With campaign mailers now flooding my mailbox, I couldn’t help but think back twenty-eight years to my first political race. I was running for the Tennessee Senate in a Republican primary against a 26-year incumbent. I learned then that endorsements, whether by organizations or persons, are important in primaries. However, they are increasingly unhelpful. I hope what follows will help you evaluate the state legislative candidates in the upcoming Republican primary.

It is “Pride Month” for those who believe in the LGBTQ community’s understanding of human identity and dignity. Many in the conservative evangelical community who know what the Bible says about pride condemn even the concept of celebrating pride, let alone what those with an LGBTQ belief system celebrate. For me, though, it was cause to think more deeply about my pridefulness and the protestant version of the gospel dominate in evangelicalism today. If you dare read, please hang with me to the end, because what follows may not be pleasant. 

I spent most of my first 22 years in Southern Baptist Churches. Thereafter, I have been joined to other protestant churches. So, when sexual wrongs—dare we call them sins anymore? —and their cover up were exposed within the ranks of those in Southern Baptist pulpits and the Southern Baptist Convention’s leadership, I could say to myself and others, “I’m not Southern Baptist.” But my thoughts of non-culpability went beyond denominational lines, and it was good that they did. I saw myself with clearer eyes.