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Bible quotes about gays in SLO teacher’s letter cause outrage

May 11, 2017

A letter to the editor written by a San Luis Obispo High School special education teacher and published by the school’s student news site has prompted outrage on the Central Coast over alleged shaming of the LGBT community.

The letter penned by Michael Stack quotes a bible passage that states sinful, wicked people commit a variety of sins, including gay sex, and that they deserve to die. Stack wrote the letter to the editor in response to an edition of the student newspaper Expressions that was devoted to LGBT issues. A photo of two girls kissing appeared on the cover of the LGBT edition of the paper.

Stack did not explicitly state in his letter that homosexuals deserve to die, and he concluded by wishing that “those who have stumbled” return to “the right path.”

Nevertheless, The SLO Tribune published a headline stating, “Gay people ‘deserve to die,’ SLO High teacher’s letter to student newspaper says.”

San Luis Obispo Mayor Heidi Harmon said in a post on her Facebook page Wednesday that the letter “is unacceptable” and that community members should share their concerns with the San Luis Coastal school board and the SLO High administration.

“A teacher at SLO High wrote this shaming letter against the LGBT community — a community that already has a high degree of suicide,” Harmon wrote.

In the letter, Stack stated he believes the bible is 100 percent accurate and that, out of obedience to God, he requests that everyone read Romans, Chapter 1, verses 16-32. The majority of the letter then went on to quote the bible passage.

“Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other,” one section of the passage states. “And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.”

After listing more sins, such as greed, hate, murder, deception, gossip, disobeying parents and having no mercy, the Romans, Chapter 1 passage states, ““They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway.”

Following the bible passage, Stack concluded the letter by stating:

“I write you these things in order to lift up those who have stumbled, or may stumble, and put you back on the right path.

“I pray you each have a great summer, a wonderful life and a perfect eternity.”

Though faced with pressure, the San Luis Coastal school district opted not to censor the publication, arguing Stack was within his First Amendment rights to author the letter and the student journalists were likewise free to publish it. The letter remains on the SLO High Student newspaper website.

The letter in its entirety:

Dear Editor,

I love the staff and students at SLOHS. My students know that. But I love God more, so in obedience to Him, I am writing this letter.

Without divine intervention it would be mathematically impossible to write a book filled with hundreds of predictions over thousands of years with 100% accuracy regarding their fulfillment, yet the Bible has done exactly that, with just a few prophecies yet to be fulfilled. Therefore, I have faith that the entire Bible is without error.

The Bible tells us  that we are all accountable for our actions, and that teachers are especially accountable. I’m a teacher, and I don’t want to displease God any more than I already have with my sinful life, so in obedience to Him, I’m asking you to please slowly read and consider the following excerpt from the book of Romans, Chapter 1, verses 16-32, in the New Testament. It describes a deception that has happened in the past, and is happening again right now, not only at SLOHS, but  throughout the world:

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes – the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in His sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

But God shows His anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give Him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and shameful things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the creator Himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, He abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them too.”

I write you these things in order to lift up those who have stumbled, or may stumble, and put you back on the right path.

I pray you each have a great summer, a wonderful life, and a perfect eternity.

Love,

SLOHS Teacher Michael Stack


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Did Michael Stack have control over what got published in “SLOHS Expressions”? Or did he manipulate getting his letter to the editor published? If he did either then he needs to face the consequences. If he did not, then I see no problem whatsoever.


Either “SLOHS Expressions” is going to tolerate a valid opinion held by millions upon millions of US citizens or it needs to stay completely away from ANYTHING that might prove to be the least bit controversial.


Just look at the cover of “SLOHS Expressions.” It’s inappropriate. It would remain inappropriate if both a male and a female were on the cover in that pose. Why did the editors even feel the need to print such an image?


It seems this is all about the homosexual community working to make their lifestyle acceptable to everyone. Given that goal, they need to be more understanding and tolerant when someone legitimately takes issue with their beliefs. Beliefs that millions find abhorrent.


It there were no shenanigans involved in having his letter to the editor printed, I salute Mr. Stack for having the courage to write such a letter in the prejudiced and intolerant world of 2017.


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Actually Stark is wrong about something very important. God abandons no one even as he suggest, through our own actions. It is us, His sons and daughters who abandon Him. Thankfully God’s mercy is greater than we can comprehend.


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tojofay, you write : “Written word of god?? Was that with his special “Cross” pen?? What is offensive is your ignorance and that you defend this dangerous and disturbed man. I’m sure you would be defending him if he was a Muslim quoting his gods written word”

I am defending freedom of speech, nothing more. Trust Him, God can defend Himself. Everyone is free to believe what they want to believe; I make no judgements, God will do that. Why not try practicing the same tolerance you expect?


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The letter is in error in not providing quotation markers for the paragraph starting with “But God shows His anger ,,,” It ends with the admonition quoted in verse 32 in the NAS version, “that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but give hearty approval to those who practice them.”


It is more than just a matter of free speech to acknowledge that Roman 1:16-32 is the basis for all theology in all Christian denominations — and this has been and remains a major issue with the homosexual lobby that wishes to deny these verses.


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You can hardly say that a single verse in Romans is “the basis for all theology in all Christian denominations”, especially since some Christian denominations allow homosexual ministers.


But sure, since you’d like to quote bible verses as if they are laws that all Christians should follow, how about these:


Leviticus 11:9-12 : Don’t eat shrimp, lobster or shellfish


Matthew 5:29 – If you look at someone with lust, gouge out your eyeball


1st Peter 3:3 – Women should not dress up or wear jewelry


Matthew 5:32 – Marrying a divorced woman is committing adultery


I could list nutty bible verses all day, but nowhere in the bible is there a verse that says you can be a hypocrite and pick and choose which verses you think are important and which you can ignore. It’s all or nothing. So you better spit out that shrimp and stop your lusting!


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How patently duplicitous is it for Christians to pull out the OT when it fits their anti-homosexuality agenda but then tell everyone that the OT is no longer law and superseded by the NT when people point out the horrors of God’s word in the OT.


Deuteronomy 21:18-21 A Rebellious Son 18 If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, 19 his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. 20 They shall say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” 21 Then all the men of his town are to stone him to death.


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You really don’t know what you are talking about. The New Covenant in Jesus Christ did replace Mosaic Law for Christians — they earliest of which were Jews themselves. That in no way however means that the contents of the Jewish Testament are invalid.


Christendom has no “anti-homosexuality agenda.” I can see how that would be confusing to you however as its adherents choose God over the ever fickle morally relativist world of today.


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Free speech should be free for all, not just the few who choose alternate beliefs or lifestyles. Why is it ok for people to bash Christians but not ok for us to express our thoughts based on our relationship with God. The Bible still remains a very widely sold and influentional book. It is the written Word of God and to quote it should be acceptable. If you are offended by it perhaps it is your conscious speaking.


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Written word of god?? Was that with his special “Cross” pen?? What is offensive is your ignorance and that you defend this dangerous and disturbed man. I’m sure you would be defending him if he was a Muslim quoting his gods written word.


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Christianity is cult. Like the Witnesses, Mormons, Catholics. Christians are just more annoying, and wrong. And no, too much in the bible is isolated cult like scripture used to control and divide people for the sake of “non profit money”.


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I always find it amusing when the stultified use the term “cult” to attack, when it’s clear they have no idea what the term actually means. You might want to Google the term and read the definition so you don’t embarrass yourself so much in the future.


It’s even more amusing when someone tries to differentiate between Catholicism and Christianity and you have. All I can say is that your abjectly ignorant posting above is so far removed from the truth that it puts all of your postings in question.


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Technically the Bible is the “word of God.” The “Word of God” is Jesus Christ Himself.


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Technically the Koran is also the “word of God”. But if Stack starting quoting it and talking about Sharia law, you clowns would be grabbing the pitchforks instead of espousing the virtues of “free speech.”


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People can call the Quran whatever they want, but there is only one word of God, because there is only one God.


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I’ll ignore the blatant “my god is better than your god” and “my god is the only true god because I know he is” rhetoric for now, and simply point out that saying “there is only one word of God because there is only one God” makes about as much sense as saying “there is only one play written by Shakespear because there is only one Shakespear”


If your god is really as omnipresent as most claim, it is beyond question that there would be multiple books, bibles, testaments, words, whatever you want to call them that originated from that god.


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What you call a ‘jesus freak’


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Personally super annoyed by jesus freaks.. Spouting off all sorts of weird stuff, and making way to much non profit cash in my community and acting as politicians. Jerks!


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Freedom of speech seems to work for minorities but for the majority, you are diminished and will suffer retaliatory consequences. I support the teacher standing firm for his religion and respectfully listen our schools regarding their mission to be inclusive. This is inclusive, this is not inclusive????


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Stack does not represent a majority. You are delusional.


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An American fundamentalist who did not get offered a job after his probation ended at the school. So like a good Christian, Stack lashes out at a vulnerable population. I hope someone is watching this fool and his guns are locked up and unloaded.


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Too much sky-fairy nonsense spewing from this clown’s mouth. Sure, he has the right to say it but it is a.) Very stupid thing to say. And b.) this is bringing religion into public schools, contrary to the separation of church and state.


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You are terribly mistaken.


Go read about the US’ “separation of church and state.” (The Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.) It’s not what you believe it to be. The “separation of church and state” is about the US Gov’t not establishing and supporting a national religion. We don’t have a “Church of the United States” as England has The Church of England. It’s also about the free exercise of religion.


I realize people like you believe that God’s Name cannot be uttered on public school campuses. That’s simply not true. In fact that intolerant view runs contrary to the First Amendment of the US Constitution.


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