Congratulations is due to our fair (no pun intended) city.  Atlanta has been dubbed “the gayest city in America.” To those of us who have lived here for any length of time, this is not a surprise.  The gay community in Atlanta is visible, vocal, and vigilant.  They are politically active and well organized.  Their voice is heard among the power structures of politics and business.  Atlanta has long been known by those in the know as a hub for gay and lesbian activity, business, and nightlife.  For those outside of the south, this may seem to be a shocker.  The southeast is the heart of the bible-belt, and conservative politics and morality generally rules.  However, Atlanta is the exception.

While it lies in the heart of the Bible-belt, and church billboards align the skyline almost as frequently as Coke does, Atlanta remains an international, progressive, and liberal city.  Not only is the politics liberal, but so too are the churches.  True gospel centered, Christ-exalting churches are relatively few.  Most churches are either caught up the liberal hermeneutic of the health and wealth doctrines, the liberalism of the social gospel, or general liberal ecumenism.  The sad reality is that while people in Atlanta will go to church on any given weekend, the churches that are being attended most are woefully lacking gospel proclamation.  To this end, I commend us to pray.

Pray that the gospel would have inroads not just to the lost Gay community, but even to the lost liberalism that is the vast majority of the churches.  Pray for us as we seek to remain faithful and not fall prey to the compromise that so easily can beset us.  Whether it realizes it or not, Atlanta desperately needs the gospel.  The gayest city in the world is also one of the most religious, and sadly one of the most lost.