Chip & Joanna Stepped In It "Big Time"

“Many American Christians have a surface-level understanding of Scripture, adhering to God's commands regarding mercy and compassion while ignoring His commands about purity, holiness, justice, and the penalties for sin.” – Not the Bee

Boy, did things hit the fan recently for Chip and Joanna Gaines!

The couple that rose to national prominence via their Fixer Upper television show that grew into a home-remodeling empire called Magnolia, stepped in it “big time” with their latest show, Back to the Frontier. Until now, Chip and Joanna have been upfront about their evangelical Christian beliefs but for some unknown reason, they chose to include a gay couple and their two adopted surrogate sons as one of the three featured “families” on the new series.

Maybe it was because Back to the Frontier is being aired not only on the Magnolia Network but also on HBO Max. However, regardless of the reason, the blowback was both immediate and fdorceful.

“I hope this isn’t true,” evangelical leader Franklin Graham wrote in a post on X, “but I read today that Chip and Joanna Gaines are featuring a gay couple in their new series. If it is true, it is very disappointing. While we are to love people, we should love them enough to tell them the truth of God’s Word.”

“His Word is absolute truth,” Graham continued. “God loves us, and His design for marriage is between one man and one woman. Promoting something that God defines as sin is in itself sin.”

Make no bones about it, the chance to promote an alternative lifestyle as 100% normal and acceptable was exactly what Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs had in mind when they agreed to be a part of the show. “It's important for us as a two-dad family,” Hanna said. “I think that puts more pressure on us as two dads to make sure that we are just like every other family. And so, we were extremely proud and thankful that we had that opportunity to represent what our family looks like relative to every other family. And ultimately, that's just what we are. It's just another family.”

Rather than admit that they had made an error in judgment, Chip Gaines doubled-down on their decision to include Hanna and Riggs and to mainstream their unbiblical lifestyle.

“Judge 1st, understand later/never,” Chip posted on X. “It’s a sad Sunday when ‘nonbelievers’ have never been confronted with hate or vitriol until they are introduced to a modern American Christian💔.”

Chip also criticized evangelicals for being unwilling to ask questions, listen, and learn, saying that that it was “too much to ask of modern American Christian culture.”
Perhaps Chip and Joanna should read the full context of the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8. Jesus refused to condemn the woman, offering her forgiveness instead. However, He also instructed her to “Go and sin no more”, meaning that her sexual promiscuity was indeed sinful and she was to stop indulging in it immediately lest she fall under divine judgment.

In other words… love the sinner, but hate – and refuse to promote, normalize, celebrate, or showcase – the sin.

“Then I heard another voice from heaven say: ‘Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues.’” Revelation 18:4 (BSB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President