Welcome Out, Azariah Southworth

Jim Burroway

April 16th, 2008

Azariah SouthworthAzariah Southworth lives in Nashville and has been the host of the popular Christian youth show The Remix for the past year and a half. The Remix is in syndication, where it reaches more than 200,000 viewers weekly on one of three networks. Ths program has hosted such major Christian contemporary and rock acts such as Jars of Clay, Avalon, Superchick, Building 429 and Rachael Lampa.

Azariah Southworth announced today that he has come out of the closet:

“This has been a long time coming. I’m in a place where I’m at peace with my faith, friends, family and more importantly myself. I know this will end my career in Christian television, but I must now live my life openly and honestly with everyone. This is my reason for doing this,” Southworth says. …

I know I will be cut off from many within the Christian community, and if so, then they didn’t get the point of the life of Christ. I believe by me living my life honestly and authentically now, I am able to be a better person and a better Christian. We all know there are so many other gay people in the Christian industry; they’re just all scared. I was scared, but now I’m no longer afraid,” notes Southworth.

Welcome out, Azariah Southworth.

Hat tip: Scott H.

Ben in Oakland

April 16th, 2008

Congratulations, Azariah, for standing up for yourself and for all gay Christians.

Ben in Oakland

April 16th, 2008

I was struck by this comment, though:

“We all know there are so many other gay people in the Christian industry”

At last someone admits that this is a business enterprise.

bananie

April 16th, 2008

well done, azariah. you will find so much joy and freedom outside the chains of the industry.

David Puranen

April 16th, 2008

I actually found his MySpace page and sent him a message and he replied. He’s a really nice guy by the sounds of it. He also seems to have a Video Blog on youtube… actually I think this might be my first Celebrity crush… hahahaha… oh my.

Seriously though this excites me more than any other coming out story I’ve heard of recently. The guy worked in like the one side of conservative big Church culture that actually doesn’t say ANYTHING about being gay. I mean one or two Christian artists have mentioned gays in their music (Five Iron Frenzy/Brave Saint Saturn, Hawk Nelson in one song, and Calibretto 13) but for the most part the major labels REFUSE to mention anything. I emailed tobyMac a while ago to ask why and I got a nice reply from his web master. The thing is, I think most Christian musicians actually don’t even WANT to condemn gays. I really wish that something could be done to get one or two Christian Recording artists to say SOMETHING in an album and spark something. I know it’ll never happen, but… I have my hopes.

Sidney

April 17th, 2008

God bless you Azariah! I to am a Christian who happens to be gay. If ever you decide you need community of Gay Christians. Please google Gay Christian Network. We are a loving community of GLBT and Straight allies who are on fire for Christ. Ther you can find the facts that the church refuses to share and 8000+ members who love Christ and know the truth. God bless ya pal. I know you will be blessed for being honest and sincere. Your walk with Christ isnt ending. Its just beginning to be more truthfull.
Sincerely, Sid

Sidney

April 17th, 2008

opps forgot to add the link to GCN.

http://www.gaychristian.net/index.php?

Jonathan

April 20th, 2008

You know Brother it burdens me to the core the lies of the enemy people fall for and they refer to themselves as Christian / Christ like. And the audacity of saying I (and or we whom might agree) did not get the teachings or point of Jesus by his quote “then they didn’t get the point of the life of Christ”.

I believe those who are truly in Christ are known to be lovers of Him and not the world, to be partakers of Him and not the world, to be in and different than this world, to despise the sin but love and pray for the sinner. And to my knowledge and the authority of God’s Word that is infallible and has not changed. This man stands in a balance to be judged by God and the blood on this individual’s hands of who he may deceive. Men/Women have become folly with a reprobate mind yielding to the pleasures and lust of the world. And no he should not be in a leadership or front position while in a sinful condition.

Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing. I believe I got Jesus point very well. I pray for the sole and restoration of this individual and the many who my be affected by a false teaching and lifestyle. He really and truly needs to be saved by the amazing power of Jesus Christ. And I know if he had a true personal relationship with Jesus Christ then no other christ would do. Meaning what do we worship and idolize as our god. The one true living God? Or the god/christ of this world that suites our lives and sinful nature?

Let us all pray for this individual and seek God in His wisdom, love, grace, and mercy.

Many blessings!

Jonathan
Remnant Christian Ministries

Ian B.

April 21st, 2008

And I will be praying for you, Jonathan, in the hope that the teachings of Jesus may one day become understandable to you. For now, however, I would have to say you don’t understand God’s love, nor do you understand the notion of faith. You claim to have found faith by living a life completely free of sin. If this notion of yours is correct then I hope you haven’t eaten any shellfish or bacon. Because seriously, you’re going to be in serious trouble, assuming your faith is correct. My biggest problem with you, though, is that you are attempting to impose your faith on others. People can have faith in Jesus and follow his teachings personally, like Azariah Southworth, or they can claim to affirm to having a personal relationship with Jesus while really only following the herd of other worshipers who all claim that their business venture is somehow propelling their faith, their ideals, and giving only them access to heaven. Well that’s your belief structure, but it is not the only form Christianity can take. In my owh personal Christian faith and belief system, people exactly like you never know or receive the gifts of heaven. That is why I pray and hope that you can, instead of sitting on your high-horse of judgment, come to terms with the reality of what Jesus was saying. Even his own disciples were shocked by his teachings, but perhaps a strong emotional experience is something you have been lacking, leaving you to fill that hole in your heart with hatred of PARTICULAR sins. Note how the emphasis was on “particular” because if we were to hate all sin and no sinners then NO this man does not need to move down from his leadership position because all human beings are sinners. And if all people who have sin should not be leaders then the pope, himself, should step down and no man could ever be elected president. I hope you understand the error of your ways. God blss.

Ben in Oakland

April 21st, 2008

Jonathan: I have six words for you.

Ted Haggard.
Paul Barnes.
Lonnie Latham.

Are you going to tell me that those three didn’t “really’ give themselves to Jesus? Please. They did nothing but, and no amount of giving or praying changed a thing for them. What does one have to do to please Jesus and god? Or is it really that God doesn’t give a flying f**k about homosexuality? BUT YOU DO!!!

Jonathan

April 21st, 2008

No one is on a high horse and judging anyone. Just your easy way out for justification to not conforming to God’s Word and continue your sinful nature.

I appreciate your prayers I love and covet them all. As well as I love and pray for you guy’s or anyone for that matter. But the fact is sin is sin I do not care if I do it or who ever has been name committed it. We are all sinners saved by grace. But God is the judge of all and His word is clear about sinful activity. It is documented both the Old and New Testament teachings. God has not changed and neither has His Word.

Matter of fact the Bible warns of days like this to come. Where we become seekers of our own carnal desires and lay aside the Word of truth to fulfill our own pleasure.

You have been given the truth and it is up to you to receive it or not. I do and will not receive that your chosen lifestyle is right before God. His Word is clear that it is not. But I do love you in the name of Jesus and know a seed of truth has been planted and it will grow and prosper in His Holy name.

I am not her to judge or condemn anyone. I am a sinner saved by his marvelous grace. I will only share the truth of the gospel and pray. God is big enough and He doesn’t need me to defend Him. I know He will manifest Himself to you or anyone who will truly seek Him in Jesus name.

You can use any tactic you want to justify. But when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ. You will have to give an account before Him the same and I will. I have chosen to be more than sure in my heart to follow His Word and not the vane teachings of men. That is the difference of religion and relationship.

I could try to answer all of these comments to my previous post. But it is better to sum it up with. Yes God cares and He is faithful and just. And I can tell by the response and typical language used it is more of an agenda pressed than a relationship with Christ. I can also tell that some Bible study is needed. My first post had a bait so to speak placed in it to see if anyone really studied their Bible and picked up on it. No one between my post did. I guess I hit home and a nerve so it was easier to bash on Jonathan with an agenda than to look it up in God’s Word. So my challenge is to pray and start with Genesis and read to Revelation and let God’s Word speak for itself. Or just start with the New Testament and pick up Old Testament later on.

I know many people and it is possible I could be able to predict what they might do. But people I have a relationship with I know what they will do. That is a major difference.

You know I love you and pray knowing His light can penetrate any darkness. You know something else. Jesus loves you and He misses you!

I have given the message He has had of this servant to give. Now I will dust my feet and move on letting you decide where you stand with God.

My prayers and blessings in Jesus name.

Jonathan

Timothy Kincaid

April 21st, 2008

Jonathan,

I’m saddened that you have hardened your heart to the leading of the Holy Spirit. And it is unfortunate that you came here to judge and condemn, and yet you cannot see that this is at the heart of your behavior.

I continue to hope that you may at some point be willing to let God rule your heart and not man’s interpretation of Scripture and dogma.

In the meanwhile, may God bless you.

Ben in Oakland

April 21st, 2008

Jonathan– it’s all very nice to repeat yourself, but …

… 1)Your very statement about ‘our’ sinful nature when you can only speak with authority about YOUR sinful nature is proof enough that you are here to judge.

… 2)”may be affected by a false teaching and lifestyle. He really and truly needs to be saved by the amazing power of Jesus Christ. And I know if he had a true personal relationship with Jesus Christ then no other christ would do.Ted Haggard.Paul Barnes.Lonnie Latham.” you still haven’t addressed those 6 words.

Martin Lanigan

April 21st, 2008

“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.”– Bertrand Russell

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