Liberal or Conservative
James Carville noted political
analyst has often quoted Winston Churchill stating that, “If you are not a liberal at 20, you have no heart. If you are not
Conservative by 40, you have no brain'.”
We didn't start
the fire
But when we are gone
Will it still burn on, and on, and on, and on...
How did we get to where we are today, where
it seems everything and everyone is divided along the lines of liberal or
conservative? Billy Joel’s hit song
from 1989 was an anthem for so many in that era and still rings true for a
generation today. I would like to point
out, just as Billy Joel did, we, meaning this generation, did not start
this fire? We did not create this “war”
of words. When will the division and the
blame end? When will we move beyond
putting labels on everyone and everything?
A Church Divided Over Leaders
I appeal to you, brothers and
sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no
divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed
me that there are quarrels among you. 1
Corinthians 1:10-11 NIV
It would seem that we have already blown this request from scripture: that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you.
Theologian, pastor, and author Brian D.
McLaren was once introduced in this manner:
“How
many of you would consider yourselves liberal?”
A smattering of applause and cheers were heard.“How
many of you would consider yourselves conservative?” A bevy of louder claps and
cheers were heard.“How
many wish there was a third choice beyond the confining boxes of liberal or
conservative?” The place erupted. McLaren
was then introduced as one who was searching for that third alternative. As McLaren noted the introduction was far
better than the speech (from Generous
Orthodoxy p 145).
For a moment, let us set aside the political
definitions and look simply at the words:
Liberal 1. favorable to
progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs. 2. favorable to or in accord with concepts of
maximum individual freedom possible, especially as guaranteed by law and
secured by governmental protection of civil liberties. 3. favoring or
permitting freedom of action, especially with respect to matters of personal
belief or expression. Synonyms: progressive,
broad-minded, unprejudiced, charitable
Conservative 1. disposed to preserve existing conditions,
institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change. 2. traditional in style or manner; avoiding
novelty or showiness. Synonyms: conventional, orthodox,
traditional, unchangeable
These words, liberal and conservative, have become charged with far more meaning than that which is contained in the dictionary. They carry political meaning by those that use them and they carry theological meaning as well within the ranks of Christianity and religion as a whole.
These words, liberal and conservative, have become charged with far more meaning than that which is contained in the dictionary. They carry political meaning by those that use them and they carry theological meaning as well within the ranks of Christianity and religion as a whole.
There were a flurry of articles
and blog posts in the wake of The United Methodist General Conference earlier
this summer. Many asserted that the United
Methodist Church’s declining numbers, and those of other Mainline Protestant
churches, are a direct result of their liberal theology and policies. One of the more notable articles came
from the New York Times and asked, “Can Liberal Christianity Be Saved?”
Ross Douthat, the author, wrote, “Instead of
attracting a younger, more open-minded demographic with these changes … Practically
every denomination — Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian — that has tried to
adapt itself to contemporary liberal values has seen a plunge in church
attendance" ( July 14, 2012 New York Times).
Diana
Butler Bass, noted author and Christian historian, responded with an article
entitled “Can Christianity be Saved?” in which she noted that conservative
churches are also in decline. She wrote,
“In the last decade, as conservative denominations lost members … they refer to
the declines as demographic "blips," waning evangelism, or the impact
of secular culture “ (July 15, 2012 The Huff Post online)
I
suspect that the liberal/conservative divide itself is a factor in the declining
numbers for both sides. And yet, liberals
and conservatives continue to point at one another and yell, “It’s your
fault!” Missing from the entire argument is any sense that we’re all in this together.
Back
to my conversation on a golf cart in which I had no substantive response. I had no response because I felt totally
caught in between. I wanted a third
alternative, but felt boxed in to an either/or!
I don’t "fit" in the conservative church:
I believe there is merit
in the science of evolution.
I have voted for
democrats.
I have doubts.
I enjoy interfaith dialog
and cooperation.
I like liturgy, ritual,
and high church.
I believe in gender
equality in marriage and church leadership.
I want to become a better
advocate for social justice.
I want my gay and lesbian
friends to feel welcome and accepted in church.
I’m convinced that the
Gospel is about more than “getting saved” from hell.
But I don’t "fit" in the liberal church either.
I love a good Bible
study.
I have voted for
republicans.
I believe that there are
absolute truths.
I think doctrine and
theology are important enough to teach and debate.
I think it’s vital that we
talk about, and address, sin.
I believe in the
sacrificial death and physical resurrection of Jesus.
I want to participate in
interfaith dialog and cooperation while still maintaining a strong Christian
identity.
I want to engage in
passionate worship where the Holy Spirit is referred to “moving in this place.”
I’m convinced that the
Gospel is about more than being a good person.
I
know that these statements are all generalizations. I know
conservatives who embrace the science of evolution and I know liberals who are
passionate about theology. I want you to know that
there are things I really love about the conservative evangelical movement and that
there are things I really love about liberal Protestantism, but because these
two groups tend to forge their identities in reaction to
the generalizations about one another I feel caught in between.
I believe the reason many
people struggle to go to church on any given Sunday is because the churches of
today have made people feel like they have to choose between two over-generalized
sides: liberal or conservative. As a result, Sunday morning becomes more about picking
a side and less about worshipping God.
Church-goers are left sitting in the pews waiting to hear from a pastor
who at some point in the service, either
subtly or overtly, is compelled to talk about the “other side” as the enemy. [I pray that is not your experience here at
First Church]
So
what do we do?
How about starting with being ourselves?
We all tend to become chameleons when it
comes to church and faith. When we are part of a conservative Christian
community, we tend to keep our more progressive views quiet, and when we are
part of a more liberal Christian community, we tend to keep our more conservative
views quiet. We do it because we don’t want to cause division. We do it because
we often don’t understand our views well enough to defend them. We don’t want to speak up in fear of being
embarrassed or worse yet – ostracized. We
don’t need to make living our faith any more difficult than it already is. So we essentially fake our way through and
accept whatever “package” that is offered.
The result is we feel distant and removed as we go through the motions.
What if we stopped faking it? What if you brought all
of our selves— gifts, questions, doubts, opinions—to church? What if, instead of conforming to the mold, we refused
to accept it? What if we stopped using “us vs. them”
language and began to realize that the characteristics we typically associate
with “them” exist in some of “us.”
What if we worked to nurture diverse
communities of faith. We are not the
same and we need to develop and invite the diversity that is our community -
Music, worship, people, ideas.
Let me add that when we disagree,
let’s learn to argue better. I have no problem with Christians arguing with one
another. After all, we’re brothers and sisters and that we know
will lead to arguments. We just
need to learn to argue better.
Perhaps if we were better able to
adapt Wesley’s concept of Holy Conferencing we would discover more that brings
us together than that which divides. [see link provided] We must remember that holy conferencing is
easier to catch than it is to teach.
Bishop Jung of Wisconsin has stated “we need to show examples of
alternatives in this hostile world. If
we keep punching each other, what can we really do for the transformation of
the world?”
The notion of a universal Church
that looks exactly the same in doctrine and practice from congregation to
congregation, culture to culture, community to community, is unrealistic and
unhelpful. Surely we can allow our differences
to exist without questioning one another’s commitment to the faith. Conservative, liberal, or
in-between, we should continue to debate the doctrines and practices closest to
our hearts. Unity is not the same as
uniformity and following a loving God does not mean we must always agree. So when we debate, we should do it assuming
the best about one another and honoring our shared commitment to Christ. We don’t have to be on the same page on every
issue in order to love one another and work together for peace and justice.
The
early church survived and thrived amidst disagreement and persecution. The early church included both Jews and
Gentiles, zealots and tax collectors, slaves and slave owners, men and women,
those in support of circumcision and those against it. I believe Christianity today can survive and
thrive when it includes democrats and republicans, biblical literalists and
biblical non-literalists, liberals and conservatives.
Perhaps
discovering an alternative to liberal/conservative is a good idea. Maybe learning to be “in-betweeners” can put
those who find themselves torn between conservative and liberal Christianity in
a place to become peacemakers and bridge-builders. Maybe discovering an alternative can enable each
of us to break down the walls that divide us and provide living examples that
you don’t have to choose one side or the other.
We
can move beyond the liberal/conservative divide in Christianity when we learn to
become more like Christ.
Prayer:
Let
us remember Jesus:
Who,
though He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor and dwelt among us.
Who
was content to be subject to His parents, the child of a poor couple’s home.
Who
lived for thirty years the common life, earning His living with His own hands
and declining no humble tasks.
Whom
the people heard gladly, for He understood their ways.
May this mind be in us which was in
Christ Jesus.
Let
us remember Jesus:
Who
was mighty in deed, healing the sick and the disordered,
using
for others the powers He would not invoke for Himself.
Who
refused to force people’s allegiance.
Who
was Master and Lord to His disciples, yet was among them as their companion and
as one who served.
Whose
desire was to do the will of God who sent Him.
May this mind be in us which was in
Christ Jesus.
Let
us remember Jesus:
Who
loved people, yet retired from them to pray, rose a great while before day,
watched through the night,
Stayed
in the wilderness, went up a mountain, sought a garden.
Who,
when He would help a tempted a disciple, prayed for him.
Who
prayed for the forgiveness of those who rejected Him, and for the perfecting of
those who received Him.
Who
observed the traditions, but defied convention that did not serve the purposes
of God.
Who
hated the sins of pride and selfishness, of cruelty and impurity.
May this mind be in us which was in
Christ Jesus.
Let
us remember Jesus:
Who
believed in people and never despaired of them.
Who
through all disappointment never lost heart.
Who
disregarded His own comfort and convenience, and thought first of other’s
needs,
And
though He suffered long, was always kind.
Who
when He was reviled, uttered no harsh word in return,
And
when He suffered, di not threaten retaliation.
Who
humbled Himself and carried obedience to the point of death, even death on the
cross,
Wherefore
God has highly exalted Him.
May this mind be in us which was in
Christ Jesus.
Let
us unite in prayer that Christ may dwell in our hearts.
O Christ, our only Savior, so come to
dwell in us that we may go forth with the light of your hope in our eyes,
And with Your faith and love in our
hearts. Amen
-
Book of Worship “For the Mind of Christ” Prayer #514
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