"So what I’d
like to suggest to my fellow Christians is that perhaps taking up the cross
means laying down the persecution complex. A spirit of fear and entitlement
does more to obscure the gospel than elucidate it...."
"Living in a
pluralistic society that also grants freedom and civil rights protection to
those with whom one disagrees is not the same as religious persecution.
And crying persecution every time one doesn’t get one’s way is an insult to the
very real religious persecution happening in the world today. It's no way to be a good citizen and certainly no way to advance the
gospel in the world."
A book I would also highly recommend is Torn:
"As a teenager and young man, Justin Lee
felt deeply torn. Nicknamed "God Boy" by his peers, he knew that he
was called to a life in the evangelical Christian ministry. But Lee harbored a
secret: He also knew that he was gay. In this groundbreaking book, Lee recalls
the events--his coming out to his parents, his experiences with the
"ex-gay" movement, and his in-depth study of the Bible--that led him,
eventually, to self-acceptance.
But more than just a memoir, TORN
provides insightful, practical guidance for all committed Christians who wonder
how to relate to gay friends or family members--or who struggle with their own
sexuality. Convinced that "in a culture that sees gays and Christians as
enemies, gay Christians are in a unique position to bring peace," Lee
demonstrates that people of faith on both sides of the debate can respect,
learn from, and love one another."
