Chad Howat

In the year 125AD, a Greek philosopher named Aristides attempted to explain Christianity to Roman Emperor Hadrian. Here’s how he described these early Christians… “They love one another. They never fail to help widows. They save orphans from those who would hurt them. If they have something, they give freely to the one who has nothing. If they see an immigrant, they take him into their homes and rejoice over him as a brother.” I know very few people who would describe us the same way today. Most folks see Christians primarily as unwavering supporters of a convicted sexual abuser with 91 felony charges, gatekeepers who fight to keep anyone they don’t like out of their churches, and pursuers of political power which is then wielded in ways that harm our most vulnerable neighbors. We have fallen so far. Lord, have mercy. Something has to change.