Steve Finley criticizes Missoula's gay culture on air, calls homosexuality a sin but condemns violence
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Summary
On his program Eternal Matters, host Steve Finley discussed a recent Independent article about Missoula's LGBTQ community, called homosexuality a sin under his reading of scripture, and said he does not endorse violent attacks while urging repentance.
Host Steve Finley of Eternal Matters addressed coverage in The Independent and The Advocate about Missoula's LGBTQ community, calling local acceptance of homosexuality "spitting in the face of God" while also condemning physical attacks.
"I'm not gonna tell you that it's okay to beat upon gay people, or cause them harm," Finley said. "I'll sit here and tell you that practicing homosexuality is a sin against God." He referred to an Independent piece that noted Missoula's "thriving gay culture" and cited local incidents, including the beating of a 51-year-old gay man.
Finley read and cited multiple Bible passages in arguing his position, including Leviticus 18:23, Romans 1:26–27 and 1 Corinthians 6:9–10. He framed his remarks as doctrinal rather than personal hostility: "I'm not talking about hate. I'm saying that, you need to get right with God."
On the subject of hate-crime policy, Finley said that as long as the mayor and city council decline to enact local hate crime legislation or domestic-partner/employment discrimination protections, "the police and district attorney cannot proceed with investigating recent homophobic attacks as hate crimes," adding his view that "a crime is a crime, period."
Finley urged Christians to be public in preaching against what he described as sin, recommending demonstrations and street preaching near universities and public gatherings. He also cautioned against normalizing or teaching acceptance of homosexuality in schools.
Finley identified the coverage he was discussing as coming from The Independent and noted The Advocate's national listing that named Missoula among "best places" for queer life. He said the city's openness to queer culture remains "precarious" in his view unless churches and families teach what he described as biblical acceptance and repentance.