The Things Young "Liberals" Are Afraid to Say
This comes out of a recognition that I am tired of specific issues being tied so closely to specific political parties. There are positions I take on issues, tied to my fundamental beliefs as a young, Evangelical Christian, that would not jive with the rest of the world which identifies itself as "liberal." But there are many attitudes, positions, and ideals tied to the "conservative" and "Christian right" that I don't ascribe to. Where is the middle ground where we are allowed to speak without feeling like we are violating either our faith or our public responsibilities?
So I ask you, my friends, what are you afraid to say, for fear of being cast out of your chosen allegiances? What issues do you find it difficult to choose a side on, because neither side fully reflects what you actually believe?
4 comments:
Oh girl, I could go on for days about this subject. I think that as young, educated evangelicals, we often feel like we have to think certain things that are counter to other "fundamentalist" ideas or ways of thinking that we might have grown up with...or that people assume we've grown up with. I for one am very sick of having to put a disclaimer before anything I say that isn't purely focused on justice issues. Like you mention Christian Formation or evangelism in even a non-offensive way, and people love to jump to the conclusion that you must love Jerry Falwell and the like. I've come to find that many people who call themselves "open-minded" are quite judgmental and close-minded toward people who aren't as educated or "inclusive" as they themselves claim to be.
It seems we are both pondering issues of faith and politics today. (I actually posted something, too, before I read this.)
I understand what you're saying. I don't think I fit neatly in one category. I often find myself at odds with the political philosophy of many people around me (and I'm not even young). I choose not to make an issue of it. I like to think that I'm trying to "live at peace with all men." Maybe I'm just a coward.
Hear, hear to what Sarah said. I'm also tired of the words "feminism" "right to choose" and "gay marriage" immediately starting conversation off on a bad note in evangelical circles. We can HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS and STILL TALK and NOT HATE, people. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I get frustrated by people who paint themselves into very limited black-and-white boxes, with no room to consider another point of view. That said, I'll have to put a check mark in a very black-and-white box in just a few days...should be interesting to see what comes of it.
Yeah, I find that I'm afraid to say just about anything without some lengthy preceding disclaimer. The "sides" our political system has hailed as predominant don't even begin to capture all the complexities of the issues. And I suppose it only makes sense that it's difficult to choose a side on most things, since, as Christians, we're playing by a whole different set of rules anyway (I use the term 'rules' loosely).
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