Things I Think..
1. These days, I get too many emails labeling me either a political or theological “liberal”.
I rarely answer those emails because the labeling itself denotes a way of thinking that I loathe.
It places everyone into an easily identified binary where there are only two choices…and the one being labeled is allowed no input on the labeling.
It actually offends me to the point of anger…because I refuse to base my own identity on something as transitory and dirty as politics.
My identity depends on who I’m speaking with to a degree.
To some folks I’m family, or their neighbor , or their pastor.
To others I’m someone who has been a friend for many years.
To these people I’m neither a “liberal” or a “conservative”…my name is Michael (or Uncle Mike if you’re really close) and there is a whole lot more to my identity than some ineptly placed political label.
My personal identity first and foremost is as a follower of Jesus…and to the degree that Scripture and tradition can help form modern American political views, I try very hard to allow them to do so.
For the most part, I spend little time thinking about politics because it has turned us into a nation of idolatrous fools who despise or love our neighbors based on how well we think we can identify which side of the binary they fall on.
Yard signs are very helpful in these determinations…
If you ever have a personal conversation with me, it will probably be about cats or books or Jesus…
Bottom line…if you want to communicate with me keep your labels to yourself…because I can and do walk away from both sides with equal jaundice…
2. “Evangelicals for Harris” is as offensive as “Evangelicals for Trump”… I’m part of a new group …”Evangelicals Afraid of Embarrassing Jesus”…not really…I’m not joining up with any group that starts with “Evangelicals For…anything…
3. My self identified liberal friends wish I wasn’t so damn conservative and my self identified conservative friends think I have a poster of Harris on my wall…I’d just like to be me…and there haven’t been any posters on my wall since that one of Linda Ronstadt back in the 70’s…
4. It’s a part of the great American mythology that voting is a sacred responsibility …some groups like to call it “the vocation of a citizen”…I have no responsibility in front of God to participate in anything where I’m supposed to discern the lesser of two obvious evils…you can do as your conscience demands but don’t even think about binding me to your notions..
5. Meg Basham’s nasty little screed is called “Shepherds For Sale’...I got all excited thinking someone was going to expose the con artists and grifters in the church…unfortunately, its just right wing propaganda that ignores the “shepherds” cleaning up on her side of the aisle… she’s making bank herself…knows her audience…
6. I saw this on Facebook and reposted it:
Maybe some of us save animals because it helps us heal from the times when we needed help that never came.
Maybe some of us save animals because we tried to save people and learned that wasn’t possible.
Maybe some of us save animals because we simply know they deserve someone who cares.
All three of these factor into my passion for helping cats…but the second one struck a note in me.
Christians used to care about saving others through the Gospel…and making sure they were in the faith themselves. These days what people want saved from is being exposed to the sins of others…even if they have to sin to make it so…and people who try to point that out are considered as sinful as the sinners they despise…
7. It doesn’t seem like i can make much of a difference for humans these days…so most of the joy that comes with helping someone comes from cats, who also seem to appreciate the effort…
8. Covid is hitting Oregon hard again…so I’ll be wearing a mask in public and not caring what anyone thinks about that…
9. There is nothing more theologically backwards than using the Second Coming as a threat…
10. I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance some branches of Christianity place on “choice’…choosing to believe in particular. I thought about it because after having a steroid epidural I was in a drug induced excellent mood and much more able to deal with this season of death and pain that the last few months have brought. Now, that shot is wearing off and the darkness is returning…my point being there are a lot of factors that determine how we choose…and I choose to put my hope in the grace of God and not the choices people make…
You flaming liberal. 😉
The “flaming” part might be bothersome… 🙂
you smoldering conservative! 🙂
That doesn’t quite work either, though I like the adjective.
I haven’t saved much of anything, but believe our habitat could use a hand. I’m picking up after others in my neighborhood more lately and fighting off the urge to condemn the ‘slobs’ who can’t dispose of stuff properly. Service is hard when done with a chip on one’s shoulder…kind of robs the joy/steals the reward.
fil,
Excellent adjective!
I’ll start using it alone as an identity…
#2 – “I’m not joining up with any group that starts with “Evangelicals For…anything…”
I’m to the point where I’m ready to add churches.
t
#3 “and there haven’t been any posters on my wall since that one of Linda Ronstadt back in the 70’s…”
Linda was Jerry Brown’s girlfriend back then, which shows how far back your liberalism goes 🙂
Bob,
I would have been anything Linda wanted me to be… 🙂
Michael
“Liberal”, “conservative”, “progressive”, etc. The old labels no longer fit.. It is like a full grown man trying to wear the clothes he wore as a child. They not only no longer fit, but the man looks silly trying to wear them…
Duane,
Exactly…
@ #3
Periodically, I’ll have someone tell me I’m a liberal. I smile and respond, “that tells me you don’t know what a liberal is.”
#flamingignoramus
I visited a church in Seattle last weekend pastored by a college friend of mine and was pleased to see or hear not a single syllable related to politics; no voters guides, no programs to engage the culture wars, no veiled references to candidates/parties, no winks or nods. I was refreshed before the service began.
Had covid a couple weeks back–pretty miserable five days.
fil,
You and your bride have had a rough few months…always in my prayers…
Michael,
Delightful column, as always. I remember when LInda and Jerry were the it couple in California.
So, what does one do if you’re one of those “childless cat ladies” who is conservative regarding abortion (except to save the life of the mother or if the fetus is truly non-viable outside the womb) and very open to welcoming immigrants with appropriate reforms? I guess I can put up a sign to declare my allegiance to cats, babies and immigrants? (One of my neighbors put up a big Trump/Vance sign yesterday). There is nowhere to go for many of us.
#2 – I haven’t completely dumped the term evangelical…yet. “Evangelicals afraid of embarrassing Jesus” is about where I’m at.
#3 – It was the Farrah Fawcett poster on my closet door.
#5 – I’ve seen enough quotes from the book to know that it’s nothing but an ultra right-wing hit piece.
8 – With all the health issues you’ve had to deal, wearing a mask in public seems smart and reasonable.
Fil, the church you visited sounds like mine or the one KevinH attends. They do exist.
Linn,
You nailed it..there is nowhere for many of us to go.
I’m not going to pretend there is or that I find either option tolerable.
This does not trouble me…I have my hands full with cats and church and loving my neighbor who had the biggest Trump sign I’ve ever seen installed on his awning…I admire his dedication to the cause…and only hoped for a minute that it would blow away during yesterdays thunderstorms… 🙂
CK,
People don’t know or care what I’ve been through and going through now…they only care about the political implications of the cloth.
Farrah was pretty…not my type, but really pretty…
I might have had Stevie Nicks up there too…
Thanks, Michael. I’ll still vote…it guarantees my right to complain (that’s what my dad used to say).
And, I also have plenty to keep me meaningfully engaged with friends and family. Felix also continues to remind me that I am not home nearly enough and that he needs me right “meow.”
“It was the Farrah Fawcett poster on my closet door.”
Who could forget that poster?
regarding #4 – If John McArthur endorses it, meh, I’m not reading it.
For posters, there is ALWAYS Racquel. Need I say more?
According to this particular Racquel:
“I was like, ‘Please, please don’t make me do the dinosaur movie.’ They were like ‘No, Raquel, you don’t understand. It’s a classic. It’ll live on forever.’””
THEY WERE RIGHT.
Not bad for someone who only had 3 lines of dialogue in the entire movie.
This political season, I am out… for the most part. This past year has been way too much for me to care who wins. This does not mean I am immune to hearing people spew rhetoric and propaganda they saw on TV or read on Facebook. I live in a house with 40 other people. It happens daily. I see the groups already starting to form in front of the 75″ TV in the cafeteria. The morning news starts, and the groups with coffee in hand start to answer everything said on the news with Trump this, or Biden that. They clump to certain tables, and sneer at the other clumps. Never mind that these same people will work with each other all day just fine, but coffee time before everyone heads out to their jobs… it’s turned into a war. I stay out of it.
The other day, I received probably one of the greatest compliments ever, “You are a pretty chill dude! You don’t get involved in the political $#!+” Then I had to ruin it by saying I don’t vote for Capitalists. My name comes up in the groups now, “I bet Reuben is a communist…”, or, “I bet he voted for Trump” and it almost brings a tear to my eye. They try to get a response. They try hard. I blew it by saying five words. “I don’t vote for Capitalists.” Now I am the enemy of both political spectrums.
There is one person here who I talk with a lot about Project 2025, and we share thoughts on the leaked training videos, and pages from the agenda. But I limit my time spent even on that. The whole concept of Project 2025 to me is the redefining of America. The more I think about it, the more I wish it would just happen. That scares me about myself. Not because I agree with the agenda, but because I have come to a point where I believe America deserves it.
My therapist and I have been discussing quite a bit. I need to refocus, or I will wind up in a self made group at a table in the cafeteria watching the morning news and sneering at stuff. I have two new books to read. I am going to buy a guitar and start playing again. I am going to work towards trying to hear that compliment again, that I don’t get involved in that stuff. I am going to love the people around me, because they could be gone in a flash. I am going to continue to make my son the goal.
All that to say, this communist heathen is out of the politics this year. I have come to a point where I don’t even care about Project 2025. I just want a sober tomorrow. I want to see my son again. I want to remember all the good things that happened in my life with my wife and son. I want to make goals and have dreams to work towards. I really want to find a God I can understand. I want peace. I want to choose peace.
Bo Derek
I get so d*^*n tired of people who have to pigeonhole every one into left or right. A former co-worker a few years ago tried to do this with me, and I gave him a death stare.
Kathy Ireland btw
The “Evangelical for Harris” thing is about as embarrassing as the “Evangelicals for Trump” has been for the past 10 years. You can vote for who you want to vote for. Like Trump you do not have to bend over backwards to impose a faith message on a candidate who clearly does not an interest in sharing that faith story in a non-election year.
I very much remember the Clinton years and the excuses and hand-waving from Christian and Evangelical supporters during his numerous scandals. I remember the Trump years vividly and the countless books and seminars on mixing Christianity and Politics. It’s ugly then, it’s ugly now.
If you think Megan Basham’s book is a screed, then you obviously haven’t read it. It is certainly written from a conservative perspective, but it provides a clearheaded account of the various ways that liberal Christian leaders have influenced evangelicalism (particularly the SBC) over the last several years. Disagree with her conclusions if you wish…certainly you and I have different perspectives on these things. But Basham’s work is well researched and calmly reported.
Tim,
And yet so many who are familiar with, if not directly involved in the things that Basham reports have pointed out and documented all kinds of factual errors and deceptions that are in the book. Basham also did not contact many, if any of the people she critiques and accuses in her book, to give them a chance to respond to and or clarify the accusations, which is a standard courteous and fair-minded practice of journalism. Worse yet, she exposed the victim’s name of Johnny Hunt’s alleged sexual abuse in the book, which is an egregiously bad act.
https://julieroys.com/christians-leaders-decry-shepherds-for-sale-misleading-inaccurate-unethical/
Tim,
Honest conservatives are ripping big holes in the book…and I don’t comment on what I don’t read.
https://thedispatch.com/article/bearing-false-witness/
https://thedispatch.com/article/which-shepherds-are-for-sale/
https://www.digitalliturgies.net/p/review-shepherds-for-sale-by-megan
There are even more detailed reviews noting her errors and dishonest handling of other believers…the book is indefensible, but as I said…she knows her market.
Julie Roys is not exactly an unbiased source either.
Regarding the woman’s name from the Hunt account, I fully admit I’m not thrilled about that. From what I can tell, the name was already public knowledge due to her attorney’s lack of due diligence in redacting. Even so, I don’t know that her name needed to be propagated further.
The Kevin Williamson review on the Dispatch is a true “screed,” if there ever was one. That one is a complete waste of time, as it is nothing but a litany of insults.
Tim,
Some things are only worthy of a litany of insults, if the insults reflect the truth.
You want to believe what Basham wrote and you are evidently fine with assassinating the character of brethren like Russell Moore…whose only real offense is seeing Trump for what he is.
That…is very disappointing.
Last time I checked Julie Roys was a “conservative” Christian.
It really doesn’t matter what side of the dumbass binary that people are on…is what they report true?
Truth matters.
J.D. Greear’s response:
https://jdgreear.com/an-open-response-to-megan-bashams-shepherds-for-sale/
Basham does not insult the character of Russell Moore. Honest reporting is not an insult.
But whatever. It’s your blog. You get the last word.
Tim,
It is my blog…but you are simply refusing to deal with the facts because you want to believe what Basham wrote.
I expected more from you…but as Kevin says, partisan politics is poison to the soul.
Here’s the bottom line on Basham’s book that can be genuinely said by even someone who hasn’t read the book as is the case for me:
There very well may be truths in Basham’s book. There very well may be legitimate concerns expressed in Basham’s book. However, when there also so many, and so quickly documented factual errors and documented deceptions of taking things out of context and piecing together different quotations to make them appear to be saying something as a whole that the speakers never said, all of which cast the accused in a negative light, then the author has discredited herself and her own work and her book cannot be viewed as honest, ethical, or trustworthy.
Such a book is better off being avoided, as the author has proved that she is more interested in advancing a political narrative than she is with truth and righteousness. Those who only want to believe what she said and do not want to deal with all the documented falsehoods and deceptions fall into the same trap.
As for her exposure of Johnny Hunt’s alleged victim, there is a huge difference between a likely honest mistake to redact her name at one spot in a court document – a document that very few are going to read and very few are even aware of its existence, versus purposely publishing her in name in a book that knowingly will be read by hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people.
Such a callous and appalling act only speaks further to what is Basham’s heart in all of this.
KevinH,
The premise of the book is frankly, stupid.
There are real Christians who are really politically liberal/progressive.
Jim Wallis of Sojourners, Tony Campolo and Christian Century magazine are examples.
They are quite open about their views.
Russell Moore is not a liberal.
Moore’s great sin is that he spoke truth about Trump…and history will remember him well.
Someday, when the statute of limitations is up, I’ll write about some real shepherds for sale…men who had to hire people to count the money that was coming in from their right wing political rallies in churches…
Yeah, but you’re a flaming liberal yourself, so how can we believe you? 🙂
Oh sorry, I meant a smoldering liberal. 🙂
Much better… 🙂
” I am going to buy a guitar and start playing again. ”
Great!!!!!
From Shepherd’s article on Roy’s’ website:
“n statements to The Roys Report (TRR), nearly a dozen well-known Christian leaders critiqued in the book say Basham never contacted them to address her published claims.”
🤔. Hmmm. A “well researched work will, when able, consult with primary sources.“
I’m shocked, shocked!
“I just want a sober tomorrow. I want to see my son again. I want to remember all the good things that happened in my life with my wife and son. I want to make goals and have dreams to work towards. I really want to find a God I can understand. I want peace. I want to choose peace.”
Reuben, those are worthy goals!
Reuben,
like he said.
Capt.,
regarding your earlier comment; yes, there are some of those churches out there, but not in my neighborhood. Perhaps I’m old and picky. 🙂
Fil wrote: “I visited a church in Seattle last weekend pastored by a college friend of mine and was pleased to see or hear not a single syllable related to politics; no voters guides, no programs to engage the culture wars, no veiled references to candidates/parties, no winks or nods. I was refreshed before the service began.”
I think this description would fit our church. We work hard to keep the main thing the main thing. Being in North Idaho, plenty of people wish we were more political.
Same here. I suspect my “liberal” views would not be appreciated by many of them. I am concerned that everything has (rightfully) a political overtone, so there are some areas that I touch lightly on. I hope that feeding the flock of God would be transformative, but I see little evidence of that happening on the macro scale. Perhaps all these pastors are too invested in their own views that they obscure the pure milk of the Word.
PstrMike,
My church went through the mill (like many others during COVID) with conspiracy theories, vote “red”, immigrant take over (our entire Spanish congregation is “immigrant” except for their kids), and woke/unwoke. It got pretty brutal. Cooler heads prevailed, and the message from the pulpit became more about living as a Christian vs. sin, and less about politics. We still have from very conservative to moderately liberal, and a minority that won’t vote Republican. However, the big vibe seems to be about community involvement and reaching our neighbors for Christ. That I can totally support, and I’m thankful. I am praying that it continues through the first week of November. I think a lot of people got tired of the crazy on both sides.
I guess I’m finally a liberal. Was accused for decades despite passing every fidelity test thrown at me. its really just about freedom for me. I want to be able to live by my values and want the same for you, even if they aren’t the same values.
I am enthused by the new democratic ticket, even if I disagree with some / many of their policies. I vowed to never vote for the other candidate in 2016, and never means never.
I hope, like David French, that a loss for the Republicans will cause a reboot, and next time they will give us a candidate that more reflects the values they have always claimed to embrace.
I do need a church, but I am so triggered it is exceedingly difficult. Haven’t found a fit yet and took a couple weeks off from trying, but I’ll resume the search this week.
Josh,
I think you probably don’t fit any label…that’s freedom.
Josh,
I don’t fit any labels, either. What do you say to a senior citizen who is pro-life, pro-immigration/immigration reform, not pro-LGBTQ agenda, but not opposed to working alongside them in certain settings, and very pro-environmental care? That’s me. Oh, and abhorred by what happened in Israel on 10/7/23, but even angrier about what is currently happening in Gaza. I don’t fit neatly into any of those conservative/liberal holes. I’ve been flip-flopping between the Dems and the GOP since I first voted in 1975, and I’m still looking. What I do know is that God has given me a conscience, and I need to honor how I think He wants me to respond to issues more than any politician or party does.
Linn,
Every few years over the past two decades, God has sent this site someone who makes us all feel better simply because of their common sense and decency.
I think God has done so again and I thank you for your presence…
Michael,
Thank you! This is has been the one place where I’ve been able to express my confused self without being called too whatever. Thanks for the space!
Beth Moore on X:
“Some of y’all are acting like it’s 2016 and we didn’t learn a dang thing about public discourse and the successes and failures of social media to persuade in culture wars. I’ve had quite an education in the last 8 years and I’m not playing games with people who love to hate and bait.
Here’s how this is gonna go: you bait/I block. I spoke loudly eight years ago because I was in a state of total shock. I’m no longer shocked.
Here’s what I mainly want to do on here. I want to encourage people in their faith in Christ and love for the Scriptures — that’s my calling — and remind myself and them that the goal of all discipleship is Christlikeness.
I want to enjoy all sorts of people, show those who don’t know Jesus a little love in his name and maybe bring a little joy and hope to them.
I also want to have fun on here and laugh because some of the funniest people on earth are here. I want to learn from people. I want to talk basketball. I want book recommendations. Recipes. And pictures of dogs.
Those are the main reasons I’m here. I’m not your liberal. I’m not your conservative. And if you think I am, you do not know me from a roly-poly. I am Christ’s. My identity is in him alone. My challenge is to view important decisions through the lens of what seems most like Christ. I get that right sometimes and wrong sometimes. We all do.
I’m very likely going to disappoint some of you this election season because you were counting on a big row. As a loved one of mine often says, I just don’t hate myself enough for that right now.”
Beth M delivers again. Wisdom.
She’s a gem!
Yes she (Moore) is a gem!
Just straight forward horse-sense, no nonsense.
Attending a Lutheran church now (Missouri Synod), mostly for my kids’ and mother-in-laws’ sake. Having grown up Wesleyan Armenian the return to liturgy is really refreshing, the exposition is encouraging. Glad I listened to my wife. Lord please help us not screw it up…
Thanks for exhorting and encouraging the left and right alike Michael. Now if we could just put out the flames on Kevin… give him some smolder… 😉
Arminian… whatever