“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” - Luke 6:37-38
Once I realized that I believed in Jesus Christ and could call myself a Christian, I had to re-examine the Christianity that I had always felt so isolated from. I delved into theology, wondering if there was a way to combine my secular progressive social beliefs with Christian theology and Christian ethics.
Quick disclaimer: My experience is limited to Christianity in the USA. I don't believe belonging to a church community is necessary for every Christian, and experiences will vary for Christians throughout the world.
When I think of what it means to be a Christian, I think of Jesus. The Gospels were the first books of the Bible that I read post-atheism. Jesus was a revolutionary, pointing out the hypocrisy of the religious elite, advocating for helping the poor and the outcasts, making His table with sinners. He welcomed women as disciples and supporters, and He proclaimed the importance of peace-making, forgiveness, loving one's neighbor. Even though He was viewed as spiritually unclean for laying hands on the sick, healing them was more important to Jesus than what the elite thought of Him. He instructed His followers to follow His example, to not just believe in Him but to also act like Him.
This was the lens I used when researching Christian theologies. I hope that this process can help others on their own faith journeys.
I started with reading blog posts about progressive Christianity and the Christian left. I listened to progressive Christian podcasts and searched progressive Christian reddit groups. I found an organization called Red Letter Christians that uses Jesus as an example to fight against oppression and injustice. I learned about liberation theology, the social gospel, and Christian abolitionism. Feminist, womanist, and queer theologies also influence my understanding of the Bible. I learned how to reconcile with aspects of the Bible that clashed with my modern, progressive principles. I will go into additional detail on many of these areas in future posts.
After I realized that I could comfortably call myself a progressive Christian, I searched for a church. I missed the sermons, hymns, and rituals of the United Methodist/Presbyterian church I attended as a child, and I longed to belong to a faith community again.
Organized Christianity is heteronormative and white supremacist, though Christians have also contributed to social justice and abolitionist movements throughout American history. Progressive Christianity is not free from these historical power structures. Christian denominations contend with racism and prejudice against women and LGBT Christians, even in the most progressive institutions. I mention this fact because we all need to resist these power structures in order to make Christianity a safe, welcoming place. We all need to act like Jesus.
I began my church search by using the website gaychurch.org. I will only contribute financially to a church that publicly affirms and welcomes LGBT people. I have friends who have been deeply hurt by the condemnation and exclusion of homophobic and transphobic policies. Despite my monogamous marriage to a man making me appear to be straight, conservative churches would not welcome me if I happened to be married to a woman instead of a man. They would not accept my bisexuality if it were visible. Gaychurch.org led me to a local LGBT-affirming Lutheran church, which I have been virtually attending every Sunday. I look forward to joining the church congregation after the Covid-19 quarantine is over.
I have also been interested in attending Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) meetings because of their history with pacifism and abolitionism. I encourage anyone who is interested in pacifism, environmental stewardship, personal integrity, and who opposes hierarchical religious structures to consider Quakerism.
I know I still have a lot more to discover regarding my theological beliefs, and I will find deeper ways of engaging with the progressive Christian community. I hope this process helps others who struggle to fit into Christianity without compromising themselves.
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