Metropolitan Nicholas of Plovdiv, from the Bulgarian Patriarchate, has voiced his displeasure with musician Elton John over his remarks published last week in Parade magazine.
Elton John made the following remark in that article: "I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems."
Metropolitan Nicholas responded, saying: "The statement of Elton John is blasphemous. This is a provocation and a great temptation to Christians around the world, especially today where we contemplate the first week of Great Lent, when all faithful Christians repent and are cleansed of their sins."
"In opposition to this man, who flaunts his sins and who does not refer to any other man but the actual Jesus Christ, of whom the Gospels relate: 'And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin' (1 Jn. 3:5)", continued the Metropolitan.
Further, the Metropolitan said: "The fact that the media worldwide report such distorted opinions reveals how deeply the contemporary world has plunged into sin, and how much it has neglected in their life authentic truth. Pre-marital habitation is a sin, but a more serious sin is homosexuality."
In conclusion, he reminds Christians: "Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Cor. 6:9-10).
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