Idol finalist Mandisa is big fan of antigay writer
Is an American Idol finalist a proponent of the "ex-gay" movement?

That's what some viewers are asking following Mandisa's performance and on-camera comments during Tuesday's live show. For the episode's “Songs of the 21st Century” theme, Mandisa chose the Mary Mary gospel belter “Wanna Praise You,” preceding the song with the following introduction: "This song goes out to everybody that wants to be free. Your addiction, lifestyle, or situation may be big, but God is bigger!" In the taped segment beforehand, Mandisa said the song "means a lot to me because it's a testimony that there's nothing too hard for God."

On the American Idol Web site, the 29-year-old Mandisa, a native of Antioch, Tenn., lists author and lecturer Beth Moore as her personal American idol. Mandisa writes on the site that Moore “inspires me to live more like Jesus, and I want to do the same.”

Moore is the author of such books as Breaking Free: Making Liberty in Christ a Reality in Life, which contains the following passage: "A young Christian girl has a harsh abusive father. She grows up with a fear and distaste for men. Satan supplies a slightly older woman who seems tender and caring. The comforting relationship turns into a physical relationship, so the young woman assumes she must be homosexual. In her heart she knows what she is doing is wrong, but she feels helpless without her new comforter. Soon she starts socializing with other women who are practicing homosexuality, because they will support her new habit with the lies she needs to continue. She avoids the Bible and chooses books that advocate homosexuality. She drops all relationships except those that support the fraudulent attachment with lies.... Scary, isn't it?"

According to Moore's Web site, she founded the Living Proof Ministries in 1994 with the purpose of teaching women how to love and live on God's Word. Part of Living Proof Ministries' mission statement includes the statement “We believe that 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners' and can fully redeem and powerfully use even those who consider they have been the worst.” (1 Timothy 1:15). She also provides links to "ex-gay" groups including Exodus International and Exodus Youth.

Idol representatives told The Advocate they don't comment on the personal lives of contestants. (Neal Broverman, The Advocate)

Lol, thats some funny ****.

Props to her for saying that. There are many stories of people making Christ the center of their lives and trying to get away from the sin in their lives.

LMAO! Good one, Roy.

Sin in your opinion. I don't think your post was hateful at all... just trying to show another view point.

I personally believe gay people are born that way. It would be great if all people could be born hetero, but I just don't believe that's the case. When did you choose to be hetero? If Christ is the Son of God, something tells me he would love gays as much as he loves divorcees who remarry and people who have sex before marriage.

You do know that according to Leviticus people who divorce and remarry are committing adultery don't you? And adultery is punishable by death (just as homosexuality is).

The dearest people to my heart are Christians.... but so many Christians need to be educated about what the Bible says before they pity others who are different. I'm not trying to attack you, just trying to open your eyes to other views.

By the way... if she is an ex-gay and it works for her, then great. I'm happy for her. I personally believe that some people are born gay and some people CHOOSE to be different. I think most people who are "rehabilitated" are the people who weren't born gay but chose to be different (whether it be through bad experiences such as abuse from the member of the opposite sex or just trying to be different).

If that's what she believes. It's not like we all have to agree.

wow

Well, I may not agree with how she feels but the girl can still sing her tail off.

I think that's awesome and surprising. I haven't gotten a chance to watch a single episode of American Idol this year.

Shadowsky and Roy are both on my list. You guys honestly disgust me. I feel violently ill just from reading your ********.

And anyone who says "well its their opinion we have to respect it blah blah" is retarded. I'm sure if someone came on the board and started spewing racial slurs the person would have their head cut off. People shouldn't be able to hide behind the word "opinion".