A Michigan pastor caused a firestorm of controversy after audio of a sermon from earlier this month went viral last week.

First Baptist Church pastor Clint Echols likened an "internal compass" that tells people they are gay to an internal compass that tells someone to become an axe murderer.

"It's an internal compass and a person can discover their sexuality at any moment," he told his congregation. "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 continued.

"For instance on another, a completely other playing field, if tomorrow I woke up because I have this internal compass that's telling me what truth is," he began. "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?"

Echols also quoted scripture in calling homosexuality an abomination, and stood firm in his faith in a subsequent interview with Raw Story. "We're a church that tries to uphold the word of God in grace and in truth," he said. "We will continue to honour God's word as a church with malice toward no one and love toward all."

While some have called for the pastor to apologise, the church backed their leader in a statement submitted to FOX 17.

"In regard to human sexuality, God's word is clear," they wrote. "God, through His design and clear prescription in his holy Word, instituted marriage between one man and one woman as the foundation of family and the basic structure of human society.

"Sexual behaviour outside of monogamous marriage is contrary to God's design and is therefore sin."

On Monday, Pastor Echols told the Zeeland City Council that his words were taken out of context, and defended his right to free speech. The church plans to vote on an amendment to their constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman during a members-only meeting on March 22.