An Open Letter to Julie Brown

Dear Julie,

I happened to log on your Facebook page a few days ago and noticed your post: “Why are Christians condemning Pete Buttegieg [sic] for being gay? Wasn’t Christ loving and kind and accepting of everyone?” I decided to write a response even though it might trigger a flood of negative comments from fans of yours who won’t respect my beliefs. I’m aware you have a significant following from the LGBTQ community. Therefore, I felt the best approach is to post this letter in my blog and then send you a link to that.

First, let me tell you a little bit about myself. I’m an evangelist who previously sought a secular music career. Like yourself, I’ve had songs aired on the Dr. Demento radio show. I enjoyed many of your recordings and saw the movie “Earth Girls Are Easy” based on your song of the same name. I consider you a talented and attractive performer (I’ve always liked redheads). ;)

You asked why Christians are “condemning” Pete Buttigieg for being gay. I don’t condemn Pete as a person. Jesus died for him as well as everyone else. What Bible-believing Christians don’t agree with are alternative lifestyles that go against Scripture. Personally, I know individuals who overcame same-sex attraction and transgenderism with God’s help. Therefore, I cannot accept the idea that homosexuals and transsexuals are born that way.

What I find more troubling is God-fearing business people being threatened with legal action if they won’t participate in events celebrating these lifestyles. One Christian baker who already won a Supreme Court case supporting his decision not to make a same-sex wedding cake was recently sued again for not making a cake acknowledging a gender transition. A homosexual president would likely condone more persecution like this.

You also asked, “Wasn’t Christ loving and kind and accepting of everyone?” The answer to that question is “no.” Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Throughout the gospels, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their pride and religious hypocrisy.

Jesus did reach out to prostitutes, tax collectors, and other sinners. It wasn’t for the purpose of affirming their sin but to offer redemption. He told one woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” (John 8:11) The Lord is saying the same thing today to anyone willing to repent of sexual immorality. 

Hopefully, I’m not coming across as self-righteous. None of us are perfect and deserve to go to heaven. Even if you haven’t had a Christian upbringing, perhaps you’re familiar with John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Everyone has the opportunity to receive the free gift of salvation. My prayer is that you choose to do so. 

Sincerely, 

Todd R. Post

(The artist formerly known as Krypton)

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” - John 3:17-18

Reach Out and Touch Faith

This past Wednesday I had a dream in which I wandered into a room next door to a place I was staying at. The English band Depeche Mode was rehearsing (and possibly recording) in there. I didn’t interrupt them but got excited enough to walk back to my room and thought about posting on my Facebook page: “Depeche Mode is playing in the room next to me.” Then I woke up.

Named after a French fashion magazine, Depeche Mode is considered the most successful electronic band in music history. I first heard this four-man (now three-man) group on MTV during the early 1980s when synthesizer-based bands didn’t receive much radio airplay. Hearing them and other technopop artists inspired me to create my own electronic music.

Some of Depeche Mode’s songs like “Blasphemous Rumours” may come across as sacrilegious. I prefer to look at them as a group searching for the truth. Many of their other songs imply spiritual themes. For example, their 1993 album “Songs of Faith and Devotion” includes tracks such as “I Feel You”, “Condemnation”, “Judas”, “Get Right with Me”, and “Higher Love.” I read that lead singer David Gahan listened to a lot of gospel music around the time this album was recorded.

One of Depeche Mode’s better-known hits is “Personal Jesus”, which contains the oft-repeated line “reach out and touch faith.” I’m praying that all the group members have a real personal encounter with Jesus. It would be interesting to hear Depeche Mode truly make music for Him.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” - Hebrews 11:6

Dana Key (1953-2010)

Last night I was surprised to learn of the death of Dana Key, one half of DeGarmo & Key. This group was among the pioneers of Christian rock music. (It’s also interesting to note Key was a direct descendant of Francis Scott Key, the author of "The Star Spangled Banner.”)

DeGarmo & Key were the first Christian group to have a music video appear on MTV. Strangely enough, the original video for their song "Six, Six, Six" was pulled from rotation on MTV due to violent content. MTV was supposedly unaware that DeGarmo & Key were a Christian band when their video for "Six, Six, Six" included a short scene of a man representing the Antichrist being set on fire. DeGarmo & Key were allowed to submit a re-edited version, which was placed back into rotation.

While I didn’t listen to DeGarmo & Key’s music a whole lot, Dana wrote a book that impacted my life as a young Christian. “Don’t Stop the Music” was a response to the anti-"Christian Rock" position of some well-known preachers. As a fellow musician, I will testify that God can use any kind of music that glories Him.

I met Dana once in 1994. At the time I resided in a room above the New Union, a Christian nightclub in Minneapolis that later evolved into Club 3 Degrees. If I recall correctly, Dana did a solo performance that night at the New Union. I didn’t attend the concert due to a prior commitment but returned to the New Union in time to meet Dana and have him sign my copy of “Don’t Stop the Music.” Four years later, I gave the book to a disc jockey friend in Germany who was later inspired to start a Christian disco there.

Following semi-retirement from DeGarmo & Key, Dana headed a Christian record company and recently had been serving as the pastor of a small church in Tennessee. Dana was only 56 years old when he died last Sunday from a ruptured blood clot. Let’s keep his wife and three children in our prayers during this time of transistion.

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39