Tag: Ton3x

September 15, 2009

Can you be a Christian AND a homosexual?

by Carlotta Morrow — Categories: Bible Study Topics, Homosexuality, Tonex, Top Posts — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — 30 Comments

If you’ve seen the Lexi Show interview with gospel singer/pastor Tonex, you would have witnessed a very intriguing albeit disturbing display of a man trying biblically to justify his homosexuality while clinging to the title of Christian pastor.  Tonex’s coming out and letting the world know that he’s now a practicing homosexual has caught many who are familiar with his music off guard.  There are many who’ve suspected his homosexuality and of course those who know the truth quite well because of their relationships with Tonex.

But I have witnessed much conversation over the Internet and in live conversations about Tonex and those talks can be categorized by the following:

  • Many are critical of those of us who dare judge Tonex
  • Many have resorted to name-calling describing Tonex’s new public lifestyle
  • Many homosexuals and homosexual supporters have embraced Tonex even moreso now for “keeping it real”
  • People are more critical of Tonex being a pastor of a church than anything else
  • And the number of Christians who have declared God’s word to follow rather than follow after men has been very pleasing to see

Summarizing the lessons shared with people by myself and others are these: (all scripture is New King James Version unless otherwise noted)

  • Homosexuality is strictly forbidden and there is no way to ever justify it:  Old and New Testament: Leviticus 18:22 and Romans 1:26-28
  • We should never allow any form of sexual immorality rule our bodies but use our bodies for righteousness: Romans 6:12-13, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20
  • Judging is commanded by God’s word for us to do to other Christians – not to unbelievers! And if the believer is unrepentant to disassociate ourselves from that defiant Christian:  1 Corinthians5:9-13
  • We must speak the truth in love – not in harsh name calling or ill treatment: Ephesians 4:15
  • We must sometimes rebuke publicly: 1 Timothy 5:20
  • Don’t wait upon God to change us; we must simply obey God. It is our OWN DESIRES that lead us into temptation and sin: James 1:13-15
  • When sin continues without repentance and God’s word used to justify it – that person’s mind becomes reprobate: Romans 1:28 (KJV)

So, can you be a Christian and practice homosexuality?

There are those who are struggling with the sin of homosexuality, who have asked Christ into their lives to save their souls. These people are quite repentant and I do consider Christians.  So yes, it’s quite possible to be committing the sin of homosexuality and still be a Christian.

A Christian is a person who: (See my section on How to be Born Again for full details!)

  • has acknowledged their sin (Romans 3:23)
  • desires to change because they recognize it’s the sin that separates them from God – repentance (Romans 6:23)
  • believes in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for their salvation (Romans 10:9)

A Christian is NOT a person who’s already “arrived” but a sinner, needing saved!

But people who practice homosexuality with NO repentance and even trying to use the scriptures to justify their abominable acts are clearly NOT CHRISTIANS!  They are defiant and of a reprobate mind.  But we must continue to pray that they do trust and believe in Christ before they die!

So that’s it in a nutshell about this whole thing of homosexuality while calling oneself a Christian.  Tonex has shown me enough (in all three of my posts about him) that it’s highly possible he isn’t even a Christian.  But I’ll leave the ultimate judging of one’s soul to God!

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Video added 1/25/13

Ravi Zacharias Answers Question if one can be Christian and Homosexual


September 9, 2009

tonex

Gospel Singer Tonex (aka B. Slade) admits to being Gay

by Carlotta Morrow — Categories: Special Topics, Tonex — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — 83 Comments

Almost a year since my first post on Tonex, aka Anthony Williams, and it is still one of the most popular articles on my blog:  Tonéx has 4Gotten God.  People are constantly searching the Internet for this popular and controversial singer/pastor and my blog is just one of several that have been critical of his questionable  lifestyle.  That still hasn’t changed.

Being a San Diegan (he’s also from San Diego) and a past HUGE fan of Tonex’s, I took a particular interest in knowing more about him.  Why? Because I absolutely loved his music (was my favorite) and was just waiting for him to turn the corner and truly start representing Christ the way he should be (especially since he is a pastor of a church)!

I am so saddened to report that Tonex has not improved, but has become reprobate in his thinking and his living.  This was witnessed by watching videos of “The Lexi Show” broadcasted on The Word Network. A show where Tonex opens up about past molestations when he was a child.  I did think he showed great maturity by admitting that he doesn’t blame his current sexuality upon his past.  He says he accepts full responsibility for what he’s encountered in life since his molestation.

Listening to the whole interview I couldn’t help but shake my head at Tonex’s constant misinterpretation of scripture.   For example his understanding of the saying, “the truth shall set you free” he understood it to be “honest” with onesself and then you’ll be free  – a deadly belief that honesty is all that God requires of us.  Also his belief that he’s free from responsibility of NOT practicing homosexuality until God draws him out of it.  He reasons since God hasn’t taken the desire from him yet, then it must be ok.

At least he’s brutally honest right now.  Honesty that most can appreciate but is honesty what God desires from us?  Yes, and no.  Yes, he wants us to be honest enough about our sin that we’ll admit it – then forsake it!  So it’s not enough just to be honest.  To be honest and then do nothing about breaking God’s laws is just a complete waste and spiritually dangerous to one’s soul (as in never being born-again to begin with)!

Well, I’ll highlight a few of the headshaking comments pulled from that talk show that I felt was done very very well by Lexi.  I commend her for being brave enough to ask the questions that everyone wants to know about Tonex, things that’s he’s been very vague about in the past, that he’s finally opening up about now.  Lexi played the journalist’s part very well.  I just hope that after the camera’s stop rolling, she played the part of the praying and concerned sister in Christ!

Part 1 |Part 2 | Part 3

 

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*UPDATE 9/2/11: See also post “Beyonce, B Slade, Chaz Bono, SB48 and more hot topics!”

*UPDATE 11/15/09: See my follow up post on this topic at: Can you be a Christian AND a homosexual?

Other blogs of interest:

DASOUTH.COM – B-Slade (Tonex) and Dejuaii Pace: Homosexuality in Gospel and in the Church (added 11/6/11)
GCMWATCH – Sad Day for Tonex and Tonex interview fallout: is this “hate”?
Gospelpundit.com -  On TV: The Lexi Show Premieres With Tonex
TheblogofStuartMcDonald.com -  Thoughts on Tonex
Real Christianity – Tonex-The Lexi Interview
Chester Street – There is a way that seemeth right to a man…
Anthony Estes Musings – A Case for a Christian Homosexual?

(This list updated as notable blogs come through.)
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Below are written excerpts from Lexi’s interview with Tonex.   The conversation of homosexuality began with Tonex’s discussion of his molestation when he was a very young boy:

Lexi: “Have you struggled with homosexuality?”
Tonex: “Not struggled. There was no struggle. People like to blame the struggle on the molestation. No just say you were attracted to men. Be honest and quit blaming it on that experience.”

Lexi: “Is your being attracted to men under control?”
Tonex: Under control... (repeating Lexi’s question but he doesn’t give an answer).

Lexi: “Do you sleep with men?”
Tonex: “I don’t sleep with MEN.”

Lexi: “Is homosexuality a thing of the past for you?”
Tonex: repeats Lexi’s question: “Is homosexuality a thing of the past.” (pondering the question).  “I think that when someone understands who they are sexually and they know that they are a free spirit and they understand who they are as a person, it’s really difficult to label that…

“There’s still times where I’m like, ‘hmmm… I do want kids and I very much love women.’  But at the same time, I think we have to be honest with ourselves as to what it is that we have affinity for at the time.  And I think, because of the situation that I experienced with the first marriage, that I would have to say that I lean more toward the same sex.

Not so much that I feel that women are not created for men, or that man is not created for woman, I feel that it’s a matter of energy and people’s honesty and a matter of love and I believe that God doesn’t honor promiscuity in either hetero or homosexual lifestyles – same gender loving.

I think it’s important for people to not be so caught with who I’d like to be sleeping with as much as I’m practicing safe sex or I’m in a monogamous relationship no matter what that would be now.  Now when you have those who would say well that should be under the guise of marriage. Well I believe covenant period is marriage.  I don’t think that same-sex marriage – I never really could  wrap my mind around same-sex MARRIAGE?  But same-sex covenants I can definitely wrap my mind around.”

Lexi: “Can you help the way that you feel?”
Tonex: “I tried.”

Lexi: “So what’s your conclusion?”
Tonex: “My conclusion is – I’m waiting to see what God wants to do.  Because I don’t know who he’s allowing me to experience this walk of life to minister to later on.

Lexi: “So are you waiting for deliverance from being attracted to men?”
Tonex: “I’m not sure that’s something I have to be delivered from.”

Lexi: “You’re not sure?”
Tonex: “Yeah”

Lexi: “But you’re pastoring!”So shouldn’t you be sure of (undecipherable)
Tonex: “Pastoring is me being the undershepherd pointing them to the cross – not to Tonex.  It’s me preaching the unadulterated word of God towards repentance and the cross. I don’t get into people’s bedrooms; I don’t get in people’s clothes closets … God’s not looking at that.  Their posture and their heart is the most important thing and for me to point them to the cross is the most important thing.

Lexi: “If you die right now would you go to heaven?”
Tonex: “Yes, because I told the truth. A liar should not tarry in His sight.” (Not sure of the last phrase).

One of the last statements Tonex made before this was over is the following:

“before I say ‘this is what I am, this is the only thing I’ll be,’ I’ll say AT THIS STAGE, this is what it is.  So everyone can just breathe and relax on your show and say, Tonex said, ‘yes, he’s attracted to men. Yes, he has experienced gay sex before.  But that’s the least of who this man of God is.”

Lexi appeared on camera following the interview with her own closing statement:

“I would like to take this time to thank my friend and brother Tonex for a very open and honest and candid interview.  It is my belief that a man is made for a woman and a woman made for a man. I believe that the bible speaks very clearly  about this.

However, as a journalist it is my job to tell the story. And as a Christian, it is my job to love absolutely everybody and I do that unequivocally and unapologetically.

So until next time, watch and pray!


April 11, 2009

Tonex on BET – Another Pulpit Pimp?

by Carlotta Morrow — Categories: Tonex — Tags: , , , , , — 17 Comments

tonexOne of the most popular posts on this blog is my August 2008 article titled, “Tonex has 4Gotten God.” Because of the increased exposure from his music (latest album Unspoken) and acting (performed in the play “Dreamgirls”) and his influence on many of our younger people, it’s extremely important that Tonex be examined.

Although he’s had a series of interviews with various TV and magazine hosts and writers, one that caught my attention is his interview with Torrence Glenn on BET.com

When I had written that first post, I had given Tonex the benefit of the doubt that he was a Christian.  I couldn’t judge by his words that he wasn’t one, although his actions were suspect (see post my previous post). I knew he could still be a Christian, just a wayward one perhaps.

But his discussion on BET’s blog titled “The Gospel According to Torrence“  left me with the conclusion that Tonex is just another false teacher/preacher spreading even more confusion to the unlearned and his idol worshippers.  There were plenty more disturbing things to write about him, but the only thing that needed to be addressed was what Tonex thinks about Jesus and salvation.

Torrence did a five part video on his interview with Tonex of which only three of the five parts available as of this post.  The interview was done March 25 of this year with no explanation of the missing parts 4 and 5.

The entire part-three interview is about 6 minutes.  If you don’t wish to hear the whole video you can fast forward to about the -35 mark near the end where Tonex is heard saying:

“I respect all faiths and I’ve studied all faiths.  So you know how can you really understand humankind if your way is the only way?”

I know the way for me, …for me it’s Jesus but for someone else it may not be.  And I’m not going to bash who they are because they don’t believe what I believe.” (video at end of post)

In other words, to understand people must one take the position that Jesus is NOT the only way to God?  His words were far more troubling than his appearance which has him looking more like George Clinton of the Funkadelics than a church pastor.

Tonex appears to ignore Christ’s statement that says:

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  – John 14:6

Jesus IS the only way to God and yes, that may offend people but the truth sometimes hurt.  If people will ever have the chance to be saved, they must know the truth!

What Tonex doesn’t understand is that the blood Christ spilled for us to save us can not be so easily set aside.  If others can get to God without Christ’s sacrifice, then Jesus would have died in vain!  If anyone wants to minimize Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, then yes, just say that He only died for a few folks and not for everyone!

Tonex is spreading a lie, the belief that Jesus isn’t the only way to God.  Not only is that bad for people who call themselves pastors, but for anyone who calls themselves a Christian.

Tonex also talks about bashing another person’s religion, which for him means that they don’t have to believe in Jesus.  To be respectful of others’ belief systems is to accept that those systems as true.

No Tonex, not bashing others means not to disrespect who they are as individuals, treating them with dignity and kindness.  If you truly care about a person, you will want them saved, thus sharing with them the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sadly, Tonex is now placed into the category of pulpit pimp as his lifestyle is all about not offending people so that he can make his money.  He made that clear in my first post about how he sang on a Gay sponsored cruise.  His reason for doing so was to “catch a lot of record sales and new fans too!”

At first I was praying for Tonex’s spiritual maturity.  Now my prayer is that Tonex become saved!  I pray for Tonex to understand the price Jesus Christ paid for him and to let that be his motivation to preach the gospel to ALL!

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures -  1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Video from Bet.com below (see The Gospel According To Torrence Part 3 forum and comments from his readers)

(more…)

August 14, 2008

Tonéx Has 4Gotten God

by Carlotta Morrow — Categories: Music, Tonex — Tags: , , , , , — 50 Comments

Those of us familiar with R&B, Jazz and Funk Gospel know Tonéx very well. I confess that I was a HUGE fan of his with at least three of his CD’s, until he clearly started going through some very confusing and ungodly episodes in his life – episodes expressed vividly in his music (The Naked Truth).

Because he is still showing hints that he’s still wallowing in ungodliness, I refuse to write Tonex’s name with what he calls the “new and improved” spelled “Ton3x” because he’s really not new and improved at all. This was evident in an article found in VesselVibe.com titled “Introducing the New and Improved TON3X.” (Aug 12)

The writer, Mandi, was barely into the interview with Tonéx when he let a four lettered expletive out of his mouth. He was explaining to Mandi his style of music (which is what I fell in love with when I first heard it – except with lyrics uplifting Christ) when he said the following:

I got exposed to Prince and Rick James and Parliament.” He laughs. “Upstairs was all the gospel stuff and in the basement [where my brother had his studio] is where I got exposed to the real sh*t, and it was like uh-oh.” Uh-oh is right. What did he just say?

Well, he said it and although Mandi questioned his use of the word to herself, Tonéx himself wasn’t questioned by Mandi who goes on to describe Tonéx as being “the realest in the game,” and “He’s real. He’s an actor, a mogul in the making.”

Have Christians lost site of what’s truly REAL these days? Being “Real” appears to be measured by worldy standards to many. Being a mogul is what he’s being congratuled for pursuing to be rather than holiness which is what God wants us to pursue:

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:” Hebrews 12:14″

Mandi exposes more of her worldy adulation of Tonéx when she accepts his reasons for entertaining on a cruise for Black Gay and Lesbians later in October of this year. He was the only Christian singer that accepted their invitation (wonder why) and told her he knows he going to catch a lot of flack for it too but responds:

“Yeah I’m going to catch a lot of flack,”. . .“But I’m going to catch a lot of record sales and new fans too. No one is condoning anything. I’m just saying that if they spend money they’re just like any other consumer. And if they need a breakthrough they’re just like any other soul.”

He’s going to catch a lot of record sales and new fans too? They’re just like any other soul? That’s his concern about attending this cruise? Although Mandi claims she likes reading Charles Spurgeon, she had nothing but praise for Tonéx’s new album following his remarks for performing on this cruise. Where is the sisterly rebuke of this man? Tonéx was clearly in need of admonishment and not praise! Even if he had godly intentions of performing to Gays and Lesbians, what does the appearance of being on a cruise ship with them represent?

Now if Tonéx was truly trying to show a rebirth or a recommittment to Christ, why would he package his “sin” in the form of a profanity laced CD and sell it? This CD is still being sold in his store complete with a Parental Advisory label.

We never want to judge anyone for their past ungodly lifestyle and sins, but Tonéx is showing that he is still hanging on to the old. There is no new Tonéx at all, just a repackaging with the purpose of the goal of “making money” to be accepted by the world’s standard of success.

Many Christians are so enamored with this man that they are turning a blind eye to his current lifestyle and accepting nearly everything that Tonéx does as “genious” or even “spiritual.” Spiritual it is, but not godly spirituality.

If Tonéx remembers anything about God at all, he would remember these things:

  1. One does not glory in their sin – 1 Corinthians 5:1-8
  2. Profanity should not be a part of a Christian’s language - James 1:26, James 3:1-9
  3. Abstain from sexual immorality – Romans 1:18-32
  4. Do not love the pursuit of money – 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 1Timothy 6:9
  5. Do not get caught up loving the things of this world – 1 John 2:15-17
  6. Show Jesus real love by obeying Him – John 14:15, 21

There’s no doubt God loves Tonéx, but the real question is whether or not Tonéx loves God! Do the songs from his new CD prove his love for the Lord? If his songs do not match his actions, they are mere empty musical pieces.

“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!’ Matthew 7:21-23

Sadly, great music with scriptural messages is not enough. His actions will speak louder than his words and I’m praying that one day, the REAL Tonéx will have a walk that matches his talk and song.

See other articles by fellow Christians: (NEW: See Qualifications of Pastor)

Tonex’s Gay Church Gig – Pastor DL at Gay Christian Movement Watch
Tonex Claims That Michael Jackson And Benny Hinn Have The Same Anointing – Brother Job at Jesus Christology
Tonex’s Apology for the Naked Truth – (He apologizes and then sells a CD about it?) – added 8/15
“I’m Just Keepin it Real” – Brother Alan Wiggins at Real Christianity on Tonex’s language and gay friends – added 8/16. (also, check out his post on some godly hip hop musicians on the “Unashamed Tour London”)
Ex-Wife of Tonex: Gay Marriage Part of Satan’s Agenda – Pastor DL At Gay Christian Movement Watch – added 8/19
The Qualifications of a Pastor – Tonex calls himself Pastor. Here is a breakdown of what a Pastor should be.

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