Tammy Faye Messener on MSNBC (Norville)re: Gays

Same Sex Marriage Forum

Did anybody else see the interview on MSNBC with Tammy Faye, her husband and Deborah Norville. ? very interesting.

(this thread relates to civil rights only as it pertains to many defamations of the gay community by many religious groups)

when I first saw Tammy Faye many many years ago on PTL I watched it with much skepticism (feeling only con-artistry much like many Christian programs (except for Schuller, whom I also love)but since her troubles and travails I have learned to appreciate and Love her. She is certainly different but I believe a lot more Christian than most of the UNFORGIVING and HATEFUL Christian groups out there today.

In the interview which I watch because there is just something
about Tammy Faye that I could't identify but always intrigued me.

(Even before the end of Interview I was saying to myself "I love that women"

At the end of the interview Deborah Norville asked some question about the gay community and her (I had no knowledge of this.) well she start to tear up and with the most sincere and honest emotions she said. (I am have trouble with exactly what she said (no transcript til sometime Tuesday) but anyway basically she said that the the gay community is filled with such love and hope (typically phrases that a Christian would bestow on their own community) and after what she and Jim Baker went through, she said the Christian community deserted her (HEY were is the love and forgiveness?)but the gay community embraced her. (maybe because they embrace people that truly know how to love and forgive)

That's refreshing to hear Ben, thanks for sharing it, I found the portion of that transcript that you were talking about. Here it is:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4627952/

NORVILLE: So you‘re out there if somebody wants to ask.

And, finally, I really want to ask you about the whole idea that Tammy Faye Messner who has been so closely associated with the Christian Gospel, is now so closely associated with members of the gay community.

T. MESSNER: I‘m glad you asked me that, Deborah.

NORVILLE: You did the show with Jim J., who is openly homosexual.

T. MESSNER: Yes. Hi, Jim J. I love you. And I do love Jim J. He wants to go through my first chemotherapy with me.

NORVILLE: Some people would see that as a real dichotomy that doesn‘t fit well.

T. MESSNER: And they‘re wrong because God is the God of love. God loves everyone. We‘re all made out of the same old dirt. There‘s not one of us any better than another. We‘re all just old sinners saved by God‘s grace.

And when I was going through the worst moments of my life—and I‘m going to cry and I‘m not apologizing—but it was the gay community, not the Christians, that surrounded me with love and cared for me, and took care—and did everything for me. They came to my aid, and where the Christians wouldn‘t associate with me anymore. And I will always love them for it. No one could ever take that love. How can you not love someone who is so full of love?

And this is a community that is so full of love and compassion for other people. And what I‘m trying to do, Deborah, is, I‘m trying to put my arms around the gay community and the heterosexual community and say, hey, you don‘t have to understand each other to love each other and to care for each other.

NORVILLE: Do you think gay marriage should be legalized?

T. MESSNER: Well, we agree to disagree on this, the gay community and I, because I think it‘s a man and woman thing. I just can‘t get it any other way in my head, you know? But that being neither here nor there, it has nothing to do with my love for them and they know that.

NORVILLE: Interesting. And they were there when the community you would have thought would be there weren‘t.

T. MESSNER: They were there when I thought that the community that would be there was not there for me. And I‘m so grateful. But I‘ve received thousands and thousands of e-mails. It‘s an unbelievable thing that‘s happening to me right now.

And the thing that is helping me through this the most is the fact that people are righting and say: Don‘t give up, Tammy. I‘ve never prayed before, but I‘m praying for you.

NORVILLE: Well, we thank you for being here.

WOW! Thanks for sharing this... I'm sorry that I missed that interview.
Now THERE is an example of a Christian, in my opinion. I don't feel angry, at all, that she doesn't feel that same-sex marriages should be allow. And, it's because she still can look at us, love us, and not be judgemental of us.

Does that make sense?

I saw Tammy on Larry King Live when she told the world about her inoperable lung cancer. She is a woman who is filled with God's love. She wants to go out and be a little light in the world. I think she has done that.

Wow....I actually have a new respect for Tammy Faye! Im impressed.


KJ Said: WOW! Thanks for sharing this... I'm sorry that I missed that interview.
Now THERE is an example of a Christian, in my opinion. I don't feel angry, at all, that she doesn't feel that same-sex marriages should be allow. And, it's because she still can look at us, love us, and not be judgemental of us.

Does that make sense?

Makes perfect sense KJ!!