Church needs to remember Christ’s teachings

I wasn't inside the building more than five minutes before three different members of the church started berating me, one flat-out calling me a murderer, because I obviously loved abortion. Another told me I shouldn't be on the church's drama team any longer, because a "gay lover" shouldn't be allowed to represent the church. I looked at that man in the face, and said point-blank: "If a 'gay lover' isn't welcome in the church, then I guess Jesus has no place here." He became belligerent, telling me I was being sacrilegious by invoking Jesus' name in such a way. I decided it was a losing battle, and I walked away.

I no longer attend that church, not because of the incident, but because I moved 500 miles away in the meantime. I now find myself seeking a church where I won't be ridiculed by members for my political beliefs, or accused of being a hypocrite because I don't support the Republican party.

I don't know what kinds of experiences most of you have, but I just try to explain that from my understanding of the Bible, Jesus was far more likely to be found in the company of sinners, and that I can't find any mention of abortion or gay marriage in the Bible. However, I do see many instances where Jesus compels his fellow man to help the poor, infirm and those less fortunate. I haven't seen anything come out of the current Republican administration that does any of those things.

Last Sunday I visited a local church. My trip through the parking lot on my way to a parking place allowed me to count no fewer than 50 "W: Still the President" window stickers. I didn't see one item on a car supporting a Democrat. I wonder if I had worn my politics on my car if I would have felt as welcome as I did without expressing my politics?