T.D. Jakes is not taking too kindly to being misunderstood.
The mega-church pastor posted a message on Facebook Sunday apparently calling out the Christian News Network because, he says, the website misconstrued his observations on the black church's relationship with LGBT people by suggesting that he now supports gay marriage.
During his appearance on HuffPost Live, Jakes was trying to take the onus off the role of public policy in debates about same-sex marriage by arguing that Jesus never used legislation as a primary tool to change the world.
"Jesus never sought to change the world through public policy but rather through personal transformation," Jakes' post on Facebook read. "That's what I said and what I meant. … Nothing more and nothing less," he continued, insinuating that what he said should not have been taken as an endorsement of legalizing same-sex marriage.
Jakes slammed the news outlet, although he didn't name it, accusing it of intentionally twisting his words to draw traffic to its site: "Just because a so-called Christian publication chooses to misconstrue my words using lazy journalistic tactics to further their own agenda and draw attention to their site does not make their statements an accurate depiction of what I said or meant."
Ouch. He also wrote that he can't "force [his] beliefs on others by controlling public policy for tax payers and other U.S. citizens."
Jakes also wanted to clear up how he is "evolving" on the issue of same-sex message.
"When asked about the 'black church' and its role in ministering to gay people, I briefly mentioned (we were running out of time) the word 'evolved and evolving' regarding my approach over the 39 years of my ministry to gay people who choose to come to our services," he said.
"I simply meant that my method is evolving—not my message. I was shocked to read that this was manipulated in a subsequent article to say I endorsed same sex marriage! My position on the subject has been steadfast and rooted in scripture," he continued. "For the record, I do not endorse same sex marriage but I respect the rights that this country affords those that disagree with me."
He was probably inundated with tons of phone calls and emails from Christians who were shocked to hear that he might have endorsed same-sex marriage. This, if anything else, may reveal how strongly many black parishioners are against the issue.
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Diana Ozemebhoya Eromosele is a staff writer at The Root and the founder and executive producer of Lectures to Beats, a Web series that features video interviews with scarily insightful people. Follow Lectures to Beats on Facebook and Twitter.