Popular Megachurch Pastor Twists Proverbs 30 to Suggest Aberrant Sexuality is Part of God's Design
Howard-John Wesley, the faux megachurch pastor of the Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, is no stranger to theological contortions. With his impressive credentials—a bachelor's degree from Duke University, a Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary—one might expect a more rigorous exegesis of Scripture. Instead, Wesley has mastered the art of twisting Scripture to fit modern cultural narratives, particularly on the topic of human sexuality.
In a recent clip, Wesley attempts to justify homosexuality and other aberrant sexual lifestyles by invoking Proverbs 30:18-19. He claims, "Humanity is very rarely as simple as we want it to be. And human sexuality is complex. Our understanding of human sexuality is always evolving. As a matter of fact, every time we think we know something, what we really know is what we don't know."
Indeed, Wesley's approach to Scripture reveals much about what he doesn't know—or refuses to acknowledge. Let's dissect his argument with the precision it deserves.
Proverbs 30:18-19 states: "There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a young woman."
This passage, penned by Agur, son of Jakeh, marvels at the wonders of God's creation, admiring the beauty and mystery inherent in the natural world, including the divinely ordained relationship between a man and a woman. It speaks to the awe-inspiring nature of God's design, not to the supposed complexity of human sexuality beyond this framework.
Wesley leaps from acknowledging the mystery of heterosexual relationships to suggesting that this mystery somehow validates homosexuality. This is not just a logical stretch—it's a deliberate distortion. One that he’s been slowly pushing on his congregation for quite some time.
What Wesley engages in is eisegesis—reading the cultural zeitgeist into the biblical text. Proverbs 30:18-19 does not provide an endorsement of all forms of sexuality. Instead, it celebrates the divine design and the inherent beauty in God's creation, including the natural attraction between a man and a woman.
To imply that the complexity of heterosexual relationships somehow justifies homosexuality is to ignore the broader biblical context entirely. It is a classic case of manipulating Scripture to fit a modern agenda. Such false teachers as Wesley deserve the condemnation of the Church at large, but will likely receive not a glimpse from those entrusted with leadership.