It is a pleasure for me to be able to write you. After reading about you in TIME's article(top 25 Evangelists), I decided to do more research on who you were and what your message was. Your kind spirit showed through like a beacon on a lighthouse and some inate force drew me to learn more about you.
There is always a reason for everything. :)
To begin, I am not Catholic or Christian even. I'm 25 and I have found my spiritual peace and home as a Wiccan. I was raised Catholic (both parents are Eucharistic Ministers) and followed the faith very devoutly. My entire life I have been very spiritual, and even wanted to become a monk until I was about 15. One of the major reasons I left the Christian faith, in general, was because I felt there was a general distance or a loss of touch with who Jesus was and is. Preaching what Jesus did and practicing his teachings are two very different things. I firmly believe that Jesus is a holy spirit, such as Buddah, Mother Theresa, and Ghandi were.
These individuals, along with countless others, define the image of selfless compassion. A compassion above what many can begin to understand. Too often, some Christian rights groups lose site of what Jesus really stood for... Compassion. In every parable, Jesus is overwelmingly compassionate. His uncompromising love for all is a message that we as a human society, regardless of religion, need to adopt.
Which brings me to you and your organization. I am pleased to see the
compassion of Jesus to be a theme in much of your writing. I'm sure Jesus is concerned with the direction our nation is going, but at the same time wouldn't approve of much of what is done in his name. The compassion you show towards other faiths will be returned threefold.
Please understand that our community only wishes to discover a place were we can all find peace and happiness in worship.
I dream of a time where we can all gather; Muslim, Christian, Pagan, Jew, Buddist; and pray in loving peace with one another. A true peace where the Lion and the Lamb lay together in harmony.
P.S. I by no means, meant to offend you or your faith in any way shape or
form. I only wish to foster a mutual relationship between faiths.
Answer: Thanks for your kind and thoughtful post. You’re saying things that Christians like me need to hear, and your tone is more “Christian” than we Christians often are. I hope by your writing and my posting this, you will have helped your dream come true – by stimulating people to think, and by modeling a generous tone. You are so right – Jesus called us to compassion and neighborliness, and so many of us Christians take pride in our doctrines about him. But even though we say “Lord, Lord,” we don’t do what he said. I hope I will get to meet you in person some time so we can talk in more detail. If you check my speaking schedule on this website, maybe you can show up where I’m speaking and we can get a cup of coffee or something. BTW – you might enjoy a book I wrote called “Finding Faith,” and next year I have a book coming out that I think you will also find useful – “The Secret Message of Jesus.” Thanks again for writing, and for your beautiful understanding of the compassionate essence of Jesus’ teaching.