What is a progressive Christian?
Kynn reminds me that I am indeed a progressive Christian, though I haven’t consciously spent much time identifying as one of that label.
Being reminded today is doing me a world of good because (as I’ve written before) the so-called Christian approval of our current U.S. international and environmental behavior, whether that approval is tacit or direct, has driven me out the door of church activity for a while. And now the explosive rancor against concerning homosexuality in the church (triggered by the Episcopal ordination of a gay bishop) threatens to punt me out permanently.
It’s a painful situation that gives me new eyes to the plight of others similarly punted. It’s all so 180° removed from the Jesus I know and love from Scripture, church tradition, and personal experience.
What a heartening experience for me today, then, to see listed — as the TCPC points of definition for what being a progressive Christian means — the very faith characteristics that a lifetime trying to follow Jesus has welded into my soul. If you’re even slightly interested, click through to see what I mean, in expanding levels of detail —
- an “About us” tight summary
- list of “the 8 points”
- a study guide (PDF) for The Eight Points by which we define Progressive Christianity
Theirs is a mission to which I’m already committed, at least waveringly. It looks consistent with other aspects of that mission I’ve long supported as expressed by Sojourners and The Other Side. Heartening? Oh, yes.
Clearly I’m going to have to visit Grace-St. Luke’s in Memphis to learn more. I’ve been acquainted with parishioners there for years, but I’ve never thought to visit.
Every day brings a gift. Is this today’s for me?
2003-08-17 update: In linking to this entry, Kynn leads me to at least two more ideas I sorely need to hear: (1) use more precise language (that is, avoid stereotypes), and (2) consider the new-to-me, quite descriptive term Christianist.
These particular two ideas came by way of comments to Jeanne’s entry at Body and Soul:
Lawrence Krubner: [A friend named Dena] was responsible for reforming my religious language where politics was concerned. Every time I said “Christians” and meant the Christian Right, she would say, simply, “You mean the Christian Right.” It was a good education to get.
Yes. I’m letting internal anger seepage cloud my wording; I quite often actually mean “the Christian Right.” Perhaps even more precisely —
tristero: A distinction needs to be made, I think, between Christians and Christianists — those who, like Islamists, employ the language and teaching of Christianity to gain political power. These are the characters who have declared God a card-carrying Republican party member and have all but monopolized religious discourse in the mass media. …
Christianism must be vigorously opposed. One way to do this is for Christians to stand unequivocally against Christianism and its egregious distortions of the Bible. They cannot be allowed to hide behind their crosses, for they brandish them not with love, but with spite.
Yes, that’s it — what I’m intending to oppose, and vigorously, is Christianism. What I’m intending to live out (though not succeeding very effectively right now) is true Christianity.
I’m also quite happy to discover three other new-to-me blogs, The Right Christians (“It is time for the Christian Right to meet the right Christians,” see its mission), Interesting Monstah, and Pacific Views (“Fair and balanced escalation of nonviolence”). Thanks, all.
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I visited Grace St. Lukes early morning service a few months ago because a homeless person (an old buddy of yours, actually) invited me. He spoke very highly of the priest there, and of the way they handle their soup kitchen. I'm paraphrasing from memory, "It feels like a family", he said, "Everyone eats together, including the people serving the food". I'm sure I don't remember the particulars too well, but the general gist was that there wasn't a well defined "us and them" distinction. This person didn't feel condescension, he felt community. If that helps tip you over the edge, so be it! ;-)
— Keith Parker Thursday August 14, 2003 #You are my brother and friend - I've always hesitated to make comments here but I need to clarify or at least comment on one point.
IMO, the mess in the Episcopal church is not "explosive rancor against homosexuality in the church". Everyone I've talked to (or read from) has a clear understanding of Christ's call to love one another. I have detected no homophobia (though I do not deny it exists). We have "all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" and that includes pride, fear and worry, gluttony, and many other things.
The mess in the Episcopal church is due to an abandonment of Jesus call to "go and sin no more"; not - hey, everyone is welcome, no matter your ongoing behavior. Jesus commands us to love one another, but he also shows anger at those who refuse to even consider their own behavior sinful as happened at the recent convention.
This mess is such that my church parish may opt out of the Episcopal church this weekend - and that pains me exceedingly. But there is not one person I've spoken to who wants to leave because of the ordination of a homosexual bishop, rather the underlying denial of, and even flaunting of, scripture.
— Hal Friday August 15, 2003 #I'm really having a tough time with this one:
"Invite all people to participate in our community and worship life without insisting that they become like us in order to be acceptable..."
I'm not insisting that anyone become like me (us)at all. I'm insisting that my church family be one where all are welcome and acceptable while they walk on their way to the unattainable goal of no sin in their life. If I ever stop trying to reach for a life that Jesus would be proud of me for, I expect my church family to continue to welcome me while they encourage me to change. If we don't pronounce sin as wrong we're not Christ-like. It's not a good Christian brother who leaves me to my sin unchallenged.
If one does not consider homosexuality a sin then this is a topic I can't speak to. I consider it a sin and will happily accept a homosexual into my church family, but don't feel like I have to condone it to minister healing.
I give up...I can't say what I'm thinking. I love everyone in Christ. Done.
— Martin Friday August 15, 2003 #I am firmly in the camp of "not believing homosexuality is a sin." Once I've made that leap, I can't help but see the opposition to this as being based on anti-homosexual bigotry.
If it's more important to cling to the notion that homosexuality is such a great evil, than sticking within one's faith tradition, well, I can't fault anyone on that. I chose my church specifically because they don't condemn homosexuals in loving relationships who seek after God.
I clearly can't deny someone the same choice as well -- if you wish to see a church group that reinforces your beliefs based on ancient bigotry, then by all means go for it.
As for me, I will continue to love all, as God loves me.
--Kynn
— Kynn Bartlett Sunday August 17, 2003 #