Identity, Loyalty and Three Rays of Hope, Part 1
How would you describe yourself in twenty-five words or less? It’s a reasonably small, though important exercise we can do periodically. It draws into question our values, goals, and dreams and where they hopefully intersect. Somewhere in that mix is our identity - that which maintains the “inner solidarity with the ideals and aspirations of social groups,” according to E.H. Erikson. Every single one of us is a fascinating blend of all of the above.
Each of us spends a lifetime building up who we are. Typically a disproportionate amount of time is spent solidifying our foundations. We may do small remodels as the years go by, maybe even do some major renovations in times of crisis. But with few exceptions, we never let anything touch the bedrock we’re built on.
In 2023, we’re seeing LOTS of exceptions. All across our nation, we are encountering a lot of foundations that have been distorted beyond recognition and then reinforced. The natural inclination is to malign those we don’t understand, but I suggest we at least consider where they are coming from and the hurdles they’re facing.
Extremism in the Christian Right churches
Few Americans of sound mind would argue that: A majority of “Christians” voted for a presidential candidate thrice married, who emanated immorality via documented audio recordings, multiple photographs with sex workers of various sorts, and a career riddled with accusations of corruption. And yet, the religious right chose him, knowing that he would be an enduring role model for all of our children.
But Why?
Let’s consider the following scenario. Imagine your first memories of childhood included a Sunday School teacher reading David and Goliath stories from a big colorful picture book. You watched wide-eyed as the little man of God slayed the huge bad monster. Maybe you went on to read about a really old guy named Moses. He was able to save thousands of good people by parting some ginormous sea, all because God was on his side. Your young teacher emanated such joy and enthusiasm, that the seeds grew and thrived in your church home.
Fast forward, imagine church picnics with three generations of your family enjoying God’s full bounty together. The church community, its traditions, the conditional love and endless amounts of good food, all add up to a lot of security. But then you go to high school and are presented with this beautiful platter of forbidden fruits. Maybe you indulge, maybe you don’t, but either way it doesn’t matter, you are saved by the blood of Christ. That has become your free pass.
So you have been saved and therefore you are a Christian. You could theoretically leave the fold but why would you want to? The tenacity of the faith in those around you, convinces you that there is no reason to question anything. In fact, doing so is a sign of weakness in your faith and therefore, your character. The decades long Old Testament teachings, religious doctrines, and a sprinkling of Christ’s teachings become the rock that you can always stand on.
Ever since the first disciples of Christ set out to spread HIS teachings, they have had to deal with the self-serving agendas of future messengers and all too many church leaders. This misrepresentation started more than two thousand years ago, but has probably never been more pronounced than today. Unfortunately, just because the extreme right-wing churches have parted ways from the teachings of Christ, doesn’t mean that its adherents will shed their identity or loyalty to it.
Identities don’t have to make sense for us to vehemently cling to them.
I don’t want to lump all Christian denominations together, any more than I would lump all Democrats or all Republicans together. But you can scrutinize any of them based on the fruits they have produced and where those fruits go. Do they go toward those who have little, or especially to those who have much? Do they help the most vulnerable? Christ’s teachings on these issues are as clear as the holiest of waters.
There are exceptions and therefore - Hope
Meet Kevin Young - a self-described “post-evangelical”
The following is an excerpt from a blog I encountered recently. It’s a worthwhile read for anyone who struggles to understand the Evangelical Christian’s part in our nation’s divisiveness and how an awakening occurred.
Kevin Young told the story on Substack of how he was raised in a conservative Christian family, and about how he was taught to believe that "Democrats are evil." Young describes each of these lessons he was taught as bricks being laid into his foundational beliefs.
But those bricks slowly fell away until George Floyd's untimely death, Young said. That was the final brick he says fell before his beliefs were shifted into something completely different.
"My favorite boss in the Church Media department I served in during Seminary had been a closet liberal, but I had seen how his convictions translated into a deep love for me and others in his life. There was a sizable hole in my wall, thanks to him," the former conservative wrote. "I had never known a conservative to love like this, and it rattled me."
Meet “Evangelicals for Democracy”
I found it tremendously refreshing to discover that there are groups of evangelical Christians who actually respect both the teachings of Jesus and our democracy. Evangelicals for Democracy are fully in support of maintaining the separation of church and state. And they share a joint concern about the division in our country based on misinformation.
I appreciate their belief statement below and the pillars of their organization as encouraging moves in the right direction.
"As evangelicals, we believe that protecting democracy is being obedient to Jesus’ commandment to “love our neighbor as ourselves.” Therefore, we believe that every person in our society has an equal voice and representation in their governance. We also believe that access to democracy is undercut by “Christian nationalism,” which confuses the Gospel with the American state and promotes identity politics."
. . . democracy is a religious value rooted in the dignity and worth of all people. This means branding voter suppression, gerrymandering (by either party), intimidation, and the spreading of conspiracy theories and lies as anti-Christian."
We can only hope and pray that both entities gain some serious traction.
Please stay tuned for Identity, Loyalty, & Three Rays of Hope - Part 2