    I have had progressives tell me that Jesus died before he got around to Leviticus. Really, you believe that. Jesus accomplished everything the Father sent him to do before he was crucified. To believe anything else is absurd.

    So in closing let me sum this up. The entire Bible, every word and every scripture is relevant to today. A la carte Theology is its own religion and absolutely foreign to traditional Christians. We can love our gay neighbors with all our heart, without acquiescing our convictions or setting aside scripture on homosexuality.

  144. Comment by Scott Sizer on February 21, 2020 at 10:23 pm

    I applaud Pastor Matlock’s courageous welcoming the LGBT community; long overdue. I am in no way condoning homosexual activity or homosexual marriage. Can anyone tell me this? Why is lusting after my neighbor’s wife any worse than lusting after another man? Lust is lust, equally sinful in both forms, is it not? Being homosexual is something most people can’t help. Adapting a “gay life style” is another matter.

    Promiscuity is a sin, period, regardless of whether it’s gay or straight. One thing I really like about the Catholic Church: marriage BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN is one of the seven sacraments. Obviously that rules out so-call gay marriage. However, God’s love is open to all. I’m weak on scripture, but don’t know of anywhere in the New Testament where it says homosexual desire and homosexual promiscuity is any worse that heterosexual promiscuity. We’re ALL sinners and we all need God’s forgiveness.

  145. Comment by VIncent on February 27, 2020 at 9:22 am

    26For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27Likewise, the men abandoned natural relations with women and burned with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done

  146. Comment by Penny on March 10, 2020 at 12:55 am

    I have never seen so many trolls on here spouting evil and professing to be followers of Christ. All of the sins that are represented by the letters L, B, G, T, Q are just that — SINS. The modern view is that we all sin, so that, if it is a sin, is just a sin, so it’s okay. IT IS NOT OKAY. Pray to God to open your eyes, all of you who made the comments on this site in defense of these sins, and those of us who do understand will continue to pray for you all.

The work of IRD is made possible by your generous contributions.

Receive expert analysis in your inbox.