I’m quite used to my hometown showing up in national headlines, usually for terrible reasons. Our unique blend of politics, religion and crassness seems to yield the most hard-hearted stories imaginable. In keeping with this tradition, recent actions by local Christian leaders have once again put us on a stage of national embarrassment.
I fled Baton Rouge 10 years ago for greater opportunity and less backwardness. I attended LSU and always planned on becoming a Christian pastor, though my college education revealed that wasn’t quite for me.
While I’m thankful I no longer have to see the world's largest crosses every time I drive down the interstate, I still occasionally see equally gaudy and archaic reminders of my birthplace. In this most recent instance, a group of local Christian leaders penned a letter and showed up to a meeting in support of another pastor fired for treating a human poorly.
Regardless of which weapon you draw in the culture war, can we not all agree that treating another human with kindness, respect and love is more important than feeling righteous?
I was not surprised to see only Christian leaders on the abhorrent list of letter signers; even my childhood church — Woodlawn Baptist — joined in. And for what? Demanding the reinstatement of a man terminated for violating the terms of his agreement, and specifically for refusing to call someone what they wanted to be called? That isn’t loving, it isn’t kind — it’s shameful and rude behavior and should not be tolerated anywhere.
I have tried to embody the better parts of our culture in a foreign land. In addition to our food, people seem to respond well to something Baton Rouge forgot a long time ago — hospitality and charm!
Please love everyone, be curious — and stop forcing me to say I’m from New Orleans.
ANDREW ROBERTSON
Prairieville