With 35 million people currently living with HIV/AIDS, it's easy to see why the disease is a concern. Health agencies have been working together toward finding a cure, but their goal is yet to be realized. A pastor in Arizona, though, has it all figured out, or so he says. His solution: kill gay people.
Steven Anderson is the pastor for the Faithful Word Baptist Church. In a sermon on Nov. 30, he tackled the issue of AIDS, playing out his theory to those in attendance on how a world free of the disease can be achieved by Christmas.
According to the pastor, it's all outlined in the Bible, specifically in Leviticus 20:13.
"If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them," quoted Anderson.
He did clarify, however, that "it wouldn't be totally AIDS-free, but we'd be like 90-some percent AIDS-free by Christmas if we follow this."
Aside from prescribing death, he also goes on to make a sweeping generalization that all gay people are pedophiles and, therefore, must be kept away from children.
Two pastors from the Phoenix area who were familiar with Anderson said they saw hate more than anything in the sermon, which was posted online.
"I see a lot of drama. That's very offensive when he says 'homo'" said Pastor Vernon Meyer from the Sun Lakes United Church of Christ.
"Words are powerful," said Jeffrey Dirrim from the Rebel & Divine United Church of Christ, expressing concern that Anderson's words will undoubtedly get someone killed.
Meyer added that Anderson's take is a misinterpretation of the Bible, likening the pastor to a terrorist leader and saying that the call to action was "no different [from] what ISIS is doing in Iraq and Syria. God tells them to go kill anybody who's different from them."
This isn't the first time that Anderson has stirred controversy. He was very vocal in 2009 about his hatred for President Barack Obama, referring to Psalms 109:9-10 as a sign to pray for the president's death and his subsequent casting into hell.
Aside from showing great disdain for gay people, Anderson also claimed that women on the pill are whores whose blood have turned green.
