Pastor Clint Echols of First Baptist Church in Zeeland, Michigan is being criticized for comparing being gay to being an “axe murderer.”

According to MLive.com, Echols told his congregation that allowing gay couples to marry was wrong because God considers homosexuality to be an “abomination.”

“It's an internal compass and a person can discover their sexuality at any moment…oh wait a second, I’m gay, I’m bisexual, I want to change my gender, these things, and that’s being true to themselves and being true to their internal compass,” Echols said.

“For instance … tomorrow, if I wake up and say, 'Well, I think I'm an axe murderer, now I’m an axe murderer,' would you be happy with that? Would you agree? Would you want me to follow that internal compass?”

Zeeland resident Daniel Vanderley said Echols should apologize.

“I would like them to apologize for comparing people who come out as gay to people who come out as axe murderers,” he told the publication. “Don't bully by making this comparison. Coming out is a hard enough time for people.”

In a statement given to WXMI, First Baptist Church backed up the pastor's comments, saying that “sexual behavior outside of monogamous marriage is contrary to God's design and is therefore a sin.”

The Supreme Court on April 28 will hear oral arguments in a case challenging Michigan's ban on gay marriage.