STAGE TUBE: Kirk Cameron Addresses Gay Marriage Controversy on TODAY

Earlier this month, 'Growing Pains' star and devout Christian Kirk Cameron spoke out against gay marriage and homosexuality on 'Piers Morgan Tonight', referring to both as "destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization". Since that appearance, the actor has found himself amid a firestorm of controversy. On this morning's TODAY show on NBC Cameron told host Ann Curry that what he said on Piers Morgan was "nothing new".

"I was surprised, frankly, that people were surprised by the things that I've said," he explained. "I have been consistent for 15 years as a Christian. I'm a Bible-believing Christian. What I would have thought was more newsworthy is if I had said something that contradicted the word of God, if I had contradicted my faith."

Asked by Curry if he hated gay people, the actor replied, "Absolutely not. I love all people, I hate no one. ... When you take a subject and reduce it to something like a four-second soundbite and a check mark on a ballot, I think that that's inappropriate and insensitive. ... To edit it down to that, it certainly didn't reflect my full heart on the matter."

Cameron also spoke out against bullying or violence against homosexuals. "Nobody should mistreat anybody," he said. "We all have our convictions formed by different things and mine are informed by my faith. They're formed by the word of God, and I found that to be an anchor for me, a compass and a guide for me. When people start bullying one another and calling each other names for those different convictions, then I think you get into problems."

To view Kirk Cameron's interview in full on this morning's TODAY show, click below.