Real “Conservatives” Deserve Better…
The Southern Baptist Convention elected a new president yesterday in an election that (for a few hours) was as eagerly anticipated by Christians as the national one.
Just like the national election, it was framed as a war between liberals and conservatives….the framing mainly done by right wing reactionaries who view nuance the way the convention views drinking.
It was framed as a war between those who are fighting against corruption and sexual abuse and those who consider such collateral damage to power seeking.
It brought to my mind something I’ve been struggling with for a few years now.
Most of the “conservatives” I know do not resemble these people now claiming the label at all.
This is a fact…this site, which has been devoted to fighting abuse and corruption in churches… has been supported for the last twenty years mainly by conservatives.
They have written checks, written supportive messages, kept me going.
They are politically and theologically conservative, but they love the Lord and care for His people.
They have stood with me through every battle, personal and public.
They have not once breached the subject of actual politics with me…they weren’t here to win elections, but to protect the church.
Some of them still stand with me, as do some “liberal” brethren who love the Lord.
We have given too much ground and attention to reactionaries on both wings…somewhere there must be a “reasonable” majority.
If you love the Lord you are part of my family…and we need to bring back in focus our primary identity…no matter our political leanings.
Yay!
Yay and AMEN!
Conservatives (real ones) are not by nature “squeaky wheels,” but we do keep God’s plan in play as we stand, i think. ..
Dunno….
Michael,
Good post. You know that I have stated that both the terms “conservative” – in theological AND political arenas, and “evangelical” have been thoroughly sullied by posers who are neither. It’s like they stole the terms and made a mockery of all those authentic ones.
There are extreme reactionaries on both sides of the aisle – both political and theological (and sometimes these two fields become so muddled to the point they appear to be just one big messy entity). The difficulty is that the extremes have managed to gain more power and influence over the past several years and they are pulling more and more people from the relative middle to the extremes.
My personal greater concern has always been more with the conservative side, as that has always been my family, both theologically and politically. More and more these days, I am now branded as a “liberal” and “woke” and dangerously close to being “apostate” by my conservative friends. This despite the fact that if I were (and I have even done so to make a point at times to some people) to take any kind of classic test which evaluates where I fall on the theological and/or political spectrum, I always land solidly on the conservative side. I have changed minimally on my theological and political beliefs over the years. The only thing I have done is make efforts to expand my awareness and understanding of the experiences and viewpoints of people who are different than me. I have not moved, and yet many of my conservative friends who used to stand relatively close to me now see me as some kind of prodigal or traitor.
The loudest voices usually gain the most attention, and the extremes usually have most of the loud voices. And I agree we give them too much attention.
Yet at the same time, my concern is that the reasonable “majority” is now in actuality a minority, not only within the broader culture but also within the church culture. All the much harder to influence things for good when you are a minority without many loud voices. Then again, Jesus operated as a minority in relation to the majority popular cultural expectations. Maybe God’s got something up his sleeve in what He has for the American church.
KevinH,
Very well said…
I keep wondering when the SBC conservatives will ask for a recount, claiming voter fraud and maybe even a conspiracy from the liberals. It could happen. Or, a major split in the denomination…
I think, if my senior pastor looked at my book shelf, he might also classify me as “woke.” He is the first pastor in my memory (20 years) at the church who has actually preached politics (Christians should vote Republican), and it makes me cringe. He will occasionally rail against CRT, and there are parts of CRT i have difficulty arguing with (oppressive political systems against certain groups, for example, even here in ‘Merica.). But, I’m also not ready to worship at the feet of The Squad, and I’m definitely pro-life. With the push-back from the pulpit on certain items, I keep attending and serving where I serve, while I wonder how many more like me are in the church.
So, for right now, I won’t tell anyone at church that I just bought copies of “Brown Theology” and “The Making Of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth.”
Linn,
Keep reading and thinking!
Having read several of the links already this afternoon, I must say that the news is heavy this week. These stories fill me with sorrow.
I apologize for leaving a comment meant for Links on this thread by accident.
I can only speak for myself here but I think that the terms conservative and liberal as broad labels do an injustice to many of us out here who harbor both liberal and conservative views.
In other words, some of us pick and choose from both sides of the aisle with out having to swallow the whole enchilada from either side.
Muff Potter,
Agreed.
Not only that, I would also argue that a one-dimensional left-right political axis itself is far too simplistic. Google Nolan Chart for an alternative coordinate system.
I was encouraged by the two recent Supreme Court decisions. Obama Care-“liberal”-is a help to so many who can’t afford insurance. Recognizing an adoption agency’s right to honor their spiritual convictions-conservative- allows for historic and deep-seated religious beliefs. If we had more centrist kinds of thinking, as well as creative compromise, there might be some hope for the USA.