Well, here's the letter I've debated about posting (see yesterday's post). My rule is, if I'm wondering if I should post something, go ahead and do it. So, here goes.

Dear agnostics, gays, and liberals,

Where do I begin? If Evangelicals have hurt or offended you, then I'm addressing you.

People that I love and associate with have behaved poorly.  We call ourselves, "Evangelicals", but who knows what that means?  Whatever it once meant, it's come to describe an intolerant, tract-carrying, graceless, flag-waving, politicized homophobe (and maybe even "a republican").   A Bible-thumper.

We're supposed to be known by our love for God and other people...all people.  We're supposed to be following Jesus and trying to look like him.  Instead we've become caricatures of small-minded self-important clique - like the very people who antagonized Jesus.

Grievously, evangelicals have become known for what we oppose, what we hate even, and not for who and what we love.

And in the process, we've hurt so many people.

A lot of people feel judged.

It's bad enough that we attack values, but we make it personal, too - we attack you, your family, and your friends.  For a long time, I've found this sad and embarrassing.

But the more I hang around people who we - Evangelicals - have hurt, who want to have nothing more to do with Jesus because of the friends he apparently keeps, the more I see that something is required.  So to begin with, I apologize for our loutish behavior.  I am sincerely sorry for how we've hurt you...and your family and your friends.  I'm sorry for our shabby treatment of you, our neighbors, family, and strangers.

You are the very people who the God we profess to love said would know US by his love.

You are not projects.  You are not the enemy.  We are not enemies.

In fact, I bet we could even be friends.*

I hope we can.

* If we were, maybe here's how our conversation might go. Also, I like this song.