A Texas pastor and televangelist who routinely denounces homosexuality and proclaimed marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman is being raked across the coals for his history of adultery.
On September 10, Pastor John Hagee tweeted to his followers a popular anti-LGBTQ+ belief espoused by many fundamental Evangelical Christian leaders who believe gay people are immoral and belong in hell.
Hagee wrote:
"The only marriages God will ever recognize is between a man and a woman."
\u201cThe only marriages God will ever recognize is between a man and a woman.\u201d— Pastor John Hagee (@Pastor John Hagee) 1662836700
However, he conveniently overlooked the fact the Old and New Testaments condemned adultery, a sin which Hagee himself admitted to as being “guilty of immorality" after divorcing his wife in 1975 and remarrying shortly thereafter.
Twitter user Olivia Julianna was quick to call out the televangelist for his glaring hypocrisy.
\u201c@PastorJohnHagee Apparently you didn\u2019t recognize its value considering you cheated on your wife.\u201d— Pastor John Hagee (@Pastor John Hagee) 1662836700
According to Bijog, the CEO of John Hagee Ministries once told his congregation it was against the Christian belief to get a divorce or an abortion, yet he himself got divorced from his first wife and the mother of his two children, Martha Downing.
He admitted to having an adulterous affair and later remarried a younger woman, now Diana Hagee, who is actively involved in his ministry and plays a pivotal role as an organizer of events of great importance to the ministry, the church, schools and Christians United for Israel.
The scandal led to his disassociation from the Trinity Church and eventually forming the Cornerstone Church in San Antonio Texas in 1987.
Hagee's hypocritical tweet prompted many others to follow suit in putting the controversial televangelist on blast.
\u201c@PastorJohnHagee What about gay couples who've been together FAITHFULLY for decades, with NO cheating? Unlike YOU cheating on Martha with Diana, & dumping Martha for Diana? You are HYPOCRITE, John. You really are.\u201d— Pastor John Hagee (@Pastor John Hagee) 1662836700
\u201c@PastorJohnHagee Same sex marriage isn\u2019t mentioned in the Ten Commandments God handed down.\nAdultery is, Mr. Hagee.\u201d— Pastor John Hagee (@Pastor John Hagee) 1662836700
\u201c@davidnelsonORL @PastorJohnHagee\u201d— Pastor John Hagee (@Pastor John Hagee) 1662836700
\u201c@PastorJohnHagee The only marriages I will ever recognize are those between adults who choose to be married.\nBTW, your God "created" 2 people to populate the earth, causing incest to be mandatory. Perhaps THIS isn't the hill to spout marital advice from.\u201d— Pastor John Hagee (@Pastor John Hagee) 1662836700
\u201c@Jillie38 @0liviajulianna @PastorJohnHagee After he stole her heart, lied to her, and cheated. He is the dictionary definition of a hypocrite.\u201d— Pastor John Hagee (@Pastor John Hagee) 1662836700
\u201c@PastorJohnHagee Look PAL, I\u2019m not sure who\u2019s version of Christianity you follow, but it has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual teachings of Jesus I understand. Maybe you should try reading the New Testament some time. Instead of cherry picking parts of scripture to fit ur hateful policy\u201d— Pastor John Hagee (@Pastor John Hagee) 1662836700
\u201c@PastorJohnHagee I don\u2019t usually make negative posts, you\u2019re entitled to your beliefs however it\u2019s people like you who create havoc for others. Driving families apart by promoting m/f only unions. LOVE IS LOVE \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\u2665\ufe0f\nI refuse to step back on this comment! Preach NOT what your GOD approves! \ud83d\ude21\u201d— Pastor John Hagee (@Pastor John Hagee) 1662836700
\u201c@myronjclifton @PastorJohnHagee It\u2019s a safe bet that he\u2019s cheated on the second wife too. For egotists like him - Once a cheater always a cheater. He just hasn\u2019t been caught yet.\u201d— Pastor John Hagee (@Pastor John Hagee) 1662836700
\u201c@ArikoEmmanuel5 @Raymond62880492 @PastorJohnHagee His beliefs don\u2019t leave other people in peace. That\u2019s the problem.\u201d— Pastor John Hagee (@Pastor John Hagee) 1662836700
Hagee has a substantial following on social media, with over 300,000 followers on Twitter.
Despite his adulterous affair and divorce, his followers continue to turn a blind eye on his own history and hypocrisy.