NC's Pastor Sean Harris: I Was Only Joking About Beating The Gay Out Of Children

Yesterday's Good As You post about Pastor Sean Harris went viral here and elsewhere, catching the attention of local North Carolina media who demanded an explanation.

Sean Harris, pastor of Berean Baptist Church on Glensford Drive, said he does not advocate hitting children and wishes he could take back a remark encouraging fathers to punch boys who act effeminately. But he defended his belief in the need to reinforce traditional gender roles in children. "If I had to say it again, I would say it differently, no doubt," Harris said Tuesday. "Those weren't planned words, but what I do stand by is that the word of God makes it clear that effeminate behavior is ungodly. I'm not going to compromise on that." [snip] Harris said he polled his pastoral staff and members of the congregation Tuesday after he started getting telephone calls and abusive emails once his comments went viral. From within the church, Harris said, "the response was, 'Pastor, we know you didn't mean that.'" "We know when you're saying something seriously and when were supposed to just understand the intent and not the application."

Harris has been denounced by child advocates and by a local divinity professor, who said Harris' message was "one of the most disappointing and un-Christ-like diatribes I have ever heard. I would not dishonor the word 'sermon' by identifying it as such."