What the hell happened? Where did we go wrong? How was Christianity co-opted by a political party? Why are Christians supporting laws that force others to live by their standards? The answers to these questions are integral to the survival of Christianity. [  ]

So when did the focus of Christianity shift from the unconditional love and acceptance preached by Christ to the hate and condemnation spewed forth by certain groups today? Some say it was during the rise of Conservative Christianity in the early 1980s with political action groups like the Moral Majority. Others say it goes way back to the 300s, when Rome's Christian Emperor Constantine initiated a set of laws limiting the rights of Roman non-Christians. Regardless of the origin, one thing is crystal clear: It's not what Jesus stood for.

From an interview with Larry King:

[Larry King] Do you have any problem with the religious right and the mix with politics?

JAY BAKKER: Yes. To me it just seems like it hurts religion more than it does politics. I think Tony Compolla (ph) says it's like mixing manure and ice cream together. It doesn't really affect the manure, but the ice cream gets mixed up.

You know, that's kind of how I see what happens when religion and politics get mixed.

It's just sad to me that I feel like one group can claim Christianity. And I honestly don't think that god is a Republican or a Democrat. And I think what our job is to love people compassionately.

From Radar:

Alcohol lost its grip on Jay, and he began to reevaluate the more judgmental aspects of the faith he grew up with, particularly its condemnation of homosexuality. "The more I follow grace, the more I'm drawn to him [God], the more I'm willing to stand up for people being persecuted," says Jay today. "This sounds so churchy, but I felt like God spoke to my heart and said '[homosexuality] is not a sin.'"

The decision to make Revolution a gay-affirming church, however, wasn't an easy one. It cost him $50,000 in support from an anonymous donor--the bulk of Revolution's budget. Invitations to speak at the big emergent Christian festivals also dried up. Even his father warned that it may turn people off to his message. "It's a very lonely place to be, people telling you you're a heretic," says Jay.

Ultimately, he decided the risks were worth it. "I don't want to be a megapastor, I don't want to put my self-worth in how many speaking engagements I have. I want to put my faith in God," says Jay. "If I have to lose my church because of it, maybe the next guy will only lose half his church."