Let me be up front with this. I’m coming out.
I’m a Christian.
I go to church. I believe in literal interpretation of The Bible. I am anti-abortion, anti-same-sex marriage, and lament the moral and cultural disintegration of our society.
But I’m not crazy.
I don’t own, have never owned, and will never own an exorcism kit or a piece of toast with the Virgin Mary on it. I do not run around beating people with my Bible. I do not try to “convert you.” I will not say you’re going to hell. I do not go to anti-gay demonstrations holding a “God hates fags” poster (by the way, He doesn’t). I am against banning or blocking access to birth control. I believe that in its implementation, abstinence-only sex education has been primarily ineffective. I will never stand outside of a Planned Parenthood and abuse doctors and patients with destructive words. I do not champion against stem cells (I’m for them) while preaching a “culture of life.” I support stem-cell research and acknowledge the importance and veracity of science and the existence of eons further back than 4,000 years old (and along with them, dinosaurs). I think that both Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson are an embarrassment, and are destructive to our nation and both the Christian and non-Christian agendas of our country.
Am I rare? Is this fusion of Evangelical (yes, I am) Christianity and un-insane, near-normal logic achievable? And furthermore, how many “moderate Evangelicals” exist? Is this an aberration in the thinking of a singular collegian male, or is this the biggest rising movement in Christianity today?
Well, I don’t need to tell you. I don’t feel I have the right. Ask around. Ask the Christians that you know, talk to them. Don’t let the conversation end if they say they’re against gay marriage, probe them on it. Ask what they think about the legal status of same-sex couples and about gay people coming to church. I have a feeling you’ll be very surprised.
Most Christians are not bigoted. Our beliefs are not derived from hate and exclusiveness, but from compassion and love. We cannot have our opinions summed up in one-sentence blurbs. We are not sheep. We can and do disagree with our ministers/pastors/priests. It is not the Middle Ages anymore, and we do not fear the presence of an inquisition to punish heretics for unorthodox views. Religion is a very personal thing, and people put as much different personal variability into their beliefs as they do with other parts of their lives, like music, hobbies, and wardrobe. And for goodness’ sake, Falwell and Robertson (and all like personalities) are not Christians’ Bin Laden:
“Asked to rate certain personalities on a 0-100 scale of favorability, Baptist television personality Jerry Falwell scored only a 44 percent rating among white evangelicals. Christian Coalition thunder and broadcaster Pat Robertson fared slightly better, at 54 percent.” (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_9_121/ai_n6173720).
Saying that Jerry Falwell and his 44 percent favorability rating speaks for Christians is like saying that President Bush and his similar approval rating speaks for Americans. The reason you never see moderates on CNN is because people would never say, “Hey, guys! Com’ere and check out this crazy Jesus freak on TV!” It’s the same as talk radio. It’s bad for ratings. If you are a moderate; you aren’t provocative enough to make waves.
Christianity calls for meekness, humility, and loving all of your brothers, Christian or non, gay and straight. I hope that as young Christians and young people of other faiths or of agnosticism and atheism interact, we will be brought together by our many likenesses, not separated and segregated by our less frequent differences. I just hope that one day, when the time comes, us moderates of the middle will arise and take back their religion from the power-mongers who hijacked it.
Chris
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9 comments:
ok ive tried to post this three times, but the internet here sucks.....ill try again though anyway:
GREAT ARTICLE.....and have you ever read sojourners magazine or website? if you have tell me what you think, if not check it out. i like it, they have some biases (bias?) and shortcomings, but a lot less then most other stuff..........i really liked this article though....peace.......-mat
yah, christian has come to be used as a very generalized term, more than ever before, just as 'atheist' or 'agnostic' is frequently used in the christian community to personify evil and sin. it is, in my belief, a case of two groups that are becoming more and more segregated and less and less in contact. i've been thinking about this for a while, i've had a lot of conversations about this with ben, mainly, and also erik, and thought it could bring about some a good dialogue.
good job chris, I definately needed the boost in morale. Now that I've read your words, it'll be a lot easier to come up with my own for all these people who look at my spirituality as a negative trait... keep up the whacky fun and brutal honesty -Jenny
good job chris, I definately needed the boost in morale. Now that I've read your words, it'll be a lot easier to come up with my own for all these people who look at my spirituality as a negative trait... keep up the whacky fun and brutal honesty -Jenny
i know what you mean by "brutal honesty", but i honestly dno't see it as harsh or untact at all. or at least i don't think it is. i just tried to set forth what i believe, and hope that people talk about it, not just comment on it!
Chris, as always I enjoyed reading your post.
I definitly agree with you on how christians are classified as 'crazy'.
And although sometimes i'm struggling with trying to figure out my beliefs, I am getting somewhere...ha
I know how hard it is to have religion in a time like this...people now look at people with religion as a 'conformist' or 'weird'.
I think as long as you can have your own identity and think for yourself, than religion is absolutely great.
And i know that you are a free thinker, and I have so much respect for you.
-Lindsay! :)
yah, this is not a one-way problem. christians look at atheists (or agnostics or many non-christians for that matter) as being simple and homogenous in thinking and belief set. is there anything more foolish? yes, the fact that the two groups can't sit down at the same table long enough to stomp this ignorance out.
You know Chris, I am gay and you are one of the first Evangelicals I like. You have hit everything right on the head; though I don't agree with all of your platforms obviously, I repsect them and you as informed and having personal meaning to you (whereas I often find many Christians believe simply because they are told to, it seems you have explored and believe because you want to).
Keep up the good work
yah, i don't expect everyone to agree with me, and am not mad or offended when people don't. everyone has the right to hold and express their personal opinion, and this "free marketplace of ideas" needs to be kept just that - free.
i notice that you used the word respect, and i am heartened by that. respect leads to understanding, and is the forbearer to friendly, peaceful coexistence and widespread cooperation.
and as for being one of the first evangelicals you like, thank you, but i'd like to suggest a revision. i'm one of the first evangelicals YOU KNOW you like. other than myself, there are 40 million evangelicals in america - more than 1 of every 8 people in the country. they are your friends and neighbors, your bosses and coworkers, your mentors and role models and the people who hold YOU in high regard as well.
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