Why Don't People Seem to Like Christians Anymore?

BIRMINGHAM, AL--(Marketwire - Aug 22, 2011) - Kirk Minor remembers a time when working with his church was centered around people, and not rhetoric -- and he's wondering where those days went.

"There's an old axiom that states 'Those who speak, don't know, and those who know, don't speak,'" said Minor, a retired pastor and author of "Journey Across The Tiber: My Many Rooms" (www.truthsofcatholicism.com). "We're finding more and more that there are a lot of people out there doing a lot of talking and protesting and bellyaching, but fewer people actually walking the walk. We have extremists protesting funerals of gay soldiers, pundits decrying the use of abbreviations for the word Christmas and activists campaigning for prayer in public schools. These are all very divisive issues, and have little to do with the good works the Bible wants the faithful to perform. And people wonder why the media tide is turning against people of faith."

Minor believes that there is a very vocal contingent of religious leaders who are using the Bible not as a teaching tool, but as a bludgeoning tool, which was not how the book was intended.

"If there is something about society that you don't like, chances are you can find a quote in the Bible that demonizes it," he added. "It's not difficult to take just about any reference material, secular or non-secular, and use it as a means to pit people against each other. But that's not what the Bible was meant to do. It was meant to bring people together, to teach charity and tolerance, and to bring about peace and harmony. I think it's time that pastors and people of faith stand up and recognize the elephant in the room. Too many people are using religion as a sword to fight those with whom they disagree, instead of as a plowshare to help their fellow neighbors tend the land and form a community."

About Kirk Minor
Kirk Minor earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of North Alabama in Florence, AL, a Master's Degree in Social Work from Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Lake Charles Bible College in Lake Charles, LA. He was a Licensed Certified Social Worker for 25 years, and a pastor with the United Methodist Church for 23 years.