HELP! May leave Christianity because of Conservatives

[DavinMochrie]

Hi guys,

I will try to phrase this respectfully as I genuinely need help and insight. (I grew up in Northern Australia so it's hard for me to be PC sometimes). Please do not be offended by what I say, I'm just getting this emotional thing off my chest.

The majority of the conservative politics movement in my country and abroad sickens me.

Myself I have great empathy for the poor, the struggling, the downtrodden, the working person, people who need welfare to survive, racial equality etc.

No matter how hard I try I cannot see Jesus being a conservative. This man who was homeless, who talked to undisreables, who preached to look after the poor. His message wasn't about a 'get rich gospel', but a 'help your neighbour' gospel.

There is no way that Jesus would be Pro-Guns. (Thankfully I live in a more enlightened country).

It may be bad because of all the American Elections going on....but the words that come out of Christians...dilusional rants, irrational and hypocritical world views: Obama is the anti-christ??, Palin is an adequant candidate


It's like if you are a Christian you would become a Right Wing Nut Job who is into killing little babies over in Iraq because it's some sort of holy war.


Am I going insane here?

Is this really what Christianity is about??

Do I ignore the teachings of Jesus, and become a conservative???

Can someone give me guidance here....

(I would appreciate considered heart felt response, without one-liners and a scripture verse (minus commentary). If you want to respond to me, as I need help, and welcome all perspectives, please write something you have given thought to. [scripture is welcome with your commentary] This topic has been in my head for 2 years).

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

So what's politics got to do with it? Jesus' message wasn't about politics. He wouldn't even talk about politics when directly asked. He said things like "My kingdom is not of this world".

There are Christians of every shade of political opinion, including the position that it's illegitimate for Christians to participate in politics at all. I don't understand why it should bother you that some Christians have different political views than yours.

Personally, I do think Christians can be political, and should if that's what their conscience tells them, but I don't think there's any obviously correct Christian politics. I know some terrific Christians on the Right, Left, Center and totally apolitical. It has no direct bearing on how much God loves them, or how much they love God. They simply see things differently.

 

[DavinMochrie]

I don't understand why it should bother you that some Christians have different political views than yours.

Because the majority of Christians mix their politics with religion and blur the two.

Just now I've received an email from the pastor of a church I go to, asking for support as they demonstrate regarding abortion legislation in my state.

Myself I am very seperated politically and spiritually but the majority of people are not.

 

[artybloke]

The only reason I still call myself a Christian is because I discovered Christians who weren't rampantly right-wing.

I don't know if there's a Quaker meeting near you, but you could try them. Or a more liberal Anglican church, or Methodist.

Get as far as you can from toxic fundamentalism.

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

Because the majority of Christians mix their politics with religion and blur the two.

Just now I've received an email from the pastor of a church I go to, asking for support as they demonstrate regarding abortion legislation in my state.

Myself I am very seperated politically and spiritually but the majority of people are not.

I understand. I guess you won't be joining them in that protest, huh?

The only reason I still call myself a Christian is because I discovered Christians who weren't rampantly right-wing.

I don't know if there's a Quaker meeting near you, but you could try them. Or a more liberal Anglican church, or Methodist.

Get as far as you can from toxic fundamentalism.

In your shoes, I think I would take artybloke's suggestion: find a more liberal church. There's plenty of them where I live (Seattle, a very liberal town), maybe not so many where you are, but there should be some.

I go to an Assemblies of God church, not exactly a liberal denomination, but I never hear any politics from the pulpit, and I prefer it that way. I have strong political views (libertarian), but that's not directly related to my faith. (It's related, but not in a way that's easy to explain.)

 

[artybloke]

I met someone the other day who finds it very difficult to go to church and takes part in Buddhist practices. She doesn't like the church's official stance on such things as homosexuality, and other things. Her husband is a liberal Anglican, however, and supports her, and it seems to me that she hasn't stopped being a Christian - it's just that she's stopped being part of the institutional church.

If you can't find a liberal church, it might be good to become a little more semi-detached - hopefully, a liberal Christian forum like this would help, or you could find some spiritual practice (meditation, say) that could keep you in touch with your spirituality.

It may be the only source of spiritual support for awhile; but that's OK.

 

[DavinMochrie]

Cheers!

I guess when I say I'm not conservative, it doens't mean I'm necessarily liberal...but I probably am.

I checked out this unitarian church in Melbourne, but it seems like it can swing the other way and Liberal politics can be worshiped in place of God! That is just as disgusting to me I guess.

Especially as I find all politicans to be very fake people. (I'm pretty happy with that generlaisation when I saw all).

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

I checked out this unitarian church in Melbourne, but it seems like it can swing the other way and Liberal politics can be worshiped in place of God! That is just as disgusting to me I guess.

Yes, it definitely can! So what you need is a church without the conservative politics you seem to be allergic to, but that also keeps God at the center. Mine would fit that description, and so would many others.

Sending up a prayer for guidance to the right church for you.

 

[SpiritDriven]

Gidday Fella....

You are being called by God....it is time for you to take a freelance walk with him.

Im not talking Church on Sunday....Im talking the Apostle Pual....your a Gentile.

You want to serve Jesus....go here for guidance for your calling.....

http://www.tentmaker.org/

Time for you to join the especially of believers.....God will direct your steps....

Peace

 

[ladyt28]

Please don't leave Christianity because of the beliefs of others my friend! There are always going to be others who we don't agree with. The pendulum will always swing back and forth and right now it is pretty frustrating to hear people who proclaim to be Christians say things like "God wants me to be RICH!" and "let people pull themselves up by their own bootstraps". I know a lesson I am going to try to learn is to remember how frustrated I feel during these times so that, when the pendulum swings back the other way, I can be more compassionate towards those who will be taking their turn at being frustrated.

This world will never be as one. We cannot let others steer us away from the truth and the light. I praise your compassion! Never forget that Christ himself was in the minority when it came to loving others. Quite honestly, I can't seem to think of a time in the world's history when love and compassion ruled the day. But it will only be by virtue of people like yourself that love and compassion will never die. Keep the faith and walk proud!

 

[Im_A]

i'll be the first to say it, and please know that i'm not meaning to be offensive to Christianity or you in any kind of way...but with that said:

if your faith is almost on flatline because of other human beings, maybe your faith needs to be lost so you can find it again.

 

[Apollo Celestio]

So what's politics got to do with it? Jesus' message wasn't about politics. He wouldn't even talk about politics when directly asked. He said things like "My kingdom is not of this world".

There are Christians of every shade of political opinion, including the position that it's illegitimate for Christians to participate in politics at all. I don't understand why it should bother you that some Christians have different political views than yours.

Personally, I do think Christians can be political, and should if that's what their conscience tells them, but I don't think there's any obviously correct Christian politics. I know some terrific Christians on the Right, Left, Center and totally apolitical. It has no direct bearing on how much God loves them, or how much they love God. They simply see things differently.

This. When faith mixes with politics is usually when a position breaks one of God's laws, like do not murder. (Abortion, Death Penalty)

 

[Kaonashi]

If Conservative and their whitewashed sculptures are all you've ever experienced of Christianity then I really don 't blame you for wanting to deconvert and leave Christianity.

 

[Apollo Celestio]

A harsh reply. What is your justification? Oh.. Spong.

 

[Gukkor]

Do politicians use religion to destroy each other, or do the religious use politics to destroy themselves?

Dualism, whether in religion or politics (us/them, right/left, conservative/liberal, etc.), won't lead you anywhere but away from peace of mind. Do what you feel you must to be closer to God and more comfortable with your own spirituality, but don't forget that things are rarely as clearly cut into right and wrong as we'd like them to be.

 

[ruperik]

Even in the church, you will find weeds. Read Matthew 13:24-30. Jesus instructs us not to try to pluck them out, but to leave them, for only God is capable of discerning the good from the bad. Not to mention that everybody, even the worst person, has the capacity for change.

Many people in the church think they are doing the right thing and probably do more harm than good. The trick is to concern yourself less with the harm they are doing and more on the good you can be doing. Jesus taught us by example, and I think that is what he is calling you to do.

 

[ruperik]

Another thing to consider is the conservative church has a lot of good intentions, but they don't always go about it properly. Maybe you are called to humble them and show them how they should be proceeding?

 

[artybloke]

So what's politics got to do with it? Jesus' message wasn't about politics.

Of course Jesus' message is political. As soon as you ask "Who is my neighbour?" it gets political. For instance:

Does your neighbour include the gypsies threatened with mass fingerprinting in Italy?

Does it include the Congolese refugee who saw his whole family slaughtered in front of him who is refused asylum?

Does it include the members of Al Queda?

Does it include the floortrader who's just lost his shirt on the stock exchange?

Does it include the lesbian couple and their child who decide to come to your church?

Christianity is not some pie-in-the-sky-when-you-die abstraction. It's about real people living real lives in real situations. It involves choices, and choices involve politics.

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

Of course Jesus' message is political. As soon as you ask "Who is my neighbour?" it gets political. For instance:

Does your neighbour include the gypsies threatened with mass fingerprinting in Italy?

Does it include the Congolese refugee who saw his whole family slaughtered in front of him who is refused asylum?

Does it include the members of Al Queda?

Does it include the floortrader who's just lost his shirt on the stock exchange?

Does it include the lesbian couple and their child who decide to come to your church?

Christianity is not some pie-in-the-sky-when-you-die abstraction. It's about real people living real lives in real situations. It involves choices, and choices involve politics.

Aye, all those people are our neighbors. In the case of al-Qaeda, they're murderous neighbors against whom we must defend ourselves. But being a Christian is about putting our trust in Jesus, not in Uncle Sam. And it's about what we do as the Body of Christ, not about what Caesar does... or about what we can influence Caesar to do.

I don't mean that that Christians should never take a stand on anything political, or that churches shouldn't. But we should be very sure that our stands are what God wants, not what we with our human ideologies rationalize that God must want. God is not a Republican or a Democrat, not a liberal or a conservative, and not a socialist or a capitalist. He's not a theocrat either, at least not until Jesus comes back to rule in person.

 

[artybloke]

Politics ain't just about which party you vote for. It's about how you live with other people. It's about the polis,

And Christianity ain't just about our "relationship with Christ" either: it's about all our relationships. Because all our relationships are relationships with the Christ in others.

And we can influence Ceasar. Just as long as we do it honestly. (I work for a Quaker peace organisation that tries to do just that.)

The Kingdom of God is all of us, not some mythical place above or in the future.