contemplations

Someone sent me (and some of you, I believe) a link to a declaration written by and signed by numerous faith leaders in this country. He later sent me an email, asking what I thought of it. It brought up a lot of thoughts and struggles I've had with modern-day Christian conservatism, and I felt like it would be a good time to fully compile what my thoughts are. It wasn't anything strictly personal that I sent to him, so I thought I might as well post it here, as well.

Susanna's reaction to the Manhattan Declaration:

Hey!

I finally read through the whole "Manhattan Declaration" thing, and am going to pick now to respond. However, my thoughts on this subject are deeply interwoven with some major internal struggles I've had the last year regarding the church, conservatives and love. Let me explain. :)

I like what the declaration has to say. I don't disagree with it, at least not the truth it appropriates. And I definitely agree, those three issues are huge and worth standing for. (Which is apparent, in my choice of degree and internships.) A few questions I have are: what's the purpose of the statement? who is it meant for? how is it going to be used?

People of republican/conservative/fundamental viewpoints often mistake me as liberal. Liberals think I'm very much a fundamental. In reality, I'm mostly conservative in my core beliefs and values. They misunderstand where I'm coming from, when I say things or write things that reject or challenge the general conservative approach to the issues. What people on all sides don't seem to catch is that I'm not disagreeing with their beliefs and values, but rather, their approach.

Throughout the last election season I became thoroughly disgusted and saddened by many things conservatives said and wrote, online and in person. It became apparent to me that a good many of them cared more about getting their point across and wanting to uphold their convictions, rather than bringing truth, salvation and hope to those they were opposing. Essentially what it boiled down to was, many conservatives care more about being right and/or having their beliefs accepted mainstream, than they do about loving the lost who Christ came for, and showing that love, or even speaking the truth of the gospel and hope.

I speak here of individuals, but I often wonder if the same is true of many predominate "Christian" organizations. Yes, I realize from the outside I cannot make a proper judgment, or fully know the hearts of those running said organizations. But I do wonder if the same principle is in place: they care more about their position being accepted, rather than living love for those who they oppose. That is a big part of why I've struggled with being in the "conservative" camp. If I want to change culture, laws, hearts, I feel it should be gone about in extremely different ways than I see the trend.

Even if we create a more moral society, better moral laws and codes in this nation, we aren't going to change the hearts of those who don't value truth and life like they should. I understand there IS a place for some avenues, such as organizations that work for religious liberties. And I don't claim to understand all the political issues and how they truly will affect society. But I do understand the need for Christ's love, real love, to be lived in our lives, specifically in our encounters and dialogue with unbelievers. And that's something I just don't see much in the conservative camp, not the prominent camp, anyway.

You mentioned that Relevant Magazine came to mind when you read the Manhattan Declaration. I know a lot of the people in the Metzger family have a low opinion of Relevant, and think that they try too hard to be...relevant to current culture, and compromise in doing so. Perhaps, in some ways. But what I see often is a desire to reach individuals in a way that is not condemning, that is not judgmental, and is seasoned with grace. Perhaps the magazine goes too far in being accepting of the world, of things that are not of God. Perhaps the leadership IS too obsessed with pursuing things that are irrelevant to the kingdom. But I still maintain there's a commendable attitude of love they have, which I don't see in a lot of other circles. Cameron Strang, the owner and director of Relevant, actually says he's quite conservative. So as much as people may scoff and poke pun, I'd maintain he personally would fully support the Manhattan Declaration.

Your thought on Relevant, however, was probably regarding the climate change, and environmental aspect. From my perspective, a lot of of conservatives care nothing for maintaining the earth, or creation, because they hold to some sort of fatalist mentality that "Christ is coming soon anyway, so who cares?" I've actually heard some individuals perpetrate that viewpoint. I agree, it's not as important as human lives. But I do still believe God gave us stewardship of the earth, and that means not flippantly destroying it and abusing it. But so many conservatives seem to write the whole thing off, and ridicule those who care about the environment. I feel it needs to be weighed in the balance, evaluated and put in its place, but not ignored. No, the environment does not matter as much as the rights of the unborn and elderly. And many young people have lost sight of this important reality. But older faith leaders don't need to reject it as important. I know the Declaration did not reject it, and merely stated it wasn't one of the top issues. But I think a lot of conservatives still do ignore it completely.

My other concern was religious freedoms. Although I agree with their points, I'm not so sure I agree that should be one of the top three issues. Maybe that's my naivety and lack of real education speaking. But I feel like Christian, or faith leaders in the USA have this inappropriate notion of aligning their faith with their country. (Ok, maybe this is the Shane Claiborn in me speaking...) And I don't think I truly have the words to verbalize this right now, I'll probably follow up sometimes when I do. I guess..I care more about the over-reaching kingdom of God, rather than just in the country where I was born. I care less about whether we have "religious freedoms" than I do about outsourcing, the plight of illegal immigrants, American consumerism and corporate greed. I supposed I think Claiborne hit a lot of good points in some of his books, discussing how our lifestyles in this country are very much not Christlike. However, with some of what I've gleaned from certain people and organizations, I have come to understand better the situation of non-profits, Churches being forced to participate in activities they do not morally support, etc. So my ignorance on the subject is apparent to myself, and I'm attempting to learn and understand better.

Lastly, I feel there is a huge discrepancy between conservative faith leaders who claim life is so very important, but fully support war, the military, and the "war on terror." Again, this is an area where I'm sadly more ignorant than I like. But my heart is bigger picture than just "protecting" the American freedoms. As a Christian, I see the necessity for love, redemptive non-violence, and less hate. Yes, a country does have right to protect and guard its people. And I understand things like the Holocaust needed to be ended, and that the New Testament says something about a soldier becoming a new believer and not needing to leave his vocation. Yet I cannot feel at ease with faith leaders who so strongly promote a killing machine, while knowing that it leads to eternal death and damnation for those the USA is opposing. Or, what saddens me more, that Christian American support of war might be leading to the death of our brothers in sisters in other countries. Because American conservative often care more about their "freedom" and lifestyle comforts than they do for the lives of those Christ came to bring life to...

I understand it's a huge, complex issue with no real black and white answer. But I struggle greatly with our place in politics and government, especially when it deals with this. Do we truly support life? Or do we support the American dream, corporate greed, comfort and safety of only our own, a democracy that allows spiritual complacency? That is where I think older faith leaders and generations are missing the point. Sure, many young people are just jumping on the bandwagon of Bono and the ONE campaign, (wink) Oprah and anything "social justice" she says, or Invisible Children. Social Justice IS trendy. But many , many young Christians are participating because they see a way they can truly live the gospel, rather than force it into society's moral compass. They see a way they can love, serve, and bring hope, without bashing gays, without supporting the death of those who oppose our lifestyles, without pridefully proving that the liberals are sinners. I think many fundamentals need to understand that a lot of young people are sick of just talk, and want the spiritual talk to be practiced.

With that said, the current trend of social justice may also be detrimental to a lot of young believers. There is a lot of confusion on why we should be working against injustice. There is also the chance we may get involved in offering physical hope and relief, but not spiritual, eternal hope and salvation. That aspect does scare me, and I think we need to stay true to the core of the gospel. We can also get caught up in the whole "civil liberties" or "coexist" or "live and let live", and mistaken that for love. This is the reality of it. But older faith leaders scoffing at our passion and desire for change won't help, either.

So all that said. I am constantly mulling over these issues. How to stand for what your values are, what truth is, without being oppressive, prideful, and lacking love. How faith leaders and organizations should respond, how individuals should respond, and how involved in the political and government aspects. I see more often than not, grassroots effects change more than the Christian giants in this nation. And often, it's out of love-action, not condemning the sinful lifestyles of unbelievers. The New Testament Church seems to have attempted no change in the political world, but only brought truth, hope, love and justice to those they encountered in ever day life. While James Dobson, Chuck Colson, and other major faith leaders may have their place, I still see the importance of living and acting in alternative ways. Ways that are not forceful, prideful, or lacking in love.

As previously stated, I don't disagree with the Manhattan Declaration in what it stands for. I am cautious, however, with why they created it, what they plan to use it for, and if it's more about being right, getting their morality forced into society, etc. Forcing people to be moral never changed their hearts, nor brought them eternal hope, or full life. Living in love and humility with the lost, the ones Christ came to redeem, does.

And those are my passionate and true thoughts.