Christian Chain Pulls Books of Popular Blogger over LGBT Comments

LifeWay Christian Stores has pulled the books of bestselling author Jen Hatmaker from their shelves over her recent support of LGBT rights.

Hatmaker is a popular blogger an and Austin-based pastor's wife.  In the past she has blogged about everything from politics to Black Lives Matter.  She also has written about the biblical pattern of one man and one woman as God's plan for families.  

Lately, however, she has been critical of the Christian community over its seeming lack of compassion and outreach to gays. In a Facebook post last April, she extended a message of love to "LGBT folks."

"There is nothing 'wrong with you,' or in any case, nothing more right or wrong than any of us," she wrote.

Then in an Oct. 25 Religion News Service (RNS) article, Hatmaker was asked if she supports gay marriage and if an LGBT relationship can be holy.

"I do," Hatmaker responded.

"And my views here are tender. This is a very nuanced conversation, and it's hard to nail down in one sitting," she explained. "I've seen too much pain and rejection at the intersection of the gay community and the Church. Every believer that witnesses that much overwhelming sorrow should be tender enough to do some hard work here."

She also said, "From a civil rights and civil liberties side, and from just a human being side, any two adults have the right to choose who they want to love. And they should be afforded the same legal protections as any of us. I would never wish anything less for my gay friends."

"From a spiritual perspective, since gay marriage is legal in all 50 states, our communities have plenty of gay couples who, just like the rest of us, need marriage support and parenting help and Christian community. They are either going to find those resources in the Church or they are not," she concluded.

LifeWay has since banned Hatmaker's books and other products from its 185 stores and online.

"In a recent interview (Hatmaker) voiced significant changes in her theology of sexuality and the meaning and definition of marriage - changes which contradict LifeWay's doctrinal guidelines," LifeWay spokesman Marty King said in a statement. "As a result, LifeWay has discontinued selling her resources."

LifeWay told Christianity Today it does not have a "blacklist" of authors, but it has discontinued sales of books by several other popular Christian authors, such as Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer.

Hatmaker and her family were featured in their own HGTV series in 2014.