Defending what the Bible teaches about homosexuality can often lead to public condemnation from gay activists. In recent years especially, Christians have been ridiculed and called bigots for their beliefs. Here are five well-known Christian leaders who have been targeted for their beliefs.

Rick Warren

When President Barack Obama invited Rick Warren, head pastor at Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of the best-selling A Purpose Driven Life, to deliver the invocation at his 2009 inauguration, gay rights activists were furious. About 100 protesters demonstrated outside Warren's church the Sunday before the inauguration. more >>

Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest Calif., continues to journal his grief over losing his son, Matthew, who committed suicide just over a month ago, through his posts on Twitter. He tweeted on Wednesday that he has been most encouraged by support from the people who his son inspired to find God.

"Since my son died, the most comforting notes have come from people Matthew personally led to know and trust Jesus," tweeted the megachurch pastor.

At the end of the message he referenced Proverbs 11:30 that reads: "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise." more >>

In a report published Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the suicide rate among middle-aged (35-64) Americans jumped 28 percent in the last decade, and suicides now account for more deaths than vehicle accidents.

According to the CDC report, 38,000 Americans decided to end their own lives in 2010 – almost 5,000 more than those who died in vehicle-related incidents. The biggest jump in suicide rates came among middle-aged Americans, which rose from 13.7 per 100,000 population in 1999 to 17.6 in 2010.

Suffocation proved to be one of the most common forms of suicide as it increased by 81.3 percent; poisoning also rose 24.4 percent, and the use of firearms to end one's own life rose 14.4 percent. more >>

Pastor Rick Warren cancelled plans to be a part of a live webcast interview discussing the subject of grief after his son's suicide with LifeWay Research President Ed Stetzer during a major church planting conference in Orlando on Tuesday.

Warren made the cancellation announcement via Twitter: "#Exponential13 Sorry I'm unable to have my heart-to-heart with you pastors I love today but the media heard so I pulled out."

Warren, who has not made a public appearance since his son's death on April 5, was scheduled to be interviewed by Stetzer on his webshow, "The Exchange," hosted at the Exponential 2013 conference on Tuesday, The Christian Post learned from LifeWay Research Monday. more >>

To see the update on this story, click here.  

Pastor Rick Warren, originally scheduled to lead two Bible studies at a major church planting conference in Orlando this week, is instead scheduled to talk about his 27-year-old son's suicide during a live webcast hosted at the event Tuesday.

Warren, who has not made a public appearance since his son's death on April 5, will be interviewed by LifeWay Research President Ed Stetzer on his webshow, "The Exchange." Stetzer will be doing the show at the Exponential 2013 conference and Warren will be speaking from another location. The interview session will be available on the Internet. more >>

LAKE FOREST, Calif. – Evangelist Greg Laurie filled in for Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren during worship services over the weekend and is the first of a string of well-known Christian leaders scheduled to speak from the pulpit while Warren continues to grieve his son's passing. The list of pastors planned includes Francis Chan, Mark Driscoll, Pete Wilson, David Platt, Craig Groeschel, Wilfredo De Jesús, and Doug Fields.

During the sermon series featuring the pastors, they are scheduled to answer the question, "What Does it Mean to Follow Jesus?" Chan, an author and popular speaker at Christian conferences, is planned for next weekend at Saddleback.

Prior to his weekend sermons at the church, Laurie told The Christian Post he wanted to give a message of hope amid grief. The Harvest Crusades founder, who said the untimely loss of his son nearly five years ago gave him a "new ministry," spoke at Saddleback just a little more than two weeks since the suicide death of Warren's 27-year-old son, Matthew. Christopher Laurie died, at age 33, in an automobile accident in 2008. more >>