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Progressive Christian

2015-03-27T19:15:41-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Non-affirming Christians: Does THIS Look Like Love??

Last updated on: March 27, 2015 at 7:15 pm By Susan Cottrell

“According to a witness, the attacker threw him to the ground and stomped his face into the pavement while yelling, ‘Faggot! Faggot! Faggot!'” My heart is broken for this young gay man, 26-year-old Devin Norman, who was beaten. And I have to tell you… I am angry at non-affirming Christians and others who look for loopholes to avoid unconditionally loving people, or to justify dehumanizing oppression toward another group, using terms like “tough love” or “hate the sin, love... Read more

mississippi gay attack

2015-03-21T10:40:46-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Jesus Blog: If There’s No Love In It, It’s Not Me!

Last updated on: March 21, 2015 at 10:40 am By Susan Cottrell

More today from my Saturday “Jesus Blog” – a word from Jesus to you… Whatever you’ve been told about God, if it makes you afraid, then it’s not true. God is love, and perfect love exposes and chases away fear. So many people are consumed by fear. I never motivated people by fear. I motivated by love. Have you noticed the people I embraced in the Bible? One after another they came to me, and I always put their fears... Read more

2015-03-20T10:20:31-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Dear Susan: Are You Twisting the Bible to Justify Your Beliefs?

Last updated on: March 20, 2015 at 10:20 am By Susan Cottrell

We hear it a lot… “You are twisting scripture so you can justify homosexuality.” I do think there is a lot of twisting scripture going on, but I believe they have it backwards. You must twist and ignore the Bible – and deny the overall message and truth of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit – to believe that being gay is a sin. I write Dear Susan posts most every Friday. Sometimes they are poignant, sometimes thought-provoking, sometimes tender,... Read more

2015-03-19T10:29:47-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Thank you PC(USA)! How Will Others Respond? Hearts & Lives Are At Stake.

Last updated on: March 19, 2015 at 10:29 am By Susan Cottrell

“I regret that I can only celebrate with you from a distance and this is a celebration that I may never experience in my lifetime in my church.” The Presbyterian Church has responded in truth and love, but what will others do? Hearts and lives are at stake. I am overwhelmingly grateful for the Presbyterian Church’s stand in solidarity and affirmation with our brothers and sisters who are gay, and the entire LGBTQ community. They chose to take a loving... Read more

2015-03-18T16:36:48-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Do Gay People Have Better Sex Than Straight People?

Last updated on: March 18, 2015 at 4:36 pm By Susan Cottrell

“Sex with you is so good, we should celebrate it by having sex.” Do LGBTQ people have better sex than straight people? Maybe they do. Just maybe they do. 🙂 This is Rob, Susan’s husband, writing today. Great sex has nothing to do with whether or not you are gay or straight, but think about it… I think one of the keys to great, intimate, passionate, wild, tender, beautiful sex is freedom. Being free to just be yourself, to love... Read more

2015-03-16T10:42:09-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“My Love For A Person Of The Same Sex” – A Gay Man’s Response to Ignorance, Bigotry & Hate

Last updated on: March 16, 2015 at 10:42 am By Susan Cottrell

“Sadomasochism, child abuse, human trafficking, rape, murder, genocide, greed, corruption… and homosexuality.” What does it feel like to be included in that list simply because you love someone of the same gender? In one of Susan’s recent posts we had a reader make a comment that included homosexuality in a list like this. Ignorance? Yes. Bigotry? Probably. Hate? Maybe. This is Rob Cottrell, Susan’s husband. That comment was made to another reader here on FreedHearts and the reader responded. His... Read more

2015-03-14T09:45:47-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Jesus Blog: God’s Expectations Of You Are Not What You Think

Last updated on: March 14, 2015 at 9:45 am By Susan Cottrell

More today from my Saturday “Jesus Blog” – a word from Jesus to you… There is nothing you can do to disappoint God, and there is nothing you can do to make God love you more. God loves you. Regardless of how well you think you are behaving. Regardless of how well others think you are behaving. If you ever wonder, if you ever ask yourself the question: “Does God love me?” The answer is always, “Yes!” Always. When I... Read more

2015-03-13T12:13:56-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Dear Susan: Why Do Gays Think Christians Hate Them?

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 12:13 pm By Susan Cottrell

What?? I know, I know, I had the same reaction… Is she serious?? But she is, and many others wonder the same thing. Is it blindness, ignorance, just following the false teaching about gays she has heard on Sunday morning for decades, genuine hate? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. It depends on the person. Sometimes I have great compassion, sometimes I get angry and frustrated. But you know, regardless of the reasons, there does come a time – when presented with... Read more

2015-06-27T12:06:58-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Anti-Gay Christians, Please Don’t Try to Justify Hate

Last updated on: June 27, 2015 at 12:06 pm By Susan Cottrell

A mom from a small, conservative town said to her son: “There aren’t any gays in this town.” Her son laughed and said, “Yes there are, Mom. They’re just deep in the closet… or they’ve moved away.” I know it’s easier to imagine that gays are some other people, some other place, not here, not anyone you know. Then your child comes out. Meanwhile, all those things you said, or the church said about “those gays” are ringing in your... Read more

2015-03-09T11:23:59-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Something Is Missing From The Gospel

Last updated on: March 9, 2015 at 11:23 am By Susan Cottrell

We recently talked about how “Hate the sin, love the sinner” is NOT a Biblical concept. It is NOT part of a Gospel (truth)–which IS about unconditional love and grace, and commands us to love our neighbor. Something else is “missing” from the Gospel. This past weekend, I sat through my all-time favorite musical: Godspell. I was in tears pretty much immediately, as I knew I would be! The love and beauty and joy… it moves me every time. But the... Read more

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