Chip and Joanna Gaines (HGTV Fixer Upper) and their Pastor issue (1 Viewer)

[mr roboto]

Yes.  And one was covered by the entirety of the mainstream media and one was covered by an article in BuzzFeed.  The only reason why this is trending right now is because the conservative media has chosen to make a cottage industry of articles complaining about the BuzzFeed article. 

But to answer your question, I think there is a difference in scale but not in the appropriateness of the question.  As near as I can tell, Fixer Upper is largely popular because people see a silly, goofy dude with an attractive wife and find them a likable couple.   Knowing HGTV's audience there are probably people who would find them less likable if they knew they endorsed the beliefs expressed by their pastor.  Those viewers may, or may not, decide to only watch the show featuring the Zoolander twins from now on. 

Yeah I get that. 

What worries me more is that we can't seem to appreciate a persons work if they have views that differ from ours. Like an owner of a restaurant chain who may be anti-gay marriage or a comedian who may be a raging socialist or a musician who may be a militant black nationalist. 

If you knew what all of your favorite entertainers believed about every controversial topic there's a chance every one of them have something on their beliefs that would offend. 

 

[honky kong]

I, for one, am shocked that a family attending a megachurch in Waco would have a kooky pastor.  It's Waco. 

I was coming in here to post exactly this. You could "Fixer Upper" the whole damn town and it would still be a backwards sh#thole.

 

[xulf]

:cstu:

 

[Politician Spock]

Also, I heard that you belong to a website that also has members who think it's ok for Adrian Peterson to whip his kid's balls.  What does that say about you?

Talk about a strawman argument. If I was tithing to hear Joe preach bigotry, then maybe you've got a point. 

 

[Sabertooth]

Nah.   Guilt by association is bull#### lol. 

 

[Dondante]

"...the Gaines family are devout Christians and attend Antioch Community Church — where their pastor, Jimmy Seibert, is both staunchly against same-sex marriage and a strong believer that homosexuality is a "lifestyle" choice and a "sin.""

You lost me at staunchly against same-sex marriage. And you can't tell me that the rest of that garbage doesn't find its way into the message this pastor is sending out to his congregation. I don't see any difference between someone who doesn't believe in same-sex marriage and someone who would deny any particular ethnicity the same right.

 

[Politician Spock]

Nah.   Guilt by association is bull#### lol. 

Church members are supposed to hold their pastors accountable for what they preach. It's more than just an association. If they are members of the church, they hold a responsibility. 

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

Why is it that it is the religious types that are the least accepting and forgiving?  

They don't like to/can't think for themselves.  New or different ideas are terrifying.  

 

[jon_mx]

I guess the Gay Gestopo had too much time on their hands.   Shouldn't they be gearing up for what Trump/Pence might do and stop worrying about what some semi-celebrities on some second-rate network Pastor thinks?  Disclosure:   I  Jo!  

 

[sublimeone]

 

[GroveDiesel]

Church members are supposed to hold their pastors accountable for what they preach. It's more than just an association. If they are members of the church, they hold a responsibility. 

What do you base that on?

 

[tommyboy]

Possibly because the notion that there's something wrong with a given sexuality and cultural and societal opinions used to shape the liberty of Americans is a scary ####### thing. It shouldn't be tolerated and it should be called out at every opportunity. 

Maybe they should go after Keith Ellison the guy trying to run the DNC. His imam is on record multiple times talking about the gays

 

[Sabertooth]

Church members are supposed to hold their pastors accountable for what they preach. It's more than just an association. If they are members of the church, they hold a responsibility. 

Disagree.  But by all means, take offense. That's the beauty of taking offense.  If you go looking for it, you can find it every time.  

Also remember offense cannot be given, it can only be taken.  Have a great weekend.  Or don't.  You probably won't. 

 

[Politician Spock]

What do you base that on?

Church membership agreements. 

 

[Politician Spock]

Disagree.  But by all means, take offense. That's the beauty of taking offense.  If you go looking for it, you can find it every time.  

Also remember offense cannot be given, it can only be taken.  Have a great weekend.  Or don't.  You probably won't. 

Offense?

 

[massraider]

I guess the Gay Gestopo had too much time on their hands.   

They have plenty of time, they don't have any kids.  You don't know this?

 

[Statorama]

I'd like to get Pastor Jeans if you know what I'm sayin

 

[FreeBaGeL]

The author used the fact that they have never had a LGBT couple on their show as proof that they were anti, compared them to Property Brothers and other shows. I would think part of the reason would be lack of availability in Waco. Property Brothers is in Toronto, I think, so populations are apples and oranges.

This is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read. 

 

[Mr. Ected]

The author used the fact that they have never had a LGBT couple on their show as proof that they were anti, compared them to Property Brothers and other shows. I would think part of the reason would be lack of availability in Waco. Property Brothers is in Toronto, I think, so populations are apples and oranges.

This is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read. 

Thank you, but why? There has to be a higher population of LGBT in more liberal cities than Waco.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Thank you, but why? There has to be a higher population of LGBT in more liberal cities than Waco.

Yes, I would read exactly nothing into the fact that no LGBT people in Waco have appeared on the show.

I would also read pretty much nothing into the fact that the show hosts in Waco attend a church where the pastor is anti-LGBT.

If the TV show hosts themselves have said something opposing marriage equality, that should be a very small story. If it's just their pastor, it shouldn't be a story at all. (Which, I guess, it really isn't apart from the BuzzFeed article.)

 

[Ignoramus]

It's not gay if you close your eyes and imagine it's a chick down there.

THANK YOU!

 

[Mr. Pickles]

In fairness, I'm pretty sure no gay person approves of their excessive use of shiplap, so it balances out. 

http://thecraftsmanblog.com/no-joanna-thats-not-shiplap/

 

[Henry Ford]

I don't think it's dirty pool to ask them about it or anything, but I really don't care what they believe about homosexuality as long as they aren't discriminating against people or promoting hate themselves. The extent of my outrage would be changing the channel. Is that line of thinking offensive? Sure. But it's not like they run a hate group.  Being offended by someone's beliefs doesn't mean I'd like them to be penniless, homeless, and professionally destroyed. 

Probably half the people we do business with every day think homosexuality is a sin.  Or that open marriages are a sin, or masturbation, or eating pork, or taking the Lord's name in vain. Whatever.  Go enjoy giving 10% of your money to a con man with a weird message.  Just don't do anything illegal or discriminatory, and you get to enjoy your stupid. 

 

[GroveDiesel]

As a follow-up, this was their response. Maybe some in here will change their minds on them after reading this:

https://magnoliamarket.com/chips-new-years-revelation/

Jo and I sometimes don’t see eye to eye on stuff. She looks at something one way and in her gut she thinks she’s right and I look at it an entirely different way. I wish that she could get with the program and just see things the way that I do. (Of course, I’m kidding – we all know Jo’s usually right.) If Joanna and I, who are best friends, don’t see lots of things the same way – how on earth do we expect a world of strangers to magically align? The reality is, we may not all get on the same page and I think that’s okay.
This past year has been tough. In my lifetime, I can’t recall humanity being more divided. Plenty of folks are sad and scared and angry and there are sound bites being fed to us that seem fueled by judgement, fear and even hatred. Jo and I refuse to be baited into using our influence in a way that will further harm an already hurting world, this is our home. A house divided cannot stand.

If there is any hope for all of us to move forward, to heal and to grow – we have got to learn to engage people who are different from us with dignity and with love. Joanna and I have personal convictions. One of them is this: we care about you for the simple fact that you are a person, our neighbor on planet earth. It’s not about what color your skin is, how much money you have in the bank, your political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender, nationality or faith. That’s all fascinating, but it cannot add or take away from the reality that we’re already pulling for you. We are not about to get in the nasty business of throwing stones at each other, don’t ask us to cause we won’t play that way.

In 2017: We have decided to change the conversation.  

You wanna talk about how to build bridges between people that disagree? We want to be a part of that conversation. Do you want to talk about healing and compassion and kindness and restoration? We’re in the restoration business, we can for sure make time for that.  

I think we are all here for a reason. I think we all have a call on our lives. Your role is not my role, and thank goodness, because there is so much unique and important work to be done. Jo and I feel called to be bridge builders. We want to help initiate conversations between people that don’t think alike. Listen to me, we do not all have to agree with each other. Disagreement is not the same thing as hate, don’t believe that lie.

Also, let’s cut each other a little slack. This living out loud thing is not for the faint of heart. Jo and I don’t want to hide, we want to live brave & bold lives and we wish that same thing for you as well. But words can cut deep and having someone misunderstand your intentions can hurt as much as just about anything. If I misjudge people and am wrong, I want to be wrong having assumed the best about them. The bottom line is, I would rather be loving than be right.

Our family wants to fight for a world that knows how to lovingly disagree. We believe it starts when we operate from a position of love in all things. If your position only extends love to the people who agree with you, we want to respectfully challenge that position. We propose operating with a love so real and true that you are willing to roll up your sleeves and work alongside the very people that are most unlike you. Fear dissolves in close proximity. Our stereotypes and vain imaginations fall away when we labor side by side. This is how a house gets unified.

Think about it for a minute:  This could be one of the greatest restoration stories of all time.  

Who’s ready to get to work?

 

[McGarnicle]

Lots of self-important words that amount to nothing imo.

 

[jon_mx]

Two extremely nice people.  How people can be so twisted into being hateful against them is beyond me.  If you are intolerant of them, it is your issue not theirs. 

 

[GroveDiesel]

Lots of self-important words that amount to nothing imo.

What he wrote seems like the opposite of self-important actually.

 

[jon_mx]

Why is it that it is the religious types that are the least accepting and forgiving?  

Because you choose to lump 'religious types' into one group based on the actions of the worst instead of basing it on the individual.   There are many if not most religious types who are very forgiving if you would open your eyes. 

 

[Jayrok]

RE:  The update.  Good for them.  Chip seems like a genuinely fun and sincere guy.  And Joanne is adorable.  

 

[McGarnicle]

What he wrote seems like the opposite of self-important actually.

Well, every paragraph is packed with "I", "me", "my", "we", etc., and he talks about tolerance like it's a novel concept to him, but other than that...

If he's just recently become a more accepting person, and if this type of thing inspires someone, great. 

 

[jon_mx]

Well, every paragraph is packed with "I", "me", "my", "we", etc., and he talks about tolerance like it's a novel concept to him, but other than that...

If he's just recently become a more accepting person, and if this type of thing inspires someone, great. 

What evidence is there that Chip was ever intolerant?   

 

[Mr. Ected]

RE:  The update.  Good for them.  Chip seems like a genuinely fun and sincere guy.  And Joanne is adorable.  

The houses they do are spectacular.

 

[IC FBGCav]

Because you choose to lump 'religious types' into one group based on the actions of the worst instead of basing it on the individual.   There are many if not most religious types who are very forgiving if you would open your eyes. 

Tell me the last atheist hate protest or speech you remember.

 

[Shutout]

I really don't have a dog in the fight. I watch the show with my wife and we like it.  

I guess my thought, whether it is fair or not, is that the meat of this type of story is that they are guilty by association.  Because their pastor is very outspoken about this issue and because they are members of that church, a lot of people are going to assume they stand on the same side of the issue. 

It's not different than if you work for Coca-Cola, people are probably going to think you prefer their product over Pepsi or if you work for EPA, people probably assume you are very passionate about the environment.  But it could just be you applied for the job and it pays the bills.  I mean, unless they make a statement, we don't really know and it really shouldn't matter.  

Watch the show if you like what they are doing on the show. Don't if you don't or if you think there association is ingrained and you can't get beyond it.

 

[ren hoek]

Well there's not much of a story here.  It's unfortunate that Christians get offended at the idea of the wrong sexual organs touching each other, but not their tax dollars funding mass murder overseas.  It's also weird that churches don't pay taxes, and yet have a huge bearing on local and national politics.  Of course I think antigay Christians are ogres but the hosts don't really owe anyone an explanation, just like gay people don't owe them any viewership.  

 

[jon_mx]

Tell me the last atheist hate protest or speech you remember.

I have no idea what that has to do with your discriminatory viewpoint or what even constitutes an atheist organization.  Marx was an atheist and atheism was important to his views.  Atheist are as capable of hate as anyone.  Neo-Nazi's are really religious and many reject Christianity and see it as a form of Judaism.  But none of that really matters to my point. 

 

[jon_mx]

Well there's not much of a story here.  It's unfortunate that Christians get offended at the idea of the wrong sexual organs touching each other, but not their tax dollars funding mass murder overseas.  It's also weird that churches don't pay taxes, and yet have a huge bearing on local and national politics.  Of course I think antigay Christians are ogres but the hosts don't really owe anyone an explanation, just like gay people don't owe them any viewership.  

It is unfortunate that the gay police use guilt by association in their bullying tactics.  Churches have no role in politics, but their members as citizens have the same rights as everyone else.  

 

[IC FBGCav]

I have no idea what that has to do with your discriminatory viewpoint or what even constitutes an atheist organization.  Marx was an atheist and atheism was important to his views.  Atheist are as capable of hate as anyone.  Neo-Nazi's are really religious and many reject Christianity and see it as a form of Judaism.  But none of that really matters to my point. 

It all matters to your point, more people have died and killed because of religion more anything else in the history of the earth.  I can't name anything else that breeds as much hate or death.

 

[jon_mx]

It all matters to your point, more people have died and killed because of religion more than anything else in the history of the earth.  I can't name anything else that breeds as much hate or death.

 not even close to being true which is really bad for your case considering most people are religious.  

 

[fatness]

8 years later the Gaineses have 5 kids, their own network (Magnolia), and a new series called "Back to the Frontier" starting soon. There are 3 families on the show and one is the family of a gay couple. And this "issue" has come up again.

Chip Gaines took to social media on Sunday to defend their new Magnolia Network reality series, “Back to the Frontier.” The show drew criticism from some Christian conservatives for featuring a gay couple, Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs. “Talk, ask [questions], listen.. maybe even learn. Too much to ask of modern American Christian culture. Judge 1st, understand later/never,” Gaines wrote on his X account. “It’s a sad sunday when ‘non believers’ have never been confronted with hate or vitriol until they are introduced to a modern American Christian [broken heart emoji].”

The post came in response to comments from Franklin Graham, the son of the legendary evangelical pastor Billy Graham. “It is very disappointing,” Graham wrote on X of the casting. “While we are to love people, we should love them enough to tell them the truth of God’s Word. His Word is absolute truth. God loves us, and His design for marriage is between one man and one woman. Promoting something that God defines as sin is in itself sin.”

None of the families on the show have any problem with who the families are, however.

One family in the trifecta is captained by Joe Riggs and Jason Hanna, a Dallas-based couple who inherits a bare-bones cottage that noticeably lacks the iPads, video games, or white noise machines that make their boys tick. While Joe and Jason’s on the show has become a headline-making news story, if you watch the series, you’ll notice that none of the participants seem to have any issue with the identities of any of the couples. They’re understandably pretty busy with building a fourth wall for their unfinished home. Crazy how priorities shift when you don’t have the time to care.