I resonate so much with this post. I am a woman of color and I was attending an evangelical church when Trump began running for President. When my fellow parishioners began embracing him, you can imagine the hurt and the confusion I felt. Why would they embrace someone like him? I ended up leaving and never went back. I live in the South so trying to find a church that doesn't embrace Trump as a candidate is going to be difficult. I don't know if I belong in church anymore. I haven't lost my faith, but I cannot worship with people who see nothing wrong with Trump or his platform.
Ashley--first--please accept my apology for taking so long to reply to this. Your comment has sat with me, and I'm just so sorry this has been your experience and you are faced with hard decisions about whether there is a church for you. I know, know, know there are Christians out there who you fit with, but I just can't imagine how difficult it must be to try and find them. I hope you feel at home here--I'm glad you've found my little corner of the internet. I'm grateful for you.
Looking on from Australia, it's hard to understand what seems like a kind of madness. But it does affect us - Christians here get asked if we're like the 'Evangelicals' in the US. It's good to know there are dissenting voices.
Miriam! I apologize for taking so long to reply to this, but that is very fascinating. I'm rather sick thinking that what's happening in the US is hurting your ability to witness as a Christian in Australia. I'm sorry about that. But, yes, there are a lot of us dissenting voices!
And sometimes for your own emotional health you have to leave former friends and churches that feel toxic and unsafe. But the good news is that there are places and people of faith out there who love Jesus, the world and even their enemies.
Thank you for giving such an elegant voice to the disorientation so many of us have experienced. I felt very seen and understood by this post, Drew. I don't think we've been pushed out of the big tent. I think a group of people have been trying really hard, and somewhat succeeding, to cordon off a small part of the tent and define that as "evangelicalism." But I can relate with the feeling that I don't belong in that tent anymore because of what they've done.
Garrett, that is such an astute way of putting it. Maybe we just don't belong in the self-pronounced VIP section ha. Grateful for you, and grateful I can stand by you!
As someone who leans politically conservative, I actually really resonated with this post. I have come to detest the political polarization and weaponization in American churches. We have reached, I dare say, idolatry of political ideals that are used to castigate nay sayers to the “unsaved” category based on ideological differences from us. But mostly, I see the way Christians fail to have loving and peaceful discourse with one another over our differences (or with those that are not Christian). Our America centralization has lost the political neutrality of the gospel and its limitless boundary lines. This was an insightful and well said read!
Madison--I apologize for my delay in responding, but thank you for these kind words! I think I'm worried writing stuff like this that people will think I am "attacking" people who hold conservative views, but I really hope people know I am critiquing those who want to militantly co-opt the Gospel for far-Right extremes. I'm really glad that came across for you, and I'm grateful you took the time to write that and share more. I'm glad you are here!
Thank you for this perspective, Drew! Much needed at this time, and very well written. I am trying to practice a form of engagement that is neither "apolitical"--which is always appropriated by one or the other of extremes--nor intolerant. I'm trying to hold my political views and also love my neighbor, even if he she has one of those upside down American flags...Thank you!
“Joe and the Hoe”—I actually wish there was a way to bleep it out, like an expletive. It pains me to write. So disrespectful and dehumanizing. Gosh, I’m just thinking about Jesus’s interaction with the woman at the well. Even if this word could be used truthfully about her, Jesus never would have called her such names.
What you captured in words is like holding up a mirror to describe what I’ve seen happening in my life and others close to me. It’s hard to suddenly find that you are no longer in spiritual alignment with people you’ve worshipped alongside and fellowshipped with for years and that the values you hold of treating everyone as an image bearer of God are openly mocked with hatred towards others on full display from people who have spent their lives in church. I still find it hard to understand how Christians (especially Evangelicals) who claim to love Jesus don’t see how damaging the whole ordeal has been to anyone trying to share their faith with people who aren’t believers. Like one commenter said before, the effects are felt far beyond the borders of our own country. I spent time in Europe last year for a few months doing missions work with South Eastern Asian immigrants and every time I was asked about the former president and his crimes, I loathed having to explain why any Christian in America would follow him. These people 5000 miles away could not understand why a Christian would vote for a “bad man” who condones and promotes hate against any one of their skin color. It was heartbreaking and helped to open my eyes to how much has changed in the church community I grew up in.
I resonate so much with this post. I am a woman of color and I was attending an evangelical church when Trump began running for President. When my fellow parishioners began embracing him, you can imagine the hurt and the confusion I felt. Why would they embrace someone like him? I ended up leaving and never went back. I live in the South so trying to find a church that doesn't embrace Trump as a candidate is going to be difficult. I don't know if I belong in church anymore. I haven't lost my faith, but I cannot worship with people who see nothing wrong with Trump or his platform.
Ashley--first--please accept my apology for taking so long to reply to this. Your comment has sat with me, and I'm just so sorry this has been your experience and you are faced with hard decisions about whether there is a church for you. I know, know, know there are Christians out there who you fit with, but I just can't imagine how difficult it must be to try and find them. I hope you feel at home here--I'm glad you've found my little corner of the internet. I'm grateful for you.
Looking on from Australia, it's hard to understand what seems like a kind of madness. But it does affect us - Christians here get asked if we're like the 'Evangelicals' in the US. It's good to know there are dissenting voices.
Miriam! I apologize for taking so long to reply to this, but that is very fascinating. I'm rather sick thinking that what's happening in the US is hurting your ability to witness as a Christian in Australia. I'm sorry about that. But, yes, there are a lot of us dissenting voices!
And sometimes for your own emotional health you have to leave former friends and churches that feel toxic and unsafe. But the good news is that there are places and people of faith out there who love Jesus, the world and even their enemies.
Amen, Mae. I made a similar transition from a former church, and it has been a very good decision.
I really appreciate this and your work. Slow is good, because good things take time.
Jeff--that really means a lot to me. Thank you!
Thank you for giving such an elegant voice to the disorientation so many of us have experienced. I felt very seen and understood by this post, Drew. I don't think we've been pushed out of the big tent. I think a group of people have been trying really hard, and somewhat succeeding, to cordon off a small part of the tent and define that as "evangelicalism." But I can relate with the feeling that I don't belong in that tent anymore because of what they've done.
Garrett, that is such an astute way of putting it. Maybe we just don't belong in the self-pronounced VIP section ha. Grateful for you, and grateful I can stand by you!
As someone who leans politically conservative, I actually really resonated with this post. I have come to detest the political polarization and weaponization in American churches. We have reached, I dare say, idolatry of political ideals that are used to castigate nay sayers to the “unsaved” category based on ideological differences from us. But mostly, I see the way Christians fail to have loving and peaceful discourse with one another over our differences (or with those that are not Christian). Our America centralization has lost the political neutrality of the gospel and its limitless boundary lines. This was an insightful and well said read!
Madison--I apologize for my delay in responding, but thank you for these kind words! I think I'm worried writing stuff like this that people will think I am "attacking" people who hold conservative views, but I really hope people know I am critiquing those who want to militantly co-opt the Gospel for far-Right extremes. I'm really glad that came across for you, and I'm grateful you took the time to write that and share more. I'm glad you are here!
No apology necessary, we all have lives outside of Substack. And, I definitely think that you got that point across! Your critique was well stated.
Thank you for this perspective, Drew! Much needed at this time, and very well written. I am trying to practice a form of engagement that is neither "apolitical"--which is always appropriated by one or the other of extremes--nor intolerant. I'm trying to hold my political views and also love my neighbor, even if he she has one of those upside down American flags...Thank you!
I'm also trying to learn how to be okay with having political views but also creating space for a love of neighbor. I'm grateful for your example.
Also, I just drove by an upside down flag the other day, and that was a first for me!
“Joe and the Hoe”—I actually wish there was a way to bleep it out, like an expletive. It pains me to write. So disrespectful and dehumanizing. Gosh, I’m just thinking about Jesus’s interaction with the woman at the well. Even if this word could be used truthfully about her, Jesus never would have called her such names.
Mmmmmmm Christianna yes yes yes--thank you for that Biblical story. It's actually my favorite in the entire Bible :)
Those last couple lines! Keep writing, Drew.
What you captured in words is like holding up a mirror to describe what I’ve seen happening in my life and others close to me. It’s hard to suddenly find that you are no longer in spiritual alignment with people you’ve worshipped alongside and fellowshipped with for years and that the values you hold of treating everyone as an image bearer of God are openly mocked with hatred towards others on full display from people who have spent their lives in church. I still find it hard to understand how Christians (especially Evangelicals) who claim to love Jesus don’t see how damaging the whole ordeal has been to anyone trying to share their faith with people who aren’t believers. Like one commenter said before, the effects are felt far beyond the borders of our own country. I spent time in Europe last year for a few months doing missions work with South Eastern Asian immigrants and every time I was asked about the former president and his crimes, I loathed having to explain why any Christian in America would follow him. These people 5000 miles away could not understand why a Christian would vote for a “bad man” who condones and promotes hate against any one of their skin color. It was heartbreaking and helped to open my eyes to how much has changed in the church community I grew up in.