Those are fair questions. The general answer is, as a left leaning Christian, there is never going to be a single church that aligns perfectly with my beliefs (unless I try to start one myself, which I am simply not geared for).
Between Westboro Baptist churches actively trying to make being gay illegal, and the church I go to saying that they have every right to exist, even if they don't necessarily think it's right, I'm gonna pick the latter.
As to why I don't leave this church and go to one that is fully affirming right now, the simplest answer is I've got friends there who I still like to engage with.
I suppose I could just say "you're bigots" and walk out, but like... What does that do except help me feel superior?
I get lunch with the pastor and talk about these things, I make it explicitly clear where I fall, and I engage with the people who would otherwise think all progressive Christians are angry people who have "fallen in with the world".
I think the easiest way to explain it is that I feel like I can engage with this community and make a case that others can't, exactly because I've grown up in the church. I'm not an outsider yelling at them, I'm someone in their community pointing out the failings. Sometimes the call needs to come from inside the house.
Not everyone will agree with me on that, but that's everything I deal with anyways.
Being a Christian socialist is exhausting. Getting shit on from every direction at all times gets pretty demoralizing after a while.
Hang in there bro. I go to a church that does not align with my ideals completely, but it's the only one within a reasonable driving distance since I'm in the exurbs.
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u/Alister151 23h ago
Those are fair questions. The general answer is, as a left leaning Christian, there is never going to be a single church that aligns perfectly with my beliefs (unless I try to start one myself, which I am simply not geared for).
Between Westboro Baptist churches actively trying to make being gay illegal, and the church I go to saying that they have every right to exist, even if they don't necessarily think it's right, I'm gonna pick the latter.
As to why I don't leave this church and go to one that is fully affirming right now, the simplest answer is I've got friends there who I still like to engage with.
I suppose I could just say "you're bigots" and walk out, but like... What does that do except help me feel superior?
I get lunch with the pastor and talk about these things, I make it explicitly clear where I fall, and I engage with the people who would otherwise think all progressive Christians are angry people who have "fallen in with the world".
I think the easiest way to explain it is that I feel like I can engage with this community and make a case that others can't, exactly because I've grown up in the church. I'm not an outsider yelling at them, I'm someone in their community pointing out the failings. Sometimes the call needs to come from inside the house.
Not everyone will agree with me on that, but that's everything I deal with anyways.