Pastor Logan Robertson, member of the Westcity Bible Baptist Church in Auckland, New Zealand, is currently under fire for sending homophobic statements to an openly gay christian author who asked him for an interview for his new book about being a gay member of the Christian faith.

It all started when Jim Marjoram, a gay christian author of a book promoting LGBT-friendly Christianity, wrote 400 emails to different church ministers — including pastor Logan — in the Auckland area, hoping to get a few of them for interviews regarding his latest work. This week, he received a reply from Robertson, who responded to his request in the most un-Christianly way possible.

“We are not interested in your filthy lifestyle or book. “Romans 1 clearly says God has rejected homos and they are worthy of death. You cannot be saved. “Leviticus 20:13 reads ‘If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.’ “I pray that you will commit suicide, you filthy child molesting f*g.”

TVNZOne News in New Zealand tried to get in touch with Logan Robertson for his side of the story, hoping to paint a clearer picture of the whole incident. However, Robertson, knowing that the One News reporter was openly gay, denied the news network’s request and responded with a similarly offensive reply, saying that he would not give an interview to a “filthy fa**ot” and that he wished he too would commit suicide.

Logan Robertson granted one media outlet an interview later that day, reinforcing his stance against homosexuality. Logan said, “I think every single one of them should be put to death.

“Christians shouldn’t be doing it, I’m not going to do it, it’s the Government’s job to be doing it,” pastor Logan added.

According to Stuff, Marjoram, who studied theology for two years and had been a Christian for most of his life, says he doesn’t have any ill-feelings towards pastor Logan but admits he was surprised to receive the pastor’s reply.

Commenting on Robertson’s reply, Marjoram said, “I was surprised that I got that comment in New Zealand – it’s the sort of discussion you’d expect from a redneck bible-basher in America.”

He did leave a message for Robertson. “The only thing I could say is what you’re preaching isn’t love. And if you call yourself a Christian… Jesus wouldn’t go anywhere near that.”

Despite criticism from netizens, Westcity’s official Facebook page supported Logan Robertson’s anti-gay comments, posting verses and statements such as “Truth is Hate to those who Hate the Truth.”

[Image from thinkoutsideyourbox_net/Flickr]