General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Exposing Americas Biggest Hypocrites: Evangelical Christians [View all]summer_in_TX
(2,727 posts)with REAL Christians. I once thought all Christians were narrow-minded, judgmental, joyless prigs. Then I met real ones who have one agenda - to love. Their love was (and is) accepting without judging. They made me welcome just as I was, not trying to change me. After several months with my guard up for any attempt to convert me, I realized that these Christians weren't at all like my stereotypes. Finally I was disarmed enough to explore what these people believed. Among the surprises I found after coming to faith was the level of joy and peace. Twenty-five years later, it's still a place of love and welcome for the strangers as well as the members.
Many liberal Democrats like me are Christians because we read scripture and it reflects our core values - welcoming the stranger, caring for the poor, standing up for justice, loving our neighbor as ourselves (and that neighbor can be of any race, nationality, or faith).
Heap all the hostility you want on fake Christians. They infuriate me because they lie about what the Bible teaches, what following Jesus requires, they defame Christ, dishonoring God. But those aren't Christians no matter what they claim. If those had been the kinds of people I found when I finally ended up in a church, I'd never be a Christian.