Over the course of a year a newspaper invariably covers a lot of topics and people. Many of the stories will feature people and organizations that the newspaper ownership or editor do not agree with on various points. In the case of public positions, platforms, or speeches, editorial analysis is appropriate and common. But when it comes to the private beliefs or practices of specific citizens and business owners of the county, we generally avoid making comment.
However, there are occasions when private beliefs and practices become public and therefore call for a response.
This year The Lancaster Patriot featured a story on The Tatted Toy Guys, a new toy store which opened in Elizabethtown. At the time of publication, I was unaware of certain information regarding the owners of the store. After the story printed, a reader reached out to me with concerns, which prompted me to reevaluate our highlighting the business. As the managing editor, I take full responsibility for running the story without doing my due diligence prior to publication. The story was factual, as far as it goes, but it left out details that have since come to my attention and raise some concerns.
The concerned reader reached out to inform me that Tony Gibble and Clint Shields, owners of The Tatted Toy Guys, are featured online in “same sex pornography.” Unfortunately, the concerns proved true.
Pornographic, or sexually explicit, photographs (heterosexual or homosexual) released for others to see move the sin of sexual immorality into the public square. Furthermore, the men publicly celebrated their rejection of God’s design for marriage as between a man and a woman with a faux wedding in 2014 posted for others to see on YouTube.
The fact is that Gibble and Shield’s sexual immorality is not private. They not only commit sins privately, but they also celebrate them publicly. They have fulfilled the indictment of Romans 1 – they “gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another” and though they “know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”
I regret we printed that story without warning of the danger that flagrant sexual immorality poses to a community. I express my apology to our readers who are likewise concerned with the moral direction of our county.
Gibble and Shields run three shops in Elizabethtown undeniably appealing to children – a toy store, a candy store (The Candy Unicornium), and an ice cream shop (Figments in Sprinkles) – and they are leaders of the project known as LIV E-Town, which works towards “Local Interactive Vitality through free family friendly events and activities.” It is natural to be concerned that community leaders engaged in public sins destructive to society are running shops attractive to children and seeking to foster “family friendly” events.
As the Westminster Larger Catechism puts it, “some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.” One of those aggravations is that the sin is against the “light of nature.” Furthermore, sins which are “against the express letter of the law” and are committed by persons “whose example is likely to be followed by others” are more heinous than others. The public celebration of the sin of homosexuality by business owners fits those categories.
In a righteous society, such sinful behavior would be (rightfully) shamed in the public square. (So would fornication, adultery, and heterosexual pornography, by the way.) Public ridicule of destructive sins serves to protect both the community, and the sexual deviants, from the consequences of the evil influence of bad morals. I have no ill-will towards Mr. Gibble and Mr. Shields. I truly desire that they repent and find forgiveness and transformation in Christ. However, the Christian’s love for those in rebellion against Christ does not mean that we will remain silent when they haughtily promote their sin for others to see. Furthermore, when such men open stores appealing to children, it behooves those who love goodness to speak up. We are to “take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Ephesians 5:11).
Chris Hume is the host of The Lancaster Patriot Podcast and the author of several books, including Seven Statist Sins. He can be reached at info@thelancasterpatriot.com.
Apparently you know Nothing about the Character of these 2 fine, upstanding men in our Community.
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” The only righteous standard for evaluating behavior and lifestyle choices is God’s Word.
“Do not judge according to appearance”. Welp, I prefer to judge based on actions and deeds. These two incredible human beings are well known for their professionalism, their care for the people of the community, charitable acts, strong ethics that they’ve poured into their businesses, and absolute decency as people. Their stores cater to children and adults alike, allowing adults some moments to relive the child-like enthusiasm and joy that is so often drummed out of us as we get older. They treat others with kindness and respect, and the love and passion they have for what they do affects everyone that walks through their doors in a positive way. THAT is how to judge righteously, not through the thin veil of religion so many so-called Christians use to disguise their hatred of “the gays”. Way to Love thy neighbor as thyself, sir.
I agree! Clint and Tony are amazing people!! They have done so much for the community and would do anything they could to help someone in need. This article is disgusting!
Chris, can you point your readers in the direction of where you referenced Scripture to come to the conclusion that public shaming is the answer here? As a fellow believer (and subscriber to this paper), I’m confident that you would also be worthy, as would I, for public shaming of every sin if they were known publicly as you’ve done with this editorial piece. Every Christian is inherently a hypocrite because perfection is impossible to achieve, but we strive, and fail daily, but to say what you’ve said in this article does not align with the love, grace, and compassion we experience through salvation. Love does not require affirmation or endorsement of the sin, but we certainly don’t show love by acting as if we are superior to any other person walking this earth simply because our sins aren’t the same sins as others. Christ spent time with those who he saw as in most need of salvation because salvation was the key, not judgment. He didn’t avoid sinners, he embraced them, out of love, in hopes of winning their salvation, but not all are ready or willing to hear that message and it may be the messenger, not the message that’s being rejected. I fear you will turn more people away with this message than make them inquisitive about why/how you’re different. I simply ask that you consider how your words and actions reflect on fellow believers.
Thanks for commenting, Justin! I appreciate your interaction on the subject.
Public sins warrant public comment. If I cheated on my wife and posted photos of it, it would be appropriate for people to speak out openly against this. Do we recognize the difference between someone sinning and then repenting of that sin as opposed to celebrating a sinful lifestyle? And even if I just cheated on my wife only one time, such a heinous sin (see the Westminster Larger Catechism for more) would warrant serious public censure (and potentially my execution if we lived in a righteous, loving society). If I am living in unrepentant sin, and celebrating it publicly, I would hope Lancaster County would have enough love to call me out publicly. I do not believe in perfectionism, but if someone claims to be a Christian and does not repent of their sin, they do not know the Savior: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). We understand this concept in many other areas of life. However, the sin of sodomy has become forbidden territory because Christians have caved to the culture. (I would also publicly call out someone who is celebrating their heterosexual sin via nude images, etc.)
(And, for those who might get their panties in a bunch because I am comparing adultery to sodomy and say that is unfair because adultery is worse because “sodomites are faithful to one another.” All I can say is I am beholden to the Law-Word of God. And both adultery and sodomy are so heinous and so destructive to society that the perfect Law of God calls for the execution of duly-convicted adulterers and sodomites—see Lev. 20:10 and 20:12, respectively. That is not my opinion, it is the Word of God, which stands forever.)
The idea that Christians should live lives of purity and righteousness is overwhelmingly evident in the Bible: “go and sin no more” (John 8:11); “put to death what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity… (Colossians 3:5), “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16), and “pursue…holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). If we cannot draw distinctions between Christians living in accord with God’s Word and unrepentant sodomites, or unrepentant fornicators, or unrepentant adulterers, or unrepentant blasphemers, we are in a bad place. And how can a pastor be “above reproach” (Titus 1:6) if he is worthy of the same shaming for sin that an unrepentant sodomite is?
How is every Christian inherently a hypocrite? Does every Christian claim to never, ever sin? Surely we can recognize the difference between sinning and turning from it with contrition and sorrow and celebrating sin. (The references to the Westminster Larger Catechism were meant to help with some of that idea.)
As far as Scripture, I referenced Ephesians 5:11: we are to “expose” the “unfruitful works of darkness.” What are those unfruitful works of darkness? Paul mentions it a few verses earlier: “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you.” Fornication, sexual immorality, and sodomy are to be exposed when celebrated.
Calling out sin does not mean anyone is superior to anyone else. If that were the case, the prophets would never have been able to call the people to repentance for sin. (Were the prophets perfect? No. Then were they hypocrites for calling out the people very specifically for their sin? See the entire book of Jeremiah.) And Paul would not have been able to write: “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” Or what about the constant references to the wicked and the righteous in the Bible, especially the Proverbs? And how about John the Baptist? Was he acting as if he was superior to Herod when he called him out publicly for his public sin? John reproved Herod “for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done” (Luke 3:19). Was John wrong to reprove Herod, not only for his adultery, but also for “all the evil things that Herod had done”?
The Lord Jesus called on people to leave their sins behind. He never shied away from calling people to repentance, which is what I have done. And Jesus called unrepentant sinners children of Satan (John 8:44). Should Jesus have softened the truth because his message might turn people away? That is pretty offensive to sinners: “You are a child of the devil.” But it is what Jesus said, and it is the truth and it needs to be said. We show no love when we do not warn people of the danger they are in. To quote the Bible again (not my words, but God’s): Christ will come “in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). I love unrepentant sinners enough to warn them of that danger. Christians are not better than unrepentant sinners, but they are better off because we have been set free from the power of sin and the penalty of sin.
Yes, Jesus brought the message of salvation, but only for those who see their need for a Savior: “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). But he also came for judgment: “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind” (John 9:39). And as mentioned in the 2 Thessalonians passage above, Christ is a Judge.
I have had countless conversations with sodomites, fornicators, etc., on the streets. At the end of the day, it is love of sin which causes people to get offended when people warn them that their formication, or blasphemy, or sodomy is taking them to hell. We should love our county enough to respond publicly to public expressions of unrestrained rebellion against God’s Word and the created order. I am calling for more love, not less. Do we recognize that the celebration of sodomy has already and is inviting more judgment on our county? People are celebrating sodomy in the streets and parks and bringing children into this demonic worldview. Are we going to sit idly by and not speak up openly about God’s righteous standard? Jesus certainly taught the Law of God (Matthew 5:17-20; Matthew 15:4). We are to do the same, proclaiming it from the housetops (Matthew 10:27).
Thanks for reading and interacting, as these are extremely important issues! Blessings to you and Merry Christmas.
I’m truly sorry that you are so blindsided by your beliefs that you cannot see what these two leaders are doing to revitalize a community.
I am a product of Etown – born in 1983 and left in 2001 and I honestly wish we had such enthusiastic joy and hometown pride when I was a teen. I may have never left.
Shame on you for not seeing these men for who they truly are – community leaders, fun creators, kind and decent human beings who just want to make sure everyone feels welcomed and loved.