Sheesh dude, this hits a bit too close to home. It’s like the status anxiety about trying to not get pinned into the Westboro Baptist type niche. Couldn’t agree with this article more! Thanks for bringing to light something I struggle with too.
Griffin, dude, thank you for the kind words. Those mean a lot to me! Sometimes I think that being a Christian writer inherently brings with it the temptation to try and signal who you are all the time and prove that you belong in some imaginary club.
It’s such a temptation! But I feel like people also put that pressure on writers in return - wanting you to fit a clear cut composite of a certain tribe so they can categorize you more easily.
Introspection is the foundation of intellectual honesty and a primary driver in growth and maturity. Kudus for being transparent here, Drew.
I think progressive Christians have some serious theological problems... and I recognize that a lot of theologically and politically conservative Christians also work very hard to be right kind of both, and not the wrong kind of either.
Thank you so much for the kind words! 100% to your thoughts. We each have our vices and temptations, and it is just so tempting to not pay attention to them and instead just critique someone else's vice or temptations. I'm trying to learn how to critique my own.
As someone who is in the thick of Christian Nationality (works in small town Oklahoma. The Bible Belt of America), Drew’s posts always restore my hope in what a “Christian” truly means. I have struggled with finding a church for so long I gave up a while ago. I don’t need a church yelling at me on who to vote for or having a series over Black Lives Matter when 0% of your congregation is black. This content is one of the only things in my life that still connect me to God. While I do understand the entire premise of his piece is how “Competent Christianity” can be an idol, I think it’s important to unpack the WHY you are exuding “Competent Christianity”. If it’s for “clout” and “trying to prove yourself”, then sure this piece makes sense. But if you’re trying to relate to the people like me and help me still have hope in being a Christian, I need to be shown how Christianity can take multiple forms. This might be hot take, but I felt like it needed to be said. Thanks Drew for bring me the Bible in each post and keeping my dim light for Christ alive. 💕
Oh Angela! These words are so beautiful, and I am so sorry for your experience. I have been a fan of yours for a long time now, and I am going to continue to cheer for you and your "dim light" (I think it's probably brighter than you think!).
I also agree with your hot take. My hope in this piece was to highlight the ways I try and virtue signal to make me seem cool or elite or thoughtful; I worry that I can write about feminism or equity or things like that in order to boost my own street cred rather than write about them because they are important things to write about. I completely agree with the importance of showing a Christianity that isn't yelling at you who to vote for. I'm really, really grateful I've been able to be that person for you. There are others out there, I promise.
This is beautiful because when we believe we have the final conclusion of “correctly practiced faith”, that is generally when we are most blind.
This piece starts strongly because it’s reacting to something badly done in the name of God. But it doesn’t conclude with shame, it’s points us all to Christ and a reflection of our motives, too. That’s a gift to your readers and yourself. Thank you!
I’ve been thinking about this in my own life too! It’s so easy to make these trappings the main thing and displace Jesus as the center. Thanks for writing this.
What a gift that the Spirit exposed these things to you, drew. I wrestle with very similar idols, (in fact, I've been reading 1 Cor. as well!)...and I keep mulling over this one phrase in prayer, "God chose the things that are not, to expose the things that are and reduce them to nothing. " What a riddle. All I can say is that the Spirit has been slowly revealing how puny Christian nationalism really is. One day it will be soot and ash. Let's treat it as such.
Such good stuff right here. Keep up the good work. Also, are you familiar with the work of Andy Squyres? I read him on Instagram on occasion and I smile every time, cut to the heart most times. Let me stop there.
Well done, bro. This is so relatable, and so effectively blunt. I am prone to the same calf as you: "trying to prove that I’m progressive in all the right ways but also not progressive in the wrong ways. I perform my faith to gain and retain an audience. I want everyone to like me."
Thanks for putting it into words. And also, props to you for publishing the piece sans conclusion. Although you ended up with a decent one, anyway, imo. So often I don't share my writing just because the momentum of the piece putters out. Way to put it out there anyway. :D
Well said. And welcome to the club of “finding your identity first in Christ before anything else so as to not make those things idols.” I know it’s a long name, but that is the club.
Seriously though, congrats on recognizing the pendulum swing from one idol to another. I pray that Christians truly become Christians again. Not identified by their politics, their church leaders, or favorite theologians. I pray our itching ears would stop and our eyes would be set on Jesus and our ears tuned to hear only him.
That is why i have always kept by politics separate from my faith. They are 2 different things, politics is about the kingdoms of this world, and our faith is about God's kingdom. I am tend to be moderately conservative, but i hold that loosely, knowing that both Progressive and conservative ideas are both blinded by the reality of life in this world, that does not conform to either ideology nice and snug. Life is full of contradictions and both conservative and progressive thought have good ideas and they are both wrong in what they emphasize their is no one size fits all ideology that will work in this life for anyone.
When it comes down to it people change from conservative to progressive ideologies depending on their life circumstances at that time and what they need or are experiencing, we have to be flexible in our ideology because life is ever changing.
What does not change is our allegiance to God and that is what our ultimate hope is not in this world.
We all have our idols, i am sure mine, i try to be detached from politics and i value people over ideology.
Hits the nail on the head. Both the problem outside and inside me. Hope this isn't adding to the virtue signaling but I might have a song that you can add to your playlist, about this need to kill and keep our religion simultaneously in these times. https://snowhopebones.substack.com/p/ill-kill-my-religion-4-u?r=4diwl5
So good! Thank you for sharing this! Part Two actually makes me think of the Bronze Serpent... something good that God uses - even for repentance and spiritual healing following the golden calf - but that also became an idol.
Now this is what it means to be Christian. To look at the words of Christ Jesus and ask oneself, "How am I falling short of the one I call Lord?"
I agree that too many people on both sides of politics take things too far and replace God with idols. It's a form of legalism thinking that we know better bcuz we read a better version of the Bible. This is why in my opinion I believe we should read multiple translations, getting as close to the original as possible.
Although we may have disagreements on certain things, being conservative or liberal does not matter when Christ is Lord of all. If He is our aim and we are pursuing His form of righteousness, we are unified under Him.
May God bless you and continue to refine you just as He refines us all.
Sheesh dude, this hits a bit too close to home. It’s like the status anxiety about trying to not get pinned into the Westboro Baptist type niche. Couldn’t agree with this article more! Thanks for bringing to light something I struggle with too.
Griffin, dude, thank you for the kind words. Those mean a lot to me! Sometimes I think that being a Christian writer inherently brings with it the temptation to try and signal who you are all the time and prove that you belong in some imaginary club.
It’s such a temptation! But I feel like people also put that pressure on writers in return - wanting you to fit a clear cut composite of a certain tribe so they can categorize you more easily.
Introspection is the foundation of intellectual honesty and a primary driver in growth and maturity. Kudus for being transparent here, Drew.
I think progressive Christians have some serious theological problems... and I recognize that a lot of theologically and politically conservative Christians also work very hard to be right kind of both, and not the wrong kind of either.
May God protect us from ourselves. =)
Thank you so much for the kind words! 100% to your thoughts. We each have our vices and temptations, and it is just so tempting to not pay attention to them and instead just critique someone else's vice or temptations. I'm trying to learn how to critique my own.
As someone who is in the thick of Christian Nationality (works in small town Oklahoma. The Bible Belt of America), Drew’s posts always restore my hope in what a “Christian” truly means. I have struggled with finding a church for so long I gave up a while ago. I don’t need a church yelling at me on who to vote for or having a series over Black Lives Matter when 0% of your congregation is black. This content is one of the only things in my life that still connect me to God. While I do understand the entire premise of his piece is how “Competent Christianity” can be an idol, I think it’s important to unpack the WHY you are exuding “Competent Christianity”. If it’s for “clout” and “trying to prove yourself”, then sure this piece makes sense. But if you’re trying to relate to the people like me and help me still have hope in being a Christian, I need to be shown how Christianity can take multiple forms. This might be hot take, but I felt like it needed to be said. Thanks Drew for bring me the Bible in each post and keeping my dim light for Christ alive. 💕
Oh Angela! These words are so beautiful, and I am so sorry for your experience. I have been a fan of yours for a long time now, and I am going to continue to cheer for you and your "dim light" (I think it's probably brighter than you think!).
I also agree with your hot take. My hope in this piece was to highlight the ways I try and virtue signal to make me seem cool or elite or thoughtful; I worry that I can write about feminism or equity or things like that in order to boost my own street cred rather than write about them because they are important things to write about. I completely agree with the importance of showing a Christianity that isn't yelling at you who to vote for. I'm really, really grateful I've been able to be that person for you. There are others out there, I promise.
Some I've loved following:
Sara Billups
Lore Wilbert Ferguson
Emily P. Freeman
always cheering,
drew
Yep.
LORE. You model the nuance of writing online so well. I look up to you :)
This is so thoughtful and full of humility. Thank you for your ideas, your tone, and your call to reexamination.
Awww, thank you Elizabeth! That really means a lot :)
This is beautiful because when we believe we have the final conclusion of “correctly practiced faith”, that is generally when we are most blind.
This piece starts strongly because it’s reacting to something badly done in the name of God. But it doesn’t conclude with shame, it’s points us all to Christ and a reflection of our motives, too. That’s a gift to your readers and yourself. Thank you!
Wow, thank you! I hoped it could be nuanced and not just another attempted take down of an opponent. I'm glad that shown through :)
I’ve been thinking about this in my own life too! It’s so easy to make these trappings the main thing and displace Jesus as the center. Thanks for writing this.
Uuuugh YES. It is too too easy.
What a gift that the Spirit exposed these things to you, drew. I wrestle with very similar idols, (in fact, I've been reading 1 Cor. as well!)...and I keep mulling over this one phrase in prayer, "God chose the things that are not, to expose the things that are and reduce them to nothing. " What a riddle. All I can say is that the Spirit has been slowly revealing how puny Christian nationalism really is. One day it will be soot and ash. Let's treat it as such.
I think I read over that phrase and I don't actually try and understand what it is saying. Have you found an idea of what it means?
Soot and ash, amen.
Such good stuff right here. Keep up the good work. Also, are you familiar with the work of Andy Squyres? I read him on Instagram on occasion and I smile every time, cut to the heart most times. Let me stop there.
I am familiar with him and really appreciate his faith and thought :)
Well done, bro. This is so relatable, and so effectively blunt. I am prone to the same calf as you: "trying to prove that I’m progressive in all the right ways but also not progressive in the wrong ways. I perform my faith to gain and retain an audience. I want everyone to like me."
Thanks for putting it into words. And also, props to you for publishing the piece sans conclusion. Although you ended up with a decent one, anyway, imo. So often I don't share my writing just because the momentum of the piece putters out. Way to put it out there anyway. :D
Tiffany, thank you! Keep writing--with or without conclusions!
Loved this, Drew. No conclusion and all.
Awww thank you Hayley! I'm grateful for you :)
Well said. And welcome to the club of “finding your identity first in Christ before anything else so as to not make those things idols.” I know it’s a long name, but that is the club.
Seriously though, congrats on recognizing the pendulum swing from one idol to another. I pray that Christians truly become Christians again. Not identified by their politics, their church leaders, or favorite theologians. I pray our itching ears would stop and our eyes would be set on Jesus and our ears tuned to hear only him.
Great article on that struggle of identity.
That is why i have always kept by politics separate from my faith. They are 2 different things, politics is about the kingdoms of this world, and our faith is about God's kingdom. I am tend to be moderately conservative, but i hold that loosely, knowing that both Progressive and conservative ideas are both blinded by the reality of life in this world, that does not conform to either ideology nice and snug. Life is full of contradictions and both conservative and progressive thought have good ideas and they are both wrong in what they emphasize their is no one size fits all ideology that will work in this life for anyone.
When it comes down to it people change from conservative to progressive ideologies depending on their life circumstances at that time and what they need or are experiencing, we have to be flexible in our ideology because life is ever changing.
What does not change is our allegiance to God and that is what our ultimate hope is not in this world.
We all have our idols, i am sure mine, i try to be detached from politics and i value people over ideology.
Hits the nail on the head. Both the problem outside and inside me. Hope this isn't adding to the virtue signaling but I might have a song that you can add to your playlist, about this need to kill and keep our religion simultaneously in these times. https://snowhopebones.substack.com/p/ill-kill-my-religion-4-u?r=4diwl5
So good! Thank you for sharing this! Part Two actually makes me think of the Bronze Serpent... something good that God uses - even for repentance and spiritual healing following the golden calf - but that also became an idol.
Now this is what it means to be Christian. To look at the words of Christ Jesus and ask oneself, "How am I falling short of the one I call Lord?"
I agree that too many people on both sides of politics take things too far and replace God with idols. It's a form of legalism thinking that we know better bcuz we read a better version of the Bible. This is why in my opinion I believe we should read multiple translations, getting as close to the original as possible.
Although we may have disagreements on certain things, being conservative or liberal does not matter when Christ is Lord of all. If He is our aim and we are pursuing His form of righteousness, we are unified under Him.
May God bless you and continue to refine you just as He refines us all.