A Call for Progressives to Reclaim Christianity

We're Boring

One reason, I think, is that we don't make as good a story. "Local church doesn't blame anyone for natural disaster" is not a great headline (except maybe for The Onion). Much of what we preach isn't outrageous enough to warrant attention. Yet much of what we believe is interesting enough to be newsworthy. Some of us talk about Jesus as liberator, but we don't do much publicly to portray Jesus this way. Some of us see Jesus not as the blond, blue-eyed, roman-nosed man, but as distinctly Mediterranean, or African, or gay, or female, but we don't do dramas starring this Jesus. We need to be as bold in our claims of faith as are conservatives.

We Are in the Closet

Many of us do not publicly identify as Christian. When we see some symbols of Christianity being used with behavior that is oppressive or otherwise harmful, we often hide our symbols in an attempt to distance ourselves from those whose actions we oppose.

One day, a coworker pointed to the cross I wear and said "some people find that to be an offensive symbol of oppression". I considered hiding the cross - or not wearing it at all anymore - for fear of being branded as an oppressor. Instead, I explained to my coworker that there are people who use Christianity to oppress, but that is a perversion of the message. We have had many talks since then. He is still an atheist, but he knows that not all Christians are seeking to destroy cultures and impress their morals on others.

We Don't Talk the Talk

I think another way we are invisible is in our language. If someone is condemning people in the name of Jesus, we won't mention that name to avoid being identified as one who condemns.

I have friends who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, and other variations who ask why I would be part of a religion that hates me. I reply that it's not Jesus who hates me, and it is Jesus who I seek to follow. We have conversations around the difference between being a follower of Jesus and a follower of conservative Christianity.

Progressive Christians must reclaim the language of Christianity and not cede it to conservatives.

We're too Quiet and Nice

I know there are some real progressive Christian activists out there, but a lot of us are the types who don't want to  make waves. I know a lot of us have grown up in families and churches where there was a lot of conflict - sometimes violent conflict - and we're afraid of reliving that. I know I feel that way. But we must get over our fear of conflict and stand up for what we believe and, more importantly, for the people affected by beliefs that degrade and oppress. It won't be easy, but it is necessary.

We Do Not Indoctrinate

Here's one I'll gladly leave out of our "to-do" list, but we need to hold a light to the ways that a few very conservative groups harmfully indoctrinate their members. One recent example: Nate Phelps Estranged Son Of Fred Phelps Speaks Out Publicly (stoppingthehate.com). We must call out this abuse where it appears, and show its pernicious effects.

Those progressives who find meaning and hope in Christianity have a responsibility to live visibly as Christians. We need to be the people who, by our actions, lead people to hope in the Christ who served the poor, the stranger, the outcast.