The term Christian evokes a certain stereotype which I try to break, but there is a good reason for stereotypes: they are usually painfully accurate. The stereotypical Christian only listens to "Christian" music, probably has a fish on their car, is a conservative republican, is judgmental, has friends just like them, goes to church every Sunday, wants to marry a pastor (if female), or a Proverbs 31 woman (if male), sees everything in black and white and thinks that Obama is the anti-christ.
Does this bother any believers out there? It should. It should bother you that the first thing people think when they hear that you are a Christian is "unforgiving", "up tight" and "republican". Why isn't the Christian label associated with compassion, understanding and forgiveness?
Author Anne Rice recently published a press release stating that she is leaving Christianity. Now, let me be clear, I was surprised to find out she is a believer and not surprised at the reasons why she said she is leaving. She called Christians "quarrelsome" and said she cannot be "anti-gay, anti-feminist, anti-science and anti-Democrat". Which is good considering we are to "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." (Romans 12:9-18)
Why are we so negative that even people who share our beliefs cannot, because of their own conscience, remain within the group?
I probably will never do anything as drastic as Anne Rice, but her words do make me wonder what is going on with the church these days. I have seen some real hardness of heart from within the church body that genuinely concerns me. The more I learn about social work the more I am convinced that the church has stopped caring about the culture at large, but we have gotten very good at condemning it. Yet what we fail to realize is that we are part of the problem. We have not done the simple things God has called us to do. We think we can do the fixing and make people all better, when really all we try to do is make people just like us.
My greatest fear is that one day churches will hold all the same people, that there will be no variation within the body because the church killed it.
I continue to feel as though I do not fit into the mold that the Christian label demands: I am a woman who wants a career outside the home, I continue to show grace to my gay friends, I refuse to participate in Obama jokes and I don't claim affiliation with any political party.
I think this song by Needtobreathe sums up my thoughts well:
Shortfalls of little sins
Close calls and no one wins
Stand tall but running thin
I’m wearing thin
Oh, why are we keeping score?
Cause if you’re not laughing,
Who is laughing now?
I’ve been wondering
If we stop sinking
Could we stand our ground?
And through everything we’ve learned
We’ve finally come to terms,
We are the outsiders.
Oh, we are the outsiders, oh
I’m not leaving without a fight.
I got my holster around my side.
Just ‘cause I’m wrong it don’t make you right.
No you ain’t right.
Oh, why are we keeping score?
Cause if you’re not laughing,
Who is laughing now?
I’ve been wondering if we stop sinking,
Would we stand our ground?
And through everything we’ve learned,
We’ve finally come to terms.
We are the outsiders,
Oh we are the outsiders,
On the outside,
You’re free to roam
On the outside
We found it home
On the outside
There’s more to see
On the outside
We choose to be
On the outside
Close calls and no one wins
Stand tall but running thin
I’m wearing thin
Oh, why are we keeping score?
Cause if you’re not laughing,
Who is laughing now?
I’ve been wondering
If we stop sinking
Could we stand our ground?
And through everything we’ve learned
We’ve finally come to terms,
We are the outsiders.
Oh, we are the outsiders, oh
I’m not leaving without a fight.
I got my holster around my side.
Just ‘cause I’m wrong it don’t make you right.
No you ain’t right.
Oh, why are we keeping score?
Cause if you’re not laughing,
Who is laughing now?
I’ve been wondering if we stop sinking,
Would we stand our ground?
And through everything we’ve learned,
We’ve finally come to terms.
We are the outsiders,
Oh we are the outsiders,
On the outside,
You’re free to roam
On the outside
We found it home
On the outside
There’s more to see
On the outside
We choose to be
On the outside
