I just read in the Louisville Courier-Journal about the Southern Baptists canceling your talk at their local convention ...
...and was interested as to why (since I was brought up Southern Baptist and am now simply a "Christian" going to a Christian church).
I am a 38-year old married mother of three. I am a Christian and have several Christian friends and belong to a weekly Bible study with other mothers. I also am employed part-time at XXX which helps the poor with civil legal problems.
So I often feel on the outside within my circle of friends because my beliefs are too liberal, as well as alone at work because my beliefs are too conservative….
I feel we as Christians do preach messages of hate when we don't welcome gays into our lives and churches. We also send messages of hate when we judge those who have abortions. I am against the war in Iraq and get sick at my stomach when I hear how many people are killed every single day. Yet, most Christians are all gung ho behind it. I think we all need to be more compassionate, loving and accepting as Christ was. I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said "Jesus doesn't exclude, only religions do." How true!
Thanks for having the courage to speak up for those Christians, myself included, who don't necessarily buy into all the religious right tells us to.
Answer: Thanks. I believe the tide may be turning, and an alternative is being born … something other than the religious right and the secular left. My friend Jim Wallis is doing great things in this regard.